Comment Contents
Welcome to the Winter issue of Forest Bioenergy Review incorporating PIM Renewable Energy at a time when, as we move towards the end of yet another year, we have seen greater moves towards the production of sustainable energy.
I would like to thank all our readers who took the time to re-register for receipt of FBR and this was finalised on the 9 September. When combined with newly-registered readers during 2024, it means our global reach now exceeds over 23,000 buyers and specifiers within the growing renewable energy sector.
As requested by our readers, biomass, solar, wind, wave, hydro and hydrogen, together with the growing need for energy storage, are all areas we will be covering in the coming year via quality articles and news of importance to our industry.
Looking to 2025 and our Spring issue, we invite contributions on wind turbine production and transportation, forest-based biomass handling and energy production, plus flow controls in the energy environment. Submissions should be sent to us no later than 16 February and via e-mail to: pulppaperlogistics@virginmedia.com
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Wales and Japan collaborate on offshore wind
11
Biomass powder burning
GREEN HYDROGEN
Lhyfe doubles capacity of new plant 12
Wales and Japan collaborate on offshore wind
AMRC Cymru is working with Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) as part of a strategic research partnership to develop floating offshore wind (FLOW) power in Wales and the rest of the UK.
The collaboration between AMRC Cymru and JMU, formalised in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), will promote common goals in project development for floating offshore wind farms in the Celtic Sea and other areas of the UK. The joint research will focus on integrating advanced technologies and expertise to provide solutions for Welsh supply chains, and contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases to support a more sustainable way of living.
The announcement has been welcomed by the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, as a ‘forward thinking agreement. She said, “It recognises the significant capabilities that exist in Wales in sustainable energy
solutions for a greener future. The MoU also ensures we strengthen ties with our Japanese friends with whom distance has never proved a barrier between us when collaborating in all things research, innovation and business”.
AMRC Cymru, which is part of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and a member of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, wants to help develop and grow the Welsh economy, and wider UK economy, by building a cost-competitive supply chain for offshore wind power in Wales and creating jobs in the market.
Andrew Silcox, research director at AMRC Cymru, said: “We are delighted to embark on this partnership with JMU to develop the floating offshore wind technologies that will accelerate the UK’s transition to fossil fuel-free power.
“We believe that FLOW also provides an outstanding opportunity for the Welsh manufacturing sector and our ambition is that the projects
with JMU act as a catalyst to create supply chain opportunities for Welsh industry that will transform the industrial landscape, particularly here in South Wales.”
JMU, based on its experience in the Fukushima Floating Offshore Wind Farm Demonstration Project, is developing semi-submersible floaters for offshore wind power, and advancing the establishment of a supply chain abroad. JMU has also conducted research and development into the mass production and cost reduction of offshore power generation, the Green Innovation Fund, a project by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), which supports green projects for companies committed to ambitious targets of carbon neutrality by 2050.
Kazuhiro Okawara, General Manager of offshore and new energy sales department at JMU, said: “We are very honoured to have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AMRC Cymru. We believe that the joint research and
development outcomes of this partnership will contribute to the advancement of floating offshore wind in Wales, and to the further development of Welsh industry and economy”.
Kyoichiro Kawakami, Minister (Economy) for the Embassy of Japan in the UK who witnessed the MoU signing, added: “We are hopeful that this partnership between JMU and AMRC Cymru will eventually lead to the emergence of a robust supply chain for future assembly and manufacturing in the UK, especially in Wales.
“Notably, this partnership builds on the long-standing economic relationship between Japan and Wales, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022. Looking ahead to 2025 as a commemorative year for Wales and Japan, as well as the World Expo in Osaka, I believe this MoU is an important step forward in our mutual journey of cooperation and friendship”.
More information: www.amrc.co.uk/cymru
Left to right: Yukinobu Okita - JMU, Tony Godrey - Welsh Government, Kenji Yoshikawa - JMU, Andrew Gwatkin - director of International Division, Welsh Government, Helen Donovan - Welsh Government, Kazuhiro Ookawara - JMU, Matthew Booth - AMRC Cymru, Andrew Silcox - AMRC Cymru, Kyoichiro Kawakami - Minister (Economy), Embassy of Japan in the UK and Ikuo Hamanaka - Japan Ship Centre, JETRO London (picture courtesy of the Welsh Government).
Caldera develops new heat ‘megacell’
UK start-up Caldera is building a new type of heat ‘megacell’ which could help industry switch off the gas and use cheap solar power instead.
They have developed a unique heat storage technology, which takes solar energy – generated either on-site or at a nearby solar farm – to heat up one or more solid megacells made of scrap aluminium and volcanic rock.
Each vacuum-insulated cell can store this heat at up to 500°C, ready to be delivered on demand to industrial users as hot water or steam up to 210°C.
They have already proven the technology with a demonstrator at their factory and are now scaling up by building their first megacell, which will be 2.9 metres in diameter and 7 metres high – and capable of storing up to 4MWh of low carbon thermal energy.
Each cell is filled with a special aluminium-rock composite, a ‘thermal super material’ designed by Caldera to cheaply and effectively
store low carbon electricity as heat.
Caldera believes their groundbreaking system will enable many UK industries to turn off their CO ²emitting gas boilers in favour of a cost-effective green alternative.
The project has £4.3 million backing from the UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, and now company CEO James Macnaghten is seeking an industrial partner to host their first megacell.
“Most people think the steam age ended last century, but in fact it has never gone away,” James explained.
“Around 70% of UK industrial energy demand is for heat, with industrial steam accounting for 31% of the total.
“This steam is crucial for processes in sectors like pharmaceuticals, food manufacturing and brewing, and is typically generated by boilers burning gas or oil. Steam is ideal for many businesses because it holds a lot of heat which can be moved around relatively easily via pipes and valves.
“To date, most factories still rely
on gas to heat that water, but our technology allows industrial users to capitalise on inexpensive solar energy, which can be generated onsite or on land nearby.
“Solar energy is getting cheaper by the day, and many businesses have not yet realised the huge potential for installing a dedicated solar farm – even where little roof space is available,” James said.
Independent analysis by energy consultants Gemserv shows Caldera’s system could slash fuel bills by 45% and pay for itself in less than six years.
“It is often both feasible and economic to lease land for a solar farm in the vicinity and run a dedicated cable – known as a ‘private wire’ – for a kilometre or more to the industrial site,” James continued.
“Our system removes the need for costly grid connection upgrades, which can take years, and means the factory-owner can generate and use all of their solar energy at cost.
According to James, “This
transforms the economics of solar power and gives the site-owner price certainty over decades, allowing manufacturers to focus on their core business, and not on the price of gas”.
To date, Caldera has been developing a number of small heat cells, connected in parallel, and the development of the megacell has come through discussions with industrial users.
“Many industrial sites have a constrained footprint. It therefore made sense for us to move away from multiple small cells to larger and much taller cells. Our new megacell is sized specifically to fit on a standard truck and by making the cell much taller, we can now store significantly more heat.
“We are now talking with early-adopter industrial customers who wish to be the first to benefit from this low-carbon technology and we’re aiming to begin our first installation in 2025,” James concluded.
More information: www.caldera.com
Baseload Capital to scale up geothermal energy
Swedish ethical fund Blue AB reports that Baseload Capital in which it holds a strategic investment has completed a 53 million Euro series B round to scale up geothermal energy.
Bengt Rittri, founder and CEO of Blue AB and its sustainable impact investment operation Blue Purpose, said: “Baseload Capital is on an exciting journey to leverage clean and always-on geothermal energy, the world’s largest untapped energy resource”.
Klas Gustafsson, Blue Purpose Portfolio Manager, stated, “We are delighted
as a shareholder in Baseload Capital since 2018 to see new investors join us on this important energy infrastructure platform. Baseload Capital has demonstrated its capabilities to develop a portfolio of geothermal projects in a purpose-driven arena where we, as an active investor in green, planetfriendly technologies and solutions, strive to help support and drive the green transition”.
More information: www.baseloadcap.com
Scottish Government announces Green Industrial Strategy
The Green Industrial Strategy announced on 11 September identifies areas of strength and opportunity for Scotland in the move to a net-zero energy system. It outlines what the Scottish Government and partners will do to create a positive environment for investment and growth.
Scottish Renewables, the trade body for Scotland’s renewable energy industry, first called for a Green Industrial Strategy more than two years ago.
Responding, Claire Mack, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “Renewable energy is Scotland’s greatest economic opportunity and the Green Industrial Strategy, which has been widely welcomed by industry, will provide
a real boost for those committed to delivering on our net-zero ambitions.
“We have worked closely with the Scottish Government on this strategy and are pleased that it has promised to drive forward the full potential for public and private investment in essential infrastructure, with plans to secure the manufacturing facilities Scotland needs to maintain its position as a world leader in clean power.
“We have been clear that the Scottish Government must show a real commitment to supporting companies across the supply chain and we welcome the energy supply chain package of support announced today.
“Scottish Renewables has
Claire Mack.
repeatedly highlighted the need for a robust planning and consenting system alongside a commitment to
Modern waste wood treatment for a CO2-neutral future
The Dinslaken Wood Energy Centre – Dinslakener Holz-Energiezentrum (DHE) – located in Germany, is known for setting standards in sustainable energy generation. In 2020, Doosan Lentjes was awarded the contract to build Lot 1 (firing, boiler and flue gas cleaning) of the new waste wood incineration plant. The turnkey contract included the delivery, installation, and commissioning of two incineration process lines that thermally treat 190,000 tonnes of waste wood annually. This will save over 125,000 tonnes of CO2 per yearan important contribution to reducing the proportion of fossil fuels required and to achieving climate neutrality, which the City of Dinslaken is aiming for by 2045.
The heart of the plant – the incineration – is based on the triedand-tested water-cooled reciprocating grate, which has been adapted to the properties of the biomass fuel. The thermal capacity is 49.5 MW per line,
with steam parameters of 405°C and 42 bar. By utilising the climate-friendly energy contained in the waste wood, the plant will provide around 380 GWh of heat and 100 GWh of electricity per year in an almost climate-neutral combined heat and power system.
The integrated Circoclean® facility for flue gas cleaning and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) ensure compliance with the strict European BAT (Best Available Techniques) emission requirements. The plant
is the first of its kind to fully fulfil the BAT requirements, making it a reference plant in terms of environmental and climate protection.
The commissioning of the Dinslaken Wood Energy Centre was celebrated on the site of the new facility on 6 September. Numerous high-ranking guests from politics and business, including Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia attended
invest in green skills which has been reflected in the strategy.
“The Scottish Government must now outline how the Green Industrial strategy will strategically align with the anticipated Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan to fully realise the vast opportunities of renewable energy across all sectors including offshore wind, low carbon heat and green hydrogen.
“The renewable energy industry first called for a Green Industrial Strategy more than two years ago and it is delivery that counts. The Scottish Government must hold itself accountable for what has been announced today and demonstrate confidence that it can deliver Scotland’s clean power future.”
More information: www.scottishrenewables.com
the ceremony. Together with the DHE, Doosan Lentjes celebrated this important milestone on the path to a CO2-neutral energy future.
At the Berlin Conference on Waste Management and Energy 2025 (BKAWE), Doosan Lentjes and the DHE will give a presentation highlighting the concept, performance, and initial operating experience of the Dinslaken Wood Energy Centre. This will not only honour the innovative character of the plant, but also show the way towards a CO2-free energy supply.
The Dinslaken Wood Energy Centre is an example of how waste wood can be converted into usable energy in an effective and environmentally-friendly way. It thus makes a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of the region and shows what sustainable energy generation could look like in the future.
More information:
www.doosanlentjes.com
Solar installation business powers ahead during 2024
Commercial solar and battery storage installer AR Power is to invest in a larger site and grow its workforce as it embarks on an ambitious growth drive. The Washington, UK-based, company, which manages a complete turnkey solution from design to installation, has invested heavily in staff and resources in the last 12 months with turnover hitting £5.5m for the year ending April, 2024. With the workforce reaching 33 and set to grow, the company –established in 2011 by husband-andwife team Mark and Maria Dunville –is aiming to hit revenues of £10 million in the next 12 months. In three years, it is hoped that turnover will exceed £30 million.
AR Power, the largest and longest-established independent solar and battery storage installer in North-East England, was last year named ‘Contractor of the Year’ at the National Solar and Storage Live Awards, held in Birmingham.
Maria Dunville, Finance Director and co-owner, explained: “This last year has been a busy period as we focussed on planning for future growth, investing in more staff, training and securing further accreditations, including ISO 9001:2015.
“We have done a lot of the hard work by investing in skills and equipment, all the while managing the business, ensuring we continued to deliver high impact energy solutions to businesses and organisations across the North of England and even further afield.”
The company expanded its fleet of vehicles to 11, with four new ones acquired during the last year. The owners are now actively seeking larger premises and the recent
appointments of Luke Lobo, as Technical Manager, and Stephen Armstrong, as Head of Commercial Operations, will help strengthen the senior leadership team.
In addition, Will Illingworth joins as Marketing Manager, a new role, as the company aims to raise its profile and sales drive. There’s also been the appointment of Lynn Storey as a dedicated in-house manager for health, safety and the environment.
Mark Dunville, Technical Director,
said: “Going forwards we intend to focus on competing for larger projects. We now have the senior team and greater in-house expertise, including a stronger design team, which will enable us to undertake more mid to high-range solar installations. Our pipeline of new work looks strong as more companies and organisations see the huge benefits of generating their own energy”.
More information: www.arpower.co.uk
SBM Offshore agreement with Ocean-Power
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on a floating power generation hub, with CO² capture and storage, has been announced by SBM Offshore and Ocean-Power. The purpose of the partnership is to assess the technical feasibility and commercial readiness to collaborate on the concept, exclusive to the Norwegian Continental Shelf and United Kingdom Continental Shelf.
The offshore power hub will apply Ocean-Power’s proprietary ‘Blue Power Hub’ concept, which generates electricity offshore using gas turbines
in association with carbon capture and storage, resulting in significantly lower CO² emissions.
The hub can be used to power offshore assets via submarine cables and electrify the continental shelf with minimal impact on the national grid, all the while balancing wind power capacity in a bi-directional transmission structure.
The combination of SBM Offshore’s industry-leading offshore experience and Ocean-Power’s technical concept development opens the door to potential joint business development initiatives in the region.
Through this collaboration, the companies will aim to further decarbonise offshore power generation and make a concrete contribution to carbon neutrality efforts.
Olivier Icyk, Chief Business Officer at SBM Offshore, stated: “The signing of this partnership agreement marks another step forward to support global decarbonisation efforts in our industry. This opportunity capitalises on both parties’ strengths and we are pleased to partner up with Ocean-Power, a new player whose development complements our
leading expertise in floating energy solutions”.
Erling Ronglan, CEO at OceanPower, commented: “We are very pleased to establish a new partnership with SBM Offshore, a leading offshore technology provider. Combining the expertise of both companies will be an important step towards electrifying the continental shelf without stressing the national grids. With this agreement, we will accelerate our path towards the 2030 CO² reduction targets”.
More information: www.sbmoffshore.com
AR Power’s Mark and Maria Dunville.
Solar perovskite forecast to 2040 published
Afresh report from Rethink Energy predicts that perovskite solar modules will reach GW-scale manufacturing from 2028, taking over the entire industry by 2040. Today, we see a constant stream of trial commercial shipments and that tandem modules have reached parity with silicon on lifetime power output – with huge room for further upgrades on lifespan and efficiency.
This means that solar’s price declines and quality improvements haven’t reached a plateau – the solar levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) is going to keep improving through 2040 and beyond.
It will take many years of manufacturing expansions to catch up with the scale of the general solar industry, but specific market segments will be transformed or even created by perovskites, in particular rooftop solar.
Tandem modules, combining silicon and perovskite layers to reach both higher efficiencies and higher lifetime power output values than conventional silicon can achieve will be big in the US, with tariffs and subsidies helping the new technology to be adopted in the face of China’s ultra-cheap products. Tandems will also become the dominant form of solar manufacturing worldwide in the 2030s, replacing and assimilating the silicon industry.
Perovskites take over the solar industry in the 2030s
Single-junction perovskites, on the other hand, bring something new to the table – a thin-film solar product that’s affordable. Where rival technologies like CIGS never attained mass adoption, single-junction perovskites promise far lower production costs, which will enable them to claim stakes in satellite power, device-integrated cells, but most importantly solar installations on facades and on non-load-bearing rooftops. That will change the game for distributed solar installations across the Commercial & Industrial (C&I), municipal, and residential segments. The appeal of batteries, plus solar is only going to grow over time even if the electricity price was not set for further increases.
If you’re a Chief Sustainability Officer or other official in charge of adopting green power sources or simply reducing the electricity bill through investments in distributed energy, you should read this report. So does anyone else involved in the solar industry, especially project developers and rooftop solar installers.
Policy makers also need to read this report to understand the opportunity, which perovskites offer to a solar manufacturing reshoring agenda, with inherently lower energy and investment costs making this a far easier supply chain to reshore compared to the burdensome polysilicon and wafer segments that silicon photovoltaics rely on.
Energy storage systems for Ukraine
A series of energy storage systems is to be built in Ukraine by DTEK, with a capacity of 200 MW to help build a secure and green energy system. An investment of 140 million Euros will be made in the project, making the company the largest investor in energy storage in Ukraine. The systems will be commissioned no later than September, 2025, and will start providing ancillary services to Ukraine’s Transmission System Operator Ukrenergo. The agreement involves a number of assets,
geographically distributed across Ukraine. DTEK Group won the right to provide ancillary services (namely automatic frequency restoration reserves) to Ukrenergo in a competitive auction on 22 August, alongside other industry players.
The agreement accelerates the development of Ukraine’s energy storage market and the development of more storage capacity. Energy storage systems are a strategic priority for DTEK Group.
The company is building Poland’s first large electricity storage project,
as part of a goal to create a panEuropean energy system that unites Ukraine and the EU.
Announcing the project, Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, said: “Despite the war and limited access to foreign capital markets, we continue to invest in Ukraine, not only to restore destroyed infrastructure, but also to build new facilities in line with our long-term strategy.
“DTEK was the first company to start building energy storage systems and open this market in
This report is informed by interviews with the better part of a dozen perovskite companies whose operations are spread across the US, Europe, the UK, Australia and Canada. The company’s coverage and forecasting of perovskites, and its contacts in the sector, go back to late 2020.
Rethink has also closely followed the extensive plans being laid in China, whether by mainstream giants, dedicated perovskite companies of moderate size and the dozens of small start-ups looking to make thin-film products.
More information: www.rethinkresearch.biz/product/ rethink-energy
Ukraine back in 2021.
“Our priority remains unchanged: to develop green energy in Ukraine, accelerate the integration of the country’s energy system into Europe and to strengthen our country’s energy security.”
DTEK and other Ukrainian energy companies are repairing existing power generation to get through the coming Winter, while simultaneously deploying technologies to build a decentralised system.
More information: www.dtek.com
New Community Energy team powering change
SP Energy Networks has established a new team dedicated to supporting the community energy ambitions of community groups within its network areas.
The team and accompanying community energy strategy recognises the importance of community energy in helping both the UK in general and local communities, with their ambition to reduce their energy costs and enjoy the environmental benefits that these solutions can bring. Initiatives supported by the team will promote energy autonomy, explore solutions to local energy issues and help to address environmental concerns, fuel poverty and actively improve communities’ capacity to engage with these types of projects.
A recent independent review of community energy, commissioned
by SP Energy Networks, found that community-led green initiatives have the power to deliver 2.5 million tonnes of carbon savings each year – the
equivalent of powering 2.2 million UK homes by 2030.
Community-led energy programmes are a crucial component in achieving net-zero ambitions through the provision of alternative energy sources and grid flexibility to meet the growing demand for low carbon technologies..
As part of the SP Energy Networks’ Community Energy Strategy, a series of dedicated workshops will be delivered to help groups explore the community energy sector, with practical sessions offering technical guidance and signposting to suitable project support.
The Community Energy team members will also be on hand to meet with community groups and organisations as well as guiding communities through the energy journey process, providing relevant advice and ‘optioneering’.
This initiative also aims to help support national targets, with the newly elected UK Government’s Local Power Plan looking to provide grants and low-interest loans for communityled clean energy projects. This will contribute to strive to produce 8 GW of solar and onshore wind in the next five years as part of its broader climate change ambitions.
Nicola Connelly, CEO, SP Energy Networks explained more: “Over the past year, we have worked closely with community energy organisations and key stakeholders to establish
how people perceive and understand community energy.
“It’s clear that there is a wealth of ambition across communities, but a lack of resources and support to help every project move forward. In setting up our new community energy team, we hope to be able to breakdown potential barriers to community energy projects and help more local groups to see the major benefits community energy can bring them.”
Emma Bridge, Chief Executive at Community Energy England, said: “We welcome SP Energy Networks taking a proactive approach in supporting community energy groups.
“By providing technical expertise, funding guidance and strategic support, this new team will help to empower local organisations to overcome barriers and achieve their renewable energy goals, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and resilient energy system for all.”
As the network operator for Central and Southern Scotland, Merseyside, Cheshire North and Mid-Wales and North Shropshire, SP Energy Networks plays a critical role in helping connecting community energy projects, ranging from local renewable generation projects to low carbon transport into the grid. More information: www.spenergynetworks.co.uk
IPV inverters for Europe’s largest solar power plant
t has been announced that Delta, a global leader in power management and a provider of IoT-based smart green solutions, has provided approximately 3,500 Delta M125HV PV inverters to MOVE ON Energy GmbH to power Europe’s largest solar power plant, the 650 MW Witznitz Solar Park. Located near Leipzig, Germany, this landmark project collectively generates enough green electricity to power 200,000 households annually, translating into a reduction in carbon emissions by over 250,000 tons each year.
“This project marks a significant step forward in our mission to
transition from traditional fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. We selected Delta as our inverter supplier for their proven technical expertise and ability to meet the stringent requirements of this largescale operation,” stated Wolfgang Pielmaier, Technical Director and CoPartner of MOVE ON Energy. “Delta’s inverters provided us with the system certificates necessary for extra-high voltage operations and their robust performance ensures that we can maximise the efficiency and output of the solar park,” he added.
“The Witznitz Solar Park is a project of superlatives and we are
thrilled to have played a pivotal role in its success. Our team of over R&D engineers worldwide, with more than 25 years of experience in the photovoltaic industry, brought the expertise needed to deliver exceptional performance for this project,” said Andreas Hoischen, Senior Director and Head of Photovoltaic Inverter Solutions at Delta EMEA. “This collaboration with MOVE ON Energy underscores Delta’s commitment to advancing the global energy transition through innovative power electronics.”
Delta’s M125HV inverters, designed to handle the complex demands of high-voltage grid integration, are a
Combilift scoops top award
Materials handling company Combilift has been awarded ‘Company of the Year’ at the prestigious Business & Finance Awards 2024, in association with KPMG Ireland. This remarkable achievement marks Combilift’s ninth major win in the last three months, solidifying its position as an
industry leader.
The ‘Company of the Year’ award, presented to Combilift’s CEO Martin McVicar by Seamus Hand from KPMG at the 50th Business & Finance Awards ceremony held in Dublin, is a testament to the company’s significant impact on both the Irish economy and the
global market. Combilift, with annual revenue exceeding 500 million Euros, has continued to thrive. Its export-focused business model has resulted in 98% of its operations serving international markets.
Since being founded in 1998, Combilift has built a global
critical component of the solar park’s infrastructure. With a peak efficiency of 99.1% and features such as intelligent cooling systems and wide MPPT voltage range, these inverters ensure optimal performance even in harsh conditions. The M125HV is designed for 1500V DC and 600 V AC systems with one MPP tracker, making it ideally suited for large-scale solar installations like Witznitz. In addition, these inverters are certified according to VDE-AR-N 4120/4130 standards, which are crucial for feeding energy directly into the 380 kV grid.
More information: www.deltaww.com
reputation as the largest manufacturer of multi-directional, articulated and side-loading forklifts, as well as large material handling equipment such as straddle carriers, with over 85,000 units in operation across 85 countries.
More information: www.combilift.com
New biomass power plant running full speed ahead
On 9 December, it was announced that The Koehler Group is extensively investing in the expansion and conversion of its combined heat and power plant in Oberkirch, Germany, in order to employ environmentally-friendly biomass as fuel in the future. The large-scale project hit a milestone in June of this year when the last piece of coal was used. The boiler was then fired with biomass for the first time ever on 20 August, after which a test run with extensive fine-tuning began. As a result of the switch to biomass, more than 150,000 metric tons of direct fossil CO ² emissions will be cut per year at the site.
Once initial firing adjustments were made and the boiler system’s
steam output was gradually increased, the steam turbine and its generator went online on 30 August as scheduled. This first synchronization run was the first time ever that power was fed into the public electricity grid in what is referred to as ‘grid connected mode’. The power generation system had been running in island mode previously, meaning that the corresponding electricity was only used to power Koehler’s own electrical systems.
Since then, the power delivered by the converted power plant has been ratcheted up as part of the test run. All three incoming fuel areas, together with the corresponding fuel treatment and conveyance systems and four fuel silos, are now operating
normally, and the converted power plant is generating around 12 MW of green power.
The size of the investment, coming in at over 70 million Euros, is representative of just how large and complex the process of converting the former coal-fired power plant has been. Part of that is the fact that the process requires an extensive test run in order to be able to get the optimum settings for operation.
One of the focal points of the aforementioned test run is reducing noise emissions. To this effect, an extremely broad variety of measures revolving around the biomass power plant have already been taken in consultation with the area’s residents. For example, an access
hatch in the boiler house’s envelope has been closed and a large number of operating parameters have been fine-tuned. In addition, planned noise barriers have now been installed.
Hartmut Felsch, Mill Director at the Koehler Paper plant in Oberkirch, explained: “We’ve arranged for third-party noise control experts to work with us throughout the entire commissioning and optimisation process, which is really important as far as we’re concerned”.
Final acceptance testing for the new biomass power plant by TÜV is expected to take place at the beginning of the second quarter of 2025.
More information: www.koehler.com
Biomass powder burning
Replacing fossil fuels with renewable alternatives in the lime kiln is now more attractive than ever. ANDRITZ’s solution is exactly what one has been waiting for: technically easy to adapt, simple and reliable to operate, and financially appealing.
Alternative methods for firing boilers and kilns have been highly anticipated. For these methods to become widespread, they need to be simple, effective, and extremely energy-efficient. Such a solution is
ANDRITZ’s biomass refining technology, tailor-made for the lime kiln.
Jari Vuorela, Product Manager at ANDRITZ explained, “We provide a very efficient solution to powderise the biomass where the high-quality, consistent refined powder is automatically fed to the lime kiln instead of fossil fuels.
“The use of biomass instead of fossil fuels represents a number of solutions pulp producers are facing in the reduction of the carbon footprint at mills.”
The biomass can come in different shapes and sizes, and can be mill residues, wood waste or pellets.
Simplicity is key to utilise cutting edge technology
The ANDRITZ LimeBio-Powder biofuel plant for the lime kiln fits perfectly into the pulp mill infrastructure and is easy to operate from the interfaces provided, which means no steep learning curve for the operators. Once running, it is fully autonomous and can be implemented to any DCS systems and ANDRITZ automation and digitalisation solutions.
ANDRITZ experts adapted well-proven powderising technology that was so far mainly used for the production of asphalt and energy generation, to perfectly
Good to know
‘Biomass powder burning’ is actually a new term. The phrase was invented by experts at ANDRITZ, whose sole aim is to find ways to reduce the carbon footprint of pulp mills. These endeavours go across the board, from the woodyard to the final bale of pulp. In its latest move, ANDRITZ has come up with a simple and efficient solution to fuel the lime kiln by using powdered biomass made up of forest residues, waste wood and pellets.
“We provide a very efficient solution to powderise the biomass where the high-quality, consistent refined powder is automatically fed to the lime kiln instead of fossil fuels.”
meet today’s challenges of pulp producers that use biomass.
Vuorela said, “The particle size that makes up the powder is very important to maintain efficient combustion in the lime kiln and to maintain the correct temperature profile.
“Our solution for biomass powder burning ensures the correct, consistent fineness of the powder at the same time as using the minimum amount of energy.
“We have adapted the technology for use in the lime kiln to make it simple to operate and easy to maintain. The whole LimeBio-Powder biofuel plant system for the lime kiln has a small footprint, is easy to install and, when operational, is quite similar to fossil fuel feeding systems.”
Fast ROI with improved sustainability
ANDRITZ’s solution for biomass powder burning results in major savings by using residues from the woodyard and other biomass, which – along with the reduction of CO² emissions – means the return on investment can be made in just two years. Now is the time to invest, as new regulations in Europe mean that pulp producers will be hit with costs as much as 100 Euros per ton of CO² in the near future. Vuorela concluded, “Using biomass as a replacement for fossil fuels goes some way to alleviate these new regulatory challenges. The elimination of the use of fossil fuels can also save costs on fuel oil, as well as reduce dependence on what can be a volatile market.
“Furthermore, the switch to renewable fuels greatly improves the sustainability profile of pulp mills.”
More information: www.andritz.com
Overview of the LimeBio-Powder biofuel plant for the lime kiln.
Jari Vuorela, Product Manager at ANDRITZ.
Lhyfe doubles capacity of new plant
On 18 October, Lhyfe, one of the world’s pioneers in the production of green and renewable hydrogen, laid the foundation stone of its largest green hydrogen production site in France. The aim is to produce green hydrogen in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, using renewable electricity and the electrolysis of water, to decarbonise transport and industry in the region.
Construction of Lhyfe’s green hydrogen production plant in Le Cheylas on a 7,000 sq m plot of land at the former Ascométal steelworks waste storage site has now begun. The project will contribute to the reindustrialisation of this brownfield site, initiated by its current owner SLS Actiparc Sillon Alpin.
The site, which has been named Lhyfe Le Cheylas, was initially planned to have 5 MW of capacity producing up to 2 t/day, but instead, will have a production capacity of up to 4 t/day (i.e. an installed electrolysis capacity of 10 MW), right
from its launch, which is planned for early 2026, to meet the demand of the particularly dynamic local market. This doubling of capacity will make it the largest Lhyfe site in France – the next largest are Bessières and Buléon, each with a capacity of 5 MW.
As a pure player and pioneer in green hydrogen, Lhyfe produces its hydrogen by electrolysis of water and uses electricity from renewable sources supplied by national producers. The company has already installed four production sites,
including three in France and one in Germany.
Two-fold purpose
The purpose of this green hydrogen is two-fold – decarbonising heavy and intensive transport (particularly lorries, buses, etc) and industry.
As France’s leading industrial region in terms of employment, AuvergneRhône-Alpes is at the forefront of the deployment of hydrogen in Europe. It launched its first projects in 2017, including the Zero Emission Valley (ZEV) project, supported by the region
and implemented by HYmpulsion, and IMAGHyNE (Investment to Maximise the Ambition for Green Hydrogen iN Europe) in 2024. This latest project, in which Lhyfe is a direct partner with its production unit in Le Cheylas, aims to develop a large-scale renewable and low-carbon hydrogen economy in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, fully integrated with the existing energy system and meeting the needs of high-emission sectors.
Lhyfe has signed a ten-year sales contract with HYmpulsion, giving priority to supplying HYmpulsion hydrogen stations in the Alps, with a volume of 600 tonnes per year (i.e. around 1.6 tonnes a day), over a total period of ten years. Six stations have already been inaugurated across the
HYmpulsion network and seven others are currently under construction.
With a total production capacity of 4 tonnes per day, Lhyfe will also be able to meet the significant needs of regional industry, replacing grey hydrogen and natural gas in particular, in sectors such as metallurgy, microelectronics, chemicals, etc.
With Le Cheylas, Lhyfe aims to contribute to the ambitious objectives of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, which are promoting the development of clean transport and low-carbon industry, and improving air quality in the Alpine valleys.
Project support
The Lhyfe Le Cheylas site has received support from the Just Transition Fund, as part of the 2021-2027 European Regional Programme implemented by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, in close collaboration with the areas concerned. The contracted subsidies amount to 5.5 million Euros.
The project is also receiving financial support from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership as part of the European large-scale hydrogen valley
project IMAGHyNE, co-ordinated by the region. The contracted subsidies here are for 0.75 million Euros.
Thierry Kovacs, Vice-President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region responsible for the Environment and Positive Ecology, said: “Since 2017, under the impetus of President Laurent Wauquiez, the Region has invested in the H2 sector. The deployment of its regional strategy, adopted in 2020 and implemented today under the authority of President Fabrice Pannekoucke, has made Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes the pioneering region for hydrogen. The Zero Emission Valley and IMAGHyNE projects are inspirations for the regions of France and Europe. European funding is an important lever for supporting this transition to a carbon-neutral economy. Over the 2021-2027 period, almost 77 million Euros in JTF funding will be devoted to this issue in the eligible areas of the Rhône and Isère departments. The Region is using this fund to support the job-generating hydrogen industry. Lhyfe’s electrolyser project is a fine example of this and with the support of the Region and
Europe, it can set up its largest green hydrogen production site, which is an essential link in the value chain in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes”.
Thierry Raevel, Chairman of HYmpulsion and Director of Parliamentary Relations and Regions for ENGIE, added: “Beyond the national challenges of energy supply security, hydrogen offers an answer to three challenges for our regions: decarbonising light and heavy mobility, improving air quality in our valleys, and creating jobs locally. We are proud to establish this partnership with Lhyfe for the production of renewable hydrogen. This project will enable us to supply the Hympulsion stations, supplementing the hydrogen produced by our 2 MW electrolyser (around 800 kg hydrogen/day)”.
Matthieu Guesné, Founder and CEO of Lhyfe concluded: “We commend the clear-sighted, visionary and determined nature of the AuvergneRhône-Alpes Region, which as early as 2017 wanted to develop the green hydrogen sector to decarbonise its transport and industrial fabric, and which has subsequently provided unfailing and highly effective support to companies like ours. This support is now enabling us to start building our largest production site in France. The favourable development of the ecosystem has enabled us to save time by installing the enhanced version of our site straight away”.
More information: www.lhyfe.com
Computer-generated image of the future Lhyfe Le Cheylas plant (picture courtesy of Lhyfe).
Pro Carton urged responsible forestry at COP29
Pro Carton supported COP29, which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11-22 November with a firm commitment to the principles of inclusion and shared responsibility in addressing the urgent climate crisis. No country should be left behind and global collaboration, coupled with accountability for agreed-upon measures, is essential to securing a sustainable future for all. The intensifying impacts of climate change, with consequences felt worldwide, underscore the urgency of action – time is of the essence. Forests play a vital role in mitigating climate change. Europe provides a powerful example of sustainable forest management, with forests growing in both surface area and volume. In the past 15 years, European forests have expanded by 59,000 sq km, an area about two times the size of Belgium. Furthermore, they grow annually by 157 million cu m in volume – net after harvesting – demonstrating the potential for sustainable practices to contribute to climate action. This success story needs to be replicated globally through the adoption of responsible forestry practices to protect and enhance this vital resource. Indeed, Europe’s forests-based sector is capturing a remarkable 20% of all EU greenhouse gas emissions. Forests
hereby act as a natural defence system, mitigating the negative impacts of climate change and soil erosion and flooding. Continued investment in sustainable forest management practices will further grow the forest ecosystem, offering sustainable resources, essential habitats and promoting biodiversity.
Pro Carton members are committed to the responsible stewardship of natural resources, recognising that this is key to safeguarding the planet. They actively support sustainable forest management in Europe and advocate for its expansion worldwide. Over 90% of the wood used in the carton and cartonboard packaging industry comes from European forests. This ensures the long-term health of these vital ecosystems.
The most recent Pro Carton survey, of over 5,000 European consumers (Rethinking Packaging – Consumer Study, 2024), revealed an overwhelming understanding of the importance of forests in the fight against climate change. The study found that consumers have the highest trust in fibre-based materials, with 87% of respondents reporting high confidence levels that cartonboard materials will be recycled after use. Planting new
trees was identified as a top priority for tackling the global climate change challenge (62%) and using packaging made from renewable resources was also reported to make a difference (60%). This level of trust highlights the significant value consumers place on sustainable packaging and their desire to contribute to a healthier environment.
At COP29, Pro Carton called for global solidarity, a unified commitment to climate action, providing support and co-operation to those most vulnerable to climate change impacts. Robust mechanisms must be put in place to ensure that nations fulfil their commitments, with sanctions for non-compliance. Finally, policies that promote responsible forestry practices globally must be prioritised, recognising the crucial role of forests in climate change mitigation. More information: www.procarton.com
The curved features of this cartonboard packaging for Marquise gin protects the glass bottles.
‘Carton of the Year’ was created with Stora Enso cartonboard for Laboratorios Flor Natural Parfums.
Pellets –smart and sustainable
European Pellet Conference 2024: As a CO2-neutral fuel, sustainable bioenergy is a key component in the energy transition. Over 400 experts discussed this and more on 6 March 2024 in Wels/Austria at the meeting place for the global pellet community.
Staying up to date
The last few years have been challenging for the pellets industry: the sustainability discussions at European level and in some Member States, market fluctuations and supply chain issues were some of the topics.
The European Pellet Conference 2024 showed how we can increase the acceptance of pellets as an important element in the clean energy transition and the positive contribution of pellets to the circular economy. It highlighted latest trends in markets, policies, technologies and innovations, helping the participants stay on top of developments in the pellet and bioenergy world. Cuttingedge developments and R&D results in the pellet and bioenergy sectors were showcased. Also, international experts offered updates and outlooks on pellet markets around the globe.
The largest annual pellet event worldwide
The European Pellet Conference offers a compact and comprehensive package including the Young Biomass Researchers Conference, a poster presentation, valuable networking opportunities and a major tradeshow on energy efficiency with a strong focus on pellet-related exhibitors (the "Energiesparmesse").
The event is part of the World Sustainable Energy Days (WSED) – an international conference on the energy transition and global climate neutrality with over 650 experts from more than 60 countries each year. The WSED is organised by the OÖ Energiesparverband, the energy agency of the Region of Upper Austria.
European Pellet Conference 2025 – Call for Papers & Speakers
The next edition of the event will be held on 5 March 2025 in Wels/Austria. The deadline for the Call for Papers & Speakers (also for the Young Biomass Researchers Conference) is 10 October 2024. For more information: www.wsed.at
Targeting emissions zero
WE ENABLE OUR CUSTOMERS TO REDUCE CO 2 EMISSIONS
