The mountain resort of the Girona Pyrenees that does not use even a litre of diesel

GironaThe Núria valley is one of the most iconic mountain destinations in Catalonia. A tourist complex around a basilica from the early 20th century, flanked by the Puigmal and the Capçaleres del Ter i del Freser Natural Park, at an altitude of 2,000 meters, which can only be reached by walking or by the rack railway. The station, managed by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), is a pioneer in sustainability thanks to the Ecovall project. During the first half of 2026, the station generated more than 908,000 kWh of geothermal energy thanks to the implementation of 126 wells 100 meters deep that heat the water for all the facilities. This new system has saved more than 100,000 liters of diesel and prevented the emission of 309 tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere. Furthermore, the Núria station is the first FGC station in Catalonia open 365 days a year: it does not rely solely on the snow season, which is increasingly unpredictable due to climate change, but has reinvented itself by organizing all kinds of nature and hiking activities to attract the public throughout the year.

The geothermal wells that supply the station are not large cavities that drill into the ground, but small perforations made with robotics, about 10 centimeters in diameter spread across the green meadow in front of the lake, imperceptible to the eye. It is one of the most important geothermal plants in Catalonia. The system allows using underground heat to warm the sanitary water of all the buildings in the valley by two degrees before it reaches the heating systems. In this way, it is possible to have water at a higher temperature and reduce the remaining amount of energy needed to heat it. A closed water circuit passes through each hole: one pipe goes down underground, where the water is heated, and another brings it back up.

The action has allowed for the complete elimination of diesel for energy production in the complex. Before, it consumed as much in a year as about 90 households, but now there are no boilers. Everything is electric. And the savings are not only environmental and economic, but also logistical: "The logistics of the Núria valley are very complex. We do not have to bring fuel up on the rack railway, so we no longer have the risks associated with this mobility. The thermal jump of the water is lower and, consequently, all human and transport logistics are also reduced," explains Xavier Perpinyà, technical deputy director of FGC Turisme.

A hydroelectric power plant to meet 20% of consumption

20% of the electricity needed to heat the water and operate the rest of the station's facilities comes from a hydroelectric plant near the Sant Gil hermitage: "It is an old facility near a stream that was abandoned, but we have adapted it with a new turbine and it generates between 29 and 30 kWh; it is a perfect complement. Furthermore, it also allows us to encourage environmental education, with visits for children who can see how it works," points out Perpinyà.

The remaining 80% of electrical energy comes from the contracting of 100% renewable energy, as stipulated by FGC in all its mountain stations. The future intention, however, is to install solar panels so that Núria does not need to buy external energy and can become 100% self-sufficient.

"By taking advantage of geothermal and hydraulic energy promoted by this pilot project, Núria has transformed into a zero-emissions station," states the Minister of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, Sílvia Paneque, who visited the station on the last day of August, the eve of the Sant Gil festival. In the same vein, Carles Ruiz, president of Ferrocarrils, adds: "Vall de Núria is consolidating itself as a sustainability laboratory at the service of the country. Our commitment is to continue promoting projects that reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and reinforce the role of Ferrocarrils as a benchmark in sustainable mobility and tourism."

And, regarding the Pirineu 365 campaign, Perpinyà concludes: "Everything is thought out in this direction. We don't want to put all our eggs in one basket. In Núria, you can go hiking, go to the lake, do religious tourism, come to rest, we have the new viewpoint or the 4x4s. We must diversify with the goal of deseasonalizing so that there is tourism from different sectors and seasons."

These announcements come after a very good summer campaign, incentivized by the very green landscape after the spring rains and by the high temperatures that encourage traveling to the mountains. The rack railway has registered almost 8% more passengers than last year between January and July, with a total of 154,627 passengers. And the forecasts are to keep the figures on the rise, at least until 2055, which is the date until which the Queralbs City Council and the Generalitat have renewed the operating concession for the Vall de Núria.