Grup TERSA

What Grup TERSA does

Grup TERSA is a publicly-owned environmental services group headquartered in Sant Adrià de Besòs (Barcelona metropolitan area, Spain), operating across three wholly-owned subsidiaries (TERSA, SEMESA, SIRESA) plus the public energy retailer Barcelona Energia. The group runs an integrated circular-economy platform spanning waste valorization, renewable energy generation, and citizen sustainability promotion, serving Barcelona City Council, Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), and 16 metropolitan municipalities that jointly hold its share capital.

The asset base centers on the Planta de Valorització Energètica (PVE) in Sant Adrià de Besòs (operational since 1975), which processed 320,591 tonnes of municipal waste in 2024, generated 174,817 MWh of electricity (12% self-consumed, 88% exported to the grid) and exported 160,453 tonnes of steam to the Districlima district heating loop serving 190+ Forum and 22@ district buildings. Complementary infrastructure includes 300+ biogas capture wells at the Vall d'en Joan controlled deposit in Garraf (15,342,906 Nm³ biogas, 20,323 MWh, avoiding 60,000+ tonnes CO₂), 72 SIRESA-managed green points and civic amenity sites (101,377 tonnes, 1,668,653 users), 312 photovoltaic installations generating 5,938 MWh across 36 municipalities, and the SEMESA GAVÀ-Viladecans facility (61,254 tonnes bulky waste and wood at 87% recovery, 32,769 tonnes light packaging at 54.8% recovery).

Revenue derives from public service commissions paid by municipal shareholders, electricity sales to the grid, commercial waste treatment fees from SEMESA, and renewable electricity retail through Barcelona Energia (16,558-17,300 supply points, 290,291 MWh commercialized, operating across 36 municipalities). Services are delivered through multi-year municipal mandates and wholesale/retail energy contracts rather than traditional sales motion; citizen-facing channels include direct retail electricity supply, 72 green points, plus advisory services (La Teulada for photovoltaic self-consumption, Ecogestió consultancy, Barcelona + Sostenible network of 1,800+ organizations). Workforce: 300-400+ professionals.

Name

Grup TERSA

Legal name

Tractament i Selecció de Residus SA

Website

https://tersa.cat

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Grup TERSA is a publicly-owned Barcelona metropolitan environmental services group operating waste-to-energy, 72 green points, 312 photovoltaic installations, and the public renewable energy retailer Barcelona Energia for 17 municipalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Services (Waste Management and Renewable Energy)

NAICS

Electric Power Generation (22111), Utilities (221)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Reporting (GRI/SASB/ISSB/CSRD) (EUAHAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Benchmarking, Ratings & Stakeholder Reporting Portals (Scorecards, Dashboards) (EUABAEAJ)

Keywords

• Waste-to-energy services
• Municipal waste management
• Renewable energy distribution
• Photovoltaic installation management
• Circular economy consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

San Adrián De Besós

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Service Commissions: Grup TERSA operates through public commissions and contracts from shareholder municipalities (Barcelona City Council via B:SM, Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona, and 14 metropolitan municipalities). Revenue derives from municipal service fees for waste management, energy management, and sustainability services.
2. Electricity Sales to Grid: The Energy Recovery Plant generates electricity: 12% for self-consumption and 88% sold to the electricity grid. In 2024, generated 174,817 MWh of electricity. Additionally, biogas plant generates electricity sold to the grid (20,323 MWh annually).
3. Urban Steam Supply: The Energy Recovery Plant supplies steam to the urban heat/cold network (Districlima) serving Forum and 22@ districts. In 2024, supplied 160,453 tonnes of steam. This district heating system optimizes energy use and reduces fossil fuel consumption.
4. Barcelona Energia - Renewable Energy Commercialization: Barcelona Energia commercializes 100% renewable energy certified by CNMC to Barcelona municipal buildings, equipment, and metropolitan citizens. Operates 16,558 supply points (as of June 2026, up from 17,300 reported) and commercialized 290,291 MWh of energy.
5. Commercial Waste Treatment Services: SEMESA provides commercial waste treatment services at the Gavà-Viladecans Municipal Waste Treatment Center. Services include selection of light packaging, treatment of bulky waste and wood. Commercial sector pays for these specialized services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Grup TERSA is a publicly owned municipal environmental services group comprising three operating subsidiaries (TERSA, SEMESA, SIRESA) that delivers integrated circular economy services across the Barcelona metropolitan area. Its core offerings span waste-to-energy valorization (320,591 tonnes processed annually yielding 174,817 MWh of electricity and 160,453 tonnes of steam), renewable energy generation and retail via Barcelona Energia and 312 photovoltaic installations, biogas recovery at the Garraf controlled landfill, district heating via Districlima, and citizen sustainability programs including the Barcelona + Sostenible network. Revenue is generated through public commissions from shareholder municipalities, electricity sales to the grid, steam supply, and energy retail subscriptions.

Product overview

Grup TERSA is a public environmental services group comprising three subsidiary companies (TERSA, SEMESA, and SIRESA) operating across waste management and renewable energy. The core product portfolio centers on circular economy services: TERSA handles energy valorization (waste-to-energy plant) and renewable energy generation through photovoltaic installations and biogas recovery; SEMESA manages light packaging selection and bulky waste treatment at the Gavà-Viladecans facility; and SIRESA operates green points/collection centers and provides environmental consultancy through Ecogestió and manages the Barcelona + Sostenible sustainability network platform. The integrated offering connects waste treatment with energy generation and sustainability advisory services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Barcelona Energia: Public energy commercializer for the Barcelona metropolitan area, selling 100% renewable energy certified by CNMC
• La Teulada
• MES Barcelona
• Barcelona + Sostenible

Products and services

• Energy Recovery / Waste-to-Energy (Valorització energètica) Combustion of non-recyclable municipal waste fractions at the PVE in Sant Adrià de Besòs, generating steam for the urban heating/cooling network and electricity of which 12% is used for self-consumption and 88% is sold to the grid. Equipped with continuous emission monitoring systems controlled by the DGCA. Processes 320,591 tonnes of waste per year and produces 174,817 MWh of electricity and 160,453 tonnes of steam.
• Light Packaging Selection (Selecció d'envasos lleugers) Separation and classification of light packaging waste (plastic, mixed plastic, metal containers, bricks) from yellow containers, processed at the Gavà-Viladecans Municipal Waste Treatment Center. Solar panels on the facility reduce energy consumption by 25%. Achieves 54.8% recovery rate over 32,769 tonnes of input annually.
• Bulky Waste Treatment (Tractament de voluminosos) Separation and treatment of bulky waste and wood at the Gavà-Viladecans facility. Wood is shredded and sold as raw material for particleboard or alternative fuel. Achieves 87% recovery rate over 61,254 tonnes of input annually, producing 48,766 tonnes of recovered wood.
• Green Points and Collection Centers (Punts verds i deixalleries) Network of 72 SIRESA-managed green points and civic amenity sites across Barcelona city and metropolitan area, allowing citizens to drop off household waste not suitable for street containers (electronics, batteries, paints, textiles). In 2025, the network collected 101,377 tonnes of waste and served 1,668,653 users.
• Barcelona Energia - Public Energy Retailer Public energy retailer commercializing 100% CNMC-certified renewable electricity to Barcelona municipal buildings, equipment, and metropolitan citizens across 36 municipalities. Operates 17,300 supply points and commercialized 290,291 MWh of energy. Includes personalized advisory and self-consumption support.
• Photovoltaic Installations Management (Instal·lacions fotovoltaiques) Integrated management of grid-connected and self-consumption photovoltaic installations on municipal buildings (schools, civic centers, libraries) across Barcelona and the metropolitan area. Manages 312 installations (232 in Barcelona, 80 metropolitan) generating 5,938 MWh in 2025. Includes operation, maintenance, and optimization services.
• Biogas Energy Recovery (Aprofitament energètic del biogàs) Biogas energy recovery at the Vall d'en Joan controlled landfill in Garraf. Uses 300+ wells (averaging 20m depth) to capture methane from decomposing organic matter and feeds it into cogeneration engines to generate 100% renewable electricity sold to the grid. Captures 15,342,906 Nm³ of biogas and generates 20,323 MWh per year, avoiding release of 60,000+ tonnes of CO₂.
• Ecomanagement / Environmental Consultancy (Ecogestió) Environmental consultancy and communication services provided by SIRESA to public and private entities. Includes inspection and control services, training and communication activities, and environmental projects such as the Barcelona Household Waste Collection Tax information office and the Metropolitan Education Programme for Sustainability.

Quantifiable outcome

• Avoids 60,000+ tonnes CO2 annually through biogas energy recovery
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AEVERSU (Asociación de Empresas de Valorización Energética de Residuos Urbanos)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Spanish association of municipal waste energy recovery plants. TERSA participates actively, hosting operations/maintenance working group meetings and sharing best practices for industrial safety and technological innovation.
• LIPOR (Portugal)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Portuguese environmental complex visited during AEVERSU annual meetings. TERSA staff visited LIPOR's waste treatment and energy recovery facilities to exchange knowledge and best practices.
• CEWEP (Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025European confederation of waste-to-energy plants. Listed as information source on TERSA website, indicating membership and participation in European waste management advocacy and knowledge sharing.
• 22@Network BarcelonaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025TERSA participated in 22@Network sustainability events and received cluster visits. Network connects technology and innovation companies in Barcelona's 22@ district, which TERSA serves through district heating.
• Cluster de Residus de CatalunyaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Catalan waste sector cluster. TERSA participated in cluster events and received visits as part of strategic alliance plan, reinforcing its role as a knowledge-sharing platform.
• InnobaixminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Baix Llobregat business innovation network. TERSA participated in Innobaix-organized sustainability events including 'Sostenibilitat en les Empreses' and Innobus program.
• ACEVERSU (Associació Catalana d'Empreses de Valorització Energètica)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Catalan association of energy recovery companies. TERSA joined ACEVERSU in 2025 as part of strategic alliance development and sector representation.
• AndròminesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic supplier participating in 'Connecta & Inspira' supplier engagement event. Social enterprise providing waste management services.
• Fundació Formació i TreballminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Social foundation collaborating on toy and clothing collection campaigns. Provides employment opportunities for vulnerable populations through waste management partnerships.
• Corporación CLDminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic supplier participating in 'Connecta & Inspira' event. Waste management and recycling services provider.
• EngrunesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic supplier participating in 'Connecta & Inspira' event. Waste reuse and recycling services.
• GeoliminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic supplier participating in 'Connecta & Inspira' event. Environmental services provider.
• SolidançaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic supplier participating in 'Connecta & Inspira' event. Social enterprise for waste management and social inclusion.
• TMAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic supplier participating in 'Connecta & Inspira' event. Environmental waste management services.
• WurthminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic supplier participating in 'Connecta & Inspira' event. Industrial supply company.
• DistriclimacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Urban heating/cooling network operator supplied with steam from TERSA's Energy Recovery Plant. Partnership enables district heating for 190+ buildings in Forum and 22@ districts, reducing fossil fuel consumption.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• PreZero: European circular economy and waste management company owned by Schwarz Group, with growing operations in Spain focused on recycling, waste recovery, and environmental services. Comparable in circular economy focus and waste valorization, with a more recent and narrower Spanish footprint than incumbents.

Broad incumbents

• Naturgy Energy Group: Major Spanish multi-utility providing gas, electricity, and energy retail across Spain and Latin America. Comparable as a public-utility energy retailer, though vastly larger and with fossil-fuel legacy assets rather than TERSA's renewable-only focus.
• Iren Group: Italian multi-utility serving municipalities in northern Italy with integrated waste management, district heating, electricity, and gas services. Comparable in integrated municipal utility model with public-shareholder governance, district heating networks, and waste valorization infrastructure.
• Hera Group: Italian multi-utility operating integrated waste management, water, gas, and electricity services primarily in Emilia-Romagna. Comparable business model as a publicly-influenced multi-utility with strong municipal shareholder base, integrated waste-to-energy, and renewable energy retail.
• SUEZ Spain: Spanish operations of SUEZ, providing water, waste, and environmental services to municipalities. Comparable in integrated municipal environmental services, waste recovery, and circular economy solutions, with broader geographic and service portfolio.
• Veolia España: Spanish subsidiary of global environmental services giant Veolia, operating waste management, water, and energy services across Spain. Comparable in waste-to-energy and circular economy services but at much larger scale and with broader geographic and service diversification.

Direct peers

• Cespa (Ferrovial Servicios): Spanish waste management and environmental services subsidiary of Ferrovial, providing urban solid waste collection, street cleaning, and waste treatment including valorization. Directly comparable as a municipal waste services operator with similar value-chain positioning to TERSA.
• FCC Medio Ambiente: Spanish waste management division of FCC Group, operating waste collection, treatment, and waste-to-energy plants across Spain and internationally. Directly comparable as a vertically integrated municipal and commercial waste management player with significant cogeneration and recycling infrastructure.
• Tradebe: Spanish-headquartered environmental services company specializing in industrial and hazardous waste treatment, recycling, and recovery with growing municipal waste operations. Comparable in waste treatment and recovery infrastructure, though stronger in industrial rather than municipal segments.
• Urbaser: One of Spain's largest environmental services companies, providing urban waste collection, treatment, recycling, and energy recovery services to municipalities. Directly comparable in waste-to-energy, light packaging recovery, bulky waste treatment, and municipal green-point operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GrupTERSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tractament-i-seleccio-de-residus-sa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grup TERSA