Forest Bioenergy Review & PIM Renewable Energy - Winter 2023

Industry News

Review & PIM Renewable Energy Volume 11 Number 59

2 Industry News

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ANDRITZ

Ukraine

13 Combilift

Winter 2023 Forest Bioenergy Review

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PU LP & PAPE R

ZE RO E MISSIONS & ZE RO WASTE INITIATIVE CircleToZeroTM

The pulp and paper industries play a key role in the transition and transformation towards a fossil-fuel free circular bioeconomy. By developing circular operations to eliminate unused side streams, and creating new value-added bio-based products, it can be the global leader in zero emissions and zero waste industrial processes.

CircleToZero brings together the continuous development and improvement of existing ANDRITZ technology solutions to achieve this leadership position with clear environmental and financial benefits.

Our shared journey towards zero emissions and zero waste has already started.

ANDRITZ AG ⁄ Stattegger Strasse 18 ⁄ 8045 Graz ⁄ Austria ⁄ andritz.com

Industry News

Comment

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Contents

elcome to the Winter issue of Forest Bioenergy Review & PIM Renewable Energy. Thanks are due to all our readers for taking the time to re-register for continued receipt of the magazine. This re-registration process was completed

on the 2nd October and the title’s global audience now exceeds 21,000 individuals. During the re-registration process there was also some great feedback as to the topics that readers wanted to see included in our schedule for 2024.

Where possible, as many of these topical subjects as possible have been

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Industry News

Pioneer in tidal energy joins global network

incorporated into next year’s editorial plan. The month of publication has also been slightly changed, so issues will now appear at the end of February, May, August and November.

For our 60th issue in Spring, next year, the magazine will cover a number of important topics, which will include: on and offshore wind energy production; power supply upgrades, maintenance and service; and energy distribution methods including piping. Submissions for inclusion in this issue should made no later than 14th February and sent to e-mail: pulppaperlogistics@

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Andritz

Transforming a pulp mill into a biorefinery for renewable fuels

virginmedia.com Finally, I am sad to report the passing of Einar Johansson, who had worked for FBR magazine from the very first issue. Einar was both a friend and work colleague, and he will be sadly missed as part of the team. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends, and I dedicate this edition to the memory of Einar. May he rest in peace.

Vince Maynard, Publisher

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Ukraine

Ukraine’s largest private investment project

FOREST BIOENERGY REVIEW Volume 11, Number 59 – Winter 2023 Contact information PUBLISHER &

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Combilift

New machine for handling wind turbines

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Novocarbo

Germany’s largest carbon removal plant opened Winter 2023 Forest Bioenergy Review

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Industry News

Pioneer in tidal energy joins global network

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rittany will officially formalise its support for tidal turbine technology by joining Ocean Energy Europe.

This move will integrate Brittany into the world’s largest network of ocean energy professionals, which brings together industry players, research entities and local authorities supporting this sector. This marks a significant step in the European recognition of Brittany’s contribution to the development of tidal energy in Europe, a sector that the French Government has recently decided to support and which is expected to be included in the next multi-year energy plan.

As part of its energy transition, Brittany has opted for offshore renewable energies. Having high-

potential sites such as Fromveur and ideal zones for small-scale tidal turbines, Brittany has been providing unfailing support for the development of tidal turbine technology for several years. In 2016, Brittany adopted a roadmap for the development of offshore wind and marine energies providing for the installation of 500 MW of tidal power by 2030.

It is now joined by the government, which last July announced its support for the development of the Flowatt tidal turbine pilot farm, whose turbines have been tested and validated at the Paimpol-Bréhat test site in Brittany.

According to Rémi Gruet, CEO of Ocean Energy Europe, the

government must now set targets for the commercial development of tidal energy projects. “We are extremely happy to welcome Brittany into the Ocean Energy Europe network. The region has long been home to projects and technological development and its assets in terms of tidal resource, maritime infrastructure and skills make it a clear go-to for developers.

With Normandie and Pays de la Loire already on board, it is yet another clear message for the French Government that French Regions are powering ahead with ocean energy and that the technologies need some targets in the National Energy Strategy.”

More information: www.bretagneoceanpower.fr

First turbine acquisition for Conrad Energy The UK’s largest owner-operator of flexible generation assets, Conrad Energy, has recently completed the acquisition of the Port of Liverpool Wind Farm.

“As our first wind asset, this is an exciting and ambitious step forward in our plans to support the energy transition in Great Britain,” said Steven Hardman, CEO. “Our footprint in the North-West of England already comprises flexible generation and battery storage, and this wind farm is an extension of our commitment to the region.

With battery, hydrogen and solar forming part of our portfolio, and with a strong 2 GW development and construction pipeline, adding wind power was a natural next step.”

The Port of Liverpool Wind Farm has been operational since 2009. Comprised of four Nordex N90 2.5 MW turbines with an installed capacity of 10 MW, the turbines are located along Alexandra, Canada and Huskisson docks. The acquisition underlines Conrad Energy’s ambitions to contribute to the UK’s energy transition.

More information: www.conradenergy.co.uk

Philippe Thieffry (left), Head of Bretagne Ocean Power, and Rémi Gruet, CEO of Ocean Energy Europe.

Quantum leap in battery technology The Bonn-based company High Performance Battery (HPB) has achieved a decisive breakthrough in battery and storage technology.

A team led by Professor Dr Günther Hambitzer has developed the world’s first solid-state battery, with outstanding properties, to production readiness.

The applications range from stationary storage for home and industrial use to charging infrastructures and the mobility segment, such as the automotive 2

Forest Bioenergy Review Winter 2023

industry. “We are not only opening a new chapter in battery technology,” explained Sebastian Heinz, CEO of HPB, “but are also making a decisive contribution to the energy transition and climate protection worldwide”.

The data and properties measured so far show significantly better values and characteristics compared to the currently dominant lithium-ion batteries.

While conventional lithium-ion batteries have to be replaced after

about 1,250 charging cycles, with hourly charging and discharging, the HPB solid-state battery currently has at least 12,500 charging cycles, with a comparable load. Since these cells have not yet reached the end of their life, this number will continue to increase steadily.

The new HPB solid-state electrolyte is non-flammable and thus considerably safer than the flammable liquid electrolytes of conventional lithium-ion batteries.

The HPB solid-state battery also shows a 50% better environmental balance compared to current lithium-ion technology. This makes it the “green key to the energy and mobility revolution”.

HPB’s licensing model is intended to allow a rapid market introduction of the new technology in many fields of application and regions of the world. HPB is in contact with a number of potential licensees.

More information: www.highperformancebattery.ch

Industry News

Large-scale energy storage system in Switzerland

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or over a decade, ADS-TEC Energy (NASDAQ: ADSE), a global leader in batterybuffered platform solutions, has delivered large-scale battery energy storage plants in the megawatt range, with the flexibility required for energy transition. As a system provider with in-house developed battery technology, including battery management and control, the company has a long history in large-scale storage solutions. Battery power plants that were installed over ten years ago are still in operation today and have proven to be high-performing, highly reliable and significantly more longlasting than originally anticipated.

Since 26 March, 2021, a largescale energy storage system with a capacity of 1.25 MW and 1.3 megawatt-hours has been operational for Rhiienergie AG in Graubünden, Switzerland. The 7.5-metre-long container is located directly in front of the Vial substation in Domat/Ems. Rhiienergie is considered a pioneer in the field of decentralised energy future and smart grid. In June, 2023, it once again won the coveted Energiewende Award EWS. Its investment in the ADS-TEC Energy large battery has more than paid off and, based on other customer experiences, is likely

to continue operating for many more years.

Through close collaboration between Rhiienergie and ADS-TEC Energy, the facility was integrated into Rhiienergie’s automated management systems and passed operational tests right from the outset. It provides grid ancillary services to the national grid provider, Swissgrid, and stabilises local grids.

When required, it manages load peaks, relieving the grid and resulting in more efficient utilisation. This also delivers savings in grid usage costs, which Rhiienergie passes on to its customers. Additional revenue is generated through system services.

Christian Capaul, Managing

Director of Rhiienergie AG, said: “The battery performance is excellent. The system operates reliably and plays an increasingly important role as the share of renewables grows steadily.

ADS-TEC Energy has proven to be a dependable partner and as a result, we are planning to work with them to expand our storage capacity on a significantly larger scale”.

Thomas Speidel, CEO of ADS-TEC Energy, added: “We are delighted to receive such positive feedback from our customer; it is a valuable validation for us. With our ‘Everything from a single source’ and ‘Made in Germany’ strategy, our systems maintain our operational capability over an extended period of time as

we commit to being a reliable partner for the future”.

ADS-TEC Energy possesses an exceptional level of in-house development, enabling operational support at all levels. This enhances long-term system availability and provides customers with greater future security. Digital twins are created for the entire system down to the cell level and each storage unit is monitored by ADS-TEC Energy through a secure connection to detect critical system conditions in time to prevent problems. This ensures reliable system operation throughout its entire lifecycle.

More information: www.ads-tec.com

Photovoltaic projects in Romania One of the leading independent integrated solar power producers in Central Europe, R.Power SA, is strengthening its growth in the European power generation market by joining forces with Eiffel Investment Group, a leading French asset manager. The two companies will develop over 1 GWp of ground-mounted photovoltaic projects in Romania.

As part of a joint venture, R.Power will bring over 50 photovoltaic projects at various

stages of development, while Eiffel Investment Group will provide financing via its Eiffel Transition Infrastructure fund. The partners intend to accelerate the development of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects on the Romanian market by combining their expertise in this field.

Once operational, these projects should supply renewable electricity to over 500,000 Romanian homes, thus helping to avoid

the emission of the equivalent of 420,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

The De Gaulle Fleurance team was led by Partner Sylvie Perrin and Senior Manager David Faravelon, with Senior Associate Anne Kuhanathan and Associate Jordan Le Gallo handling the M&A/ Corporate aspects.

“We are delighted to support R.Power in this ambitious approach to the Romanian market, which will significantly advance the growth of clean energy

generation in the region,” explained Sylvie Perrin.

“This project will enable R.Power to continue its development in the European solar energy market, with a sustainable and profitable growth model. We would like to thank R.Power for its confidence.

Our involvement in this project confirms and consolidates our international positioning in the renewable energies sector.”

More information: www.rpower.solar Winter 2023 Forest Bioenergy Review

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Industry News

Valmet to retrofit an automation system in Kuwait

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t has been announced that a Valmet DNA Automation System retrofit will be delivered to Sabiya Power and Water Distillation Station in Kuwait, owned by the country’s Ministry of Electricity & Water & Renewable Energy. The new system will replace an existing control system in distillation units 1-8 and recarbonation.

The order was placed by Peak National General Trading & Contracting Co, which has established a strong presence in Kuwait as Valmet’s value-added reseller for automation systems since 2018. The system’s first commissioning phase will take place in Spring, next year, and the second commissioning phase in the Autumn.

“Valmet’s experience in similar

control system retrofits gives us a technical and competitive edge. The end-users have been impressed by the advanced features of the Valmet DNA User Interface, which makes it easier for us to promote the Valmet solutions. The Valmet staff provides us with excellent and quick support

Combilift wins Italian Award It was recently announced that Combilift’s electric fork lift truck, the Combi-CB70E, has been honoured with the coveted Italian Terminal and Logistics Award. This prestigious accolade recognises the innovation in the operational field and its commitment to operator training and safety.

The Italian Terminal and Logistics Award is significant industry recognition, presented annually to highlight the skills of operators in port, intermodal and logistics terminals,

both in Italy and abroad.

The new Combi-CB70E is a further addition to Combilift’s ever growing range of electric models, which offers powerful performance, extensive battery life and unrivalled ergonomics.

This model, in the vibrant Combigreen livery, boasts the distinction of being the shortest 7 ton capacity counterbalance truck on the market whilst also benefitting from multidirectional ability, enabling the versatile space-saving handling of both long and bulky loads.

Stefano Chimentin (left) of EA Group partner with Martin McVicar, CEO of Combilift. See main article on page 13.

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Forest Bioenergy Review Winter 2023

with full transparency,” said Abdel Moneim Khalil, Managing Partner, Peak National.

“Peak National has delivered several distributed control system (DCS) projects based on Valmet DNA technology to Kuwait and has now received the second major

DCS retrofit order. We are expecting several similar DCS retrofit projects during this and coming years, together with Peak National. We are also planning to expand our automation system business to process industries like oil and gas, not only in Kuwait, but also in other selected countries in the Middle East,” confirmed Kari Heikkilä, Senior Sales Manager, Automation Systems, Valmet.

Valmet’s delivery scope consists of Valmet DNA Automation System, including Valmet DNA User Interface (DNA UI) and support services.

The system withstands the harsh weather, dust and moisture typical of the region.

More information: www.valmet.com

SAF to power Ryanair flights from Schiphol Neste and Ryanair have expanded their collaboration to enable the carrier to power its full schedule of flights from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport with a 40% blend of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ (SAF).

This significant increase in SAF usage represents the latest milestone towards Ryanair’s ambitious goal of operating 12.5% of flights with SAF by 2030 and further supports Ryanair’s ‘Pathway to Net Zero by 2050’ decarbonisation goals, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Ryanair’s flights from Schipol by 32%.

Thomas Fowler, Director of Sustainability at Ryanair, said: “Ryanair is delighted to extend our partnership with Neste to increase the amount of Ryanair flights at Amsterdam being powered with a 40% blend of SAF from a third of flights to our entire Amsterdam operation. Increasing the use of SAF is

a fundamental pillar of our Pathway to Net Zero by 2050 decarbonisation strategy and this increase at Amsterdam will reduce greenhouse gas emissions of our flights from there by 32%. We look forward to continuing our growing partnership with Neste as we further progress our goal of operating 12.5% of Ryanair flights with SAF by 2030”.

Alexander Küper, Vice-President EMEA from the Renewable Aviation business unit at Neste, confirmed: “Decarbonising aviation is more important than ever and we are proud to support Ryanair in achieving their ambitious Pathway to Net Zero by 2050. Increasing the usage of SAF to all flights departing from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a major milestone enabling Ryanair to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions of its operations at the airport”.

More information: www.neste.com

Industry News

Pellets – clean and climate neutral European Pellet Conference 2023: As a CO2-neutral fuel, sustainable bioenergy has a key role to play in decarbonising and securing our energy supply. Over 400 experts discussed this and more in Wels, Austria. ″It was wonderful to see conference participation back up at pre-corona levels″, reports Conference Director Christiane Egger.

Separating facts from fiction In 2023, the European Pellet Conference focussed on the importance of pellets in responding to the energy crisis and highlighted latest trends in markets, policies, technologies and innovations.

The strategy session presented the policy and market context for the clean energy transition and provided input on how to deal with the current challenges. In the panel discussion ″The future of wood pellets″, leading biomass experts shared their insights on how to separate facts from fiction on topics such as forestry, air quality and sustainability.

The event showcased cutting-edge developments and R&D results in the pellet and bioenergy sectors, and start-ups presented their innovations for the pellet market. Also, international experts offered updates and outlooks on pellet markets around the world.

The largest annual pellet event worldwide The European Pellet Conference offers a 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 2024 – Call for Papers & Speakers The next edition of the event will be held on 6 - 7 March 2024 in Wels/Austria.

The deadline for the Call for Papers & Speakers (also for the Young Biomass Researchers Conference) is 10 October 2023. For more information: www.wsed.at.

www.pellets23.eu Winter 2023 Forest Bioenergy Review

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Industry News

BTU system solves New boiler plant challenges for LC3 for French wasteto-energy centre Transporti

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o improve the refuelling performance of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) station, LC3 of Piacenza, Italy, wanted to address several challenges. These included high pressure in the LNG tank due to Boil Off Gas (BOG), ineffective heat management of LNG on site and problems with refuelling of LNG trucks due to high tank pressure. In addition, LC3 wanted to increase the volume of Bio-LNG delivered from the station.

The solution was to install a LIQAL Boil-off Gas Treatment Unit (BTU) system supplied by Dover Fueling Solutions of Austin, Texas, via a Smart Grid Investment Grant. The tank pressure is now under control

and at low total cost of ownership, resulting in smooth and efficient truck refuelling operations on site.

LC3 can now provide a unified refuelling experience at its LNG station. With the LIQAL BTU System, tank pressure is under control, meaning truck drivers can refuel their LNG vehicle smoothly and consistently. In addition, logistics are easier to manage as there is no need to arrange offloading to reduce tank pressure. The installation of the LIQAL BTU system also allows the site to operate with a lower minimum level of LNG within the tank and LC3 is now able to deliver 100% bio-LNG to trucks.

More information: www.doverfuelingsolutions.com

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from Idex, the leading medium-sized energy services company in France, to supply a third waste treatment line to a waste-to-energy center in Villers-Saint-Paul, which is operated

by Idex.

This extension will increase the center’s capacity in renewable energy production and thus contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of the region near Paris. Start-up of the line is scheduled for 2025.

ANDRITZ´s scope of supply includes the engineering and manufacturing of a vertical boiler with grate combustion system, assembly of the complete boiler equipment on site, commissioning, and trial-run operation. The new line will add the capacity to treat 80,000 tons of high calorific waste (MSW/ RDF) annually. In total, all three lines combined, the Villers center will thus 6

Forest Bioenergy Review Winter 2023

be able to treat almost 260,000 tons of waste per year, providing renewable energy for 13,500 households.

The waste-to-energy center in Villers-Saint-Paul is operated

by Idex on behalf of the owner, Syndicat Mixte du Département de l’Oise (SMDO). Shortly before the current project, Idex had successfully collaborated with ANDRITZ on an EPC project for a complete biomass power plant in French Guiana.

“We are pleased that we will once again cooperate with experts from ANDRITZ on such a demanding project. The planned investment will enable consumers to benefit from competitive energy prices, given the development of gas prices in recent years,” said Jean-Pierre Lamalle, Director of Major Infrastructure Project Development at Idex.

More information: www.andritz.com

Industry News

EU funding for Seastar project

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ova Innovation, a world leader in marine energy, has secured €20 million of EU funding for a 4 MW tidal energy farm that will be home to the largest number of tidal turbines anywhere in the world. The project, dubbed Seastar, will feature 16 turbines that will be installed offshore at Orkney in Scotland.

It builds on the achievements of Nova’s Shetland Tidal Array (the world’s first offshore tidal array), which has been powering homes, businesses and the Shetland grid since 2016. During this time, Nova enhanced its technology and slashed the cost of tidal energy by an impressive 40%. Seastar opens the next exciting chapter of Nova’s success story – paving the way for a new source of renewable energy across the globe.

The flagship project is funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, which is dedicated to fostering innovation and technology. It not only pioneers a green marine energy

revolution, but also catalyses the creation of high-quality green jobs and enhances Europe’s position as a global frontrunner in the marine energy supply chain.

Responding to the announcement, Morag Watson, Director of Policy at Scottish Renewables, said: “Together

with Scotland’s incredible, worldclass natural resource and a growing number of supply chain businesses dedicated to providing quality local content, the news about Seastar spells the start of a new chapter in the tidal energy story.

“The key to tidal deployment at

scale has always been cost reduction and Seastar will enable Nova Innovation to do that by allowing mass fabrication of new undersea power devices at its manufacturing facility in Edinburgh.

More information: www.novainnovation.com

Are you a member of the Wood Recyclers’ Association?

Providing a voice for wood recyclers & reprocessors Influencing legislation and regulation Raising industry standards Promoting the sector at home and overseas Providing networking opportunities

0330 325 0490

| www.woodrecyclers.org Winter 2023 Forest Bioenergy Review

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Industry News

Three biogas plants for Greece

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he Greek agricultural sector has trusted Weltec Biopower‘s biogas technologies since 2007 and this trend is continuing. Most recently, three biogas plants were built, which the German manufacturer designed with its Greek partner, Tetoros Machinery. Two of these are located in the Epirus region of North-Western Greece (1 MW plant in the town of Arta and a 500 KW plant in Ioannina).

The third one, a 250 KW biogas plant project, was realised in Serres, central Macedonia. Here, an upgrade of the CHP plant to 750 KW is also being

implemented. The region around Epirus is particularly rural. Poultry and cattle production dominate the area. As in many other intensive farming areas, the biomass supply there is higher than the processing capacity of the existing plants. The construction of new biogas plants and the modernisation of existing ones are therefore profitable, especially since such projects are supported by subsidies. The rich substrate supply at the three plant locations was also an important factor for investment decisions.

At the plant in Arta, 150 tons of

cattle slurry and 50 tons of dry chicken manure are processed daily. At the biogas plant site in Ioannina, the daily input is made up of 100 tons of cattle slurry and 30 tons of dry chicken manure. In Serres, a substrate mix of 40 tons of cattle manure and ten tons of energy plants enters the stainless steel digester daily. Here, in addition to his cattle farming, the operator owns land on which corn is grown.

At all three sites, the materials are first sent to a pre-storage tank and then special agitators and pump technology ensure effective pretreatment. In the digesters, the proven

agitators then mix the substrates for efficient biogas production. The two digesters in Arta each hold 4436 cubic metres, in Ioannina, there is a 3993 cubic metre digester and the tank in Serres measures 4905 cubic metres.

“All tanks are made of high-grade stainless steel,” specifies Tobias Peuker, the responsible process engineer at Weltec Biopower.

According to him, the fermentation residue from the digester, with its high nutrient content, can also be used as fertiliser afterwards.

More information: www.weltec-biopower.com

be used at Expo City Dubai has been accredited through the International

Renewable Energy Certificates (I-REC) scheme. It is a tangible demonstration of our climate action leadership and another step forward in decarbonisation at home and abroad, as we call on the world to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030 to keep the ambition of 1.5 degrees within reach.”

More information: www.cop28.com

COP28 statement His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of Masdar and COP28 PresidentDesignate, recently commented: “It is a significant accomplishment that Expo City Dubai, the site of COP28, will be powered by renewable energy produced here in the UAE, made possible by the world-class scale and ambition of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, with 8

Forest Bioenergy Review Winter 2023

key phases developed by Masdar.

“The solar powered electricity to

Industry News

World first for energy storage in Scotland

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erth & Kinross Council in Scotland has become the first place in the world to use spiral-flow battery technology to reduce its carbon footprint. Designed, developed and manufactured by StorTera, an Edinburgh-based developer of intelligent energy storage solutions, the project aims to develop a prototype smart energy network at the Friarton Waste Depot.

As well as reducing the Council’s carbon footprint, the new system will help bring down energy costs through smarter energy management while reducing carbon emissions and supporting the move towards low carbon transport and heating.

The smart energy network will help PKC understand the requirements for developing local smart energy systems that can be built at scale across the Council’s estate and have the potential to help tackle fuel poverty. The network will demonstrate how energy storage combined with intelligent controls can offer the Council flexibility in its energy demand, as well as enhancing how it generates renewable energy.

This smart energy network has the ability to: l Fully utilise solar power generated on site by storing excess energy in batteries for use when required or when energy prices are high. l Generate revenue by providing renewable energy to the electricity network when demand is high. l Power devices such as smart heaters with excess solar generation in turn supporting the electrification of heat. l Transfer clean energy between Council sites (peer to peer). For example, transfer solar power generated in a school during Summer holidays to another Council site.

Councillor Richard Watters, convener of the Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee, depute convener Councillor Liz Barrett and

Councillor Ken Harvey visited Friarton to see the battery in operation on 31 August. Councillor Watters stated: “This is ground-breaking technology that demonstrates our commitment to tackling the climate emergency.

“Innovation will be key to reducing our carbon footprint and this energy storage system, designed and built in Scotland, is the first of its kind to be used in this way and will help Perth become Europe’s most sustainable small city.”

He added, “The Perth & Kinross Smart Energy Network is key to helping us reach net zero. Creating a smart energy system will help us reduce our carbon footprint and our energy costs”.

Brenda Park, Chief Operating Officer at StorTera, said: “We are extremely proud to have been able to install the world’s first-ever smart energy network using our pioneering spiral flow battery technology at the Friarton Recycling Centre.

“We’ve worked closely with Perth and Kinross Council to ensure that our unique system will meet the demands of this site and have high hopes that we will be able to build networks like these at scale across the council area.

“Scotland is producing more and

more clean power and it is clear that long duration energy storage will be crucial if we want to meet our net-

zero targets.”

More information: www.stortera.com

Pulp, Paper & Logistics - Now over 21,000 registered readers 6 issues a year Online, Print and pdf formats Contact Vince Maynard for more information E: pulppaperlogistics@virginmedia.com M: +44 (0) 7747 002286 T: +44 (0) 1732 505724 PPL_MIAC _23_House advert.indd 1

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Winter 2023 Forest Bioenergy Review

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ANDRITZ Industry News E-Fuels and advanced biofuels concepts

Transforming a pulp mill into a biorefinery for renewable fuels The demand for e-fuels and biofuels is growing stronger and stronger as regulation comes in and industries across the globe seek ways of lowering their carbon footprint. Pulp mills are now in a prime position to take advantage of the production of new, alternative fuel concepts from ANDRITZ, which allow producers to pursue new revenue streams from the capture of CO2 and other side streams coming from the manufacturing process.

The development of technologies for e-fuels and advanced biofuels are part of the ANDRITZ CircleToZero initiative. SPECTRUM Now, the customer magazine of ANDRITZ Pulp & Paper, spoke to Henrik Grönqvist, the newly-appointed Director of e-fuel Business at ANDRITZ. Can you tell us about the market for e-fuels and advanced biofuels and what are the driving forces that are creating the demand?

GRÖNQVIST: E-fuels and advanced biofuels are gaining increasing attention as alternatives to traditional fossil fuels due to their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on traditional fossil fuel resources.

The biggest driver for this change is our environmental concerns. We need to do something to alleviate climate change and it is clear we all need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Other drivers are the policy support in various countries and the new directives by the European Council, RED III, which sets the bar for the need of these fuels by 2030. Also, technological innovations and advancements have made the production of different renewable fuels more viable and cost-effective.

Renewable fuel types Renewable fuels can be categorized into different types based on their sources and production methods.

Crop-based fuels are the most commonly used renewable fuels today, which have their own advantages but restrictions like land use.

Biofuels from used cooking oils and animal fats is the next category that are getting more focus nowadays. The growing demand puts strains upon available feedstock issues that can already be seen in Europe.

Advanced biofuels are the third category. Advanced biofuels are derived from biomass, which includes organic materials, e.g., forest residuals, etc. Today in this category, ANDRITZ is already a player with some production sites running.

E-fuels are categorized as their own category mainly because they are known as synthetic fuels and are produced using renewable energy sources. The main components are CO2 and hydrogen (green hydrogen).

These components are then combined to synthesize liquid or gaseous fuels, providing an alternative to fossil fuels.

ANDRITZ is focusing upon the most sustainable renewable fuel categories, which are Advanced biofuels and E-fuels.

The last category is recycled carbon fuels (RCF), which are fuels produced from fossil wastes, that cannot be prevented, reused, or recycled, e.g., plastic waste. This is also interesting for ANDRITZ, but we are monitoring the development of this category since up to now the EU has not yet supported RCF in any regulations.

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Why are a pulp mills ideal contenders for the production of these fuels?

GRÖNQVIST: Pulp mills emit the largest amount of available biogenic CO2 when compared to other types of industrial plants. Today, this CO2 is released into the atmosphere and contributes to mills’ emissions. What we are aiming for is to turn these emissions into new value-added products by capturing the CO2 and utilizing it for e-fuel production.

What is the difference between e-fuels and advanced biofuels?

ANDRITZ will become a fully integrated solution provider for renewable fuels.

GRÖNQVIST: The main difference between e-fuels and advanced biofuels lies in their production methods: e-fuels are fully synthetic fuels made from carbon dioxide (CO2) and renewable hydrogen through electrolysis, while advanced biofuels are derived from a biomass feedstock.

In the EU’s regulations, the e-fuel term is used interchangeably with Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO).

Can you tell us about the experience ANDRITZ has in the development of technology in this area?

GRÖNQVIST: For e-fuels, we already have our own green hydrogen and carbon capture technologies, which we are developing further. For the different synthesis we are partnering with the right players depending upon the project and our customers’ needs. Our aim is to be an integrated solution provider that can combine all needed parts of this puzzle and add it to our different levels of automation solutions and existing aftermarket services.

In addition to this, we are also providing solutions for making advanced biofuels. In this area we have two possibilities: 1) Purification of methanol, where raw methanol created in the pulp mill process can be extracted and purified by using an ANDRITZ patented process and then sold as commercial grade biomethanol on the market. The great thing with this is that the methanol generated in this way contributes towards reducing the amount of fossil greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time adds new streams of income for our customers.

2) ANDRITZ gasification technology is well known and has the most references on the market as of today. This technology can also be used for producing various types of advanced biofuels. In this process we do

ANDRITZ E-Fuels and advanced biofuels Industry concepts News

not burn the gasified gas coming out of the gasification reactor; instead we clean the gas, called Syngas, which is converted into liquid fuels through a synthesis process. In this process, the Syngas goes through a reaction over a catalyst under specific conditions to produce a range of hydrocarbon fuels, such as gasoline, diesel, or aviation fuel.

All these various renewable fuels can be blended with conventional fuels or used as standalone alternatives, contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased energy sustainability.

Can you tell us what types of e-fuels can be produced by implementing ANDRITZ technology at pulp mills? And what are the potential qualities and quantities of fuels that can be produced?

GRÖNQVIST: Pulp mills can be a versatile platform for all kinds of different renewable fuels. However, ANDRITZ is focusing on the most sustainable renewable fuels; advanced biofuels and e-fuels. The type of fuels we are specifically focusing on are the drop-in renewable fuels used for aviation and road transport, as well as for the chemical industry and methanol applications.

Methane and ammonia are also interesting for us, but it is a bit too early to say where the market and demand is going.

The amount of renewable fuels that can be produced within a mill mostly depends on the amount of green electricity and feedstock that is available. But for example, a 100,000 t/a methanol plant could be a decent size of a plant to be integrated with a pulp mill. For this size you need roughly 100 MW of green electricity and about 120,000 t CO2/a if you also utilize the raw methanol from the pulp process itself.

In this decade, the demand within Europe is now defined and stated in the various directives

which have been published. Around 8-9 M/toe* of advanced biofuels and e-fuels are needed before 2030.

GLOSSARY

What type of industries or customers would use the e-fuels produced?

E-FUEL Wide term used for any synthetic fuel made using electrolyzer hydrogen.

GRÖNQVIST: The companies that are producing fuels today, chemical industry players and aviation and maritime players, the ones that are required to react to the growing need of renewable fuels for the future.

RFNBO Renewable fuels of non-biological origin are fuels where electrolysis is powered by renewable energy, excluding biomass. This term is defined by the EU for classification purposes.

Do you have any references of any installations already in place?

BIOFUEL Fuel with energy derived from biomass. Term is used more loosely in USA as regulations were built for biofuels.

GRÖNQVIST: We do not yet have references for a complete e-fuel plant plant; however, we have references for the different parts and all the building blocks needed for these kinds of installations.

ANDRITZ has experience in turnkey and other largescale projects globally and a high competence in best-cost manufacturing with active cooperation with different partners. We aim to be an integrated solution provider with the right cooperation models for our customers and to enable a full EPC project execution model.

How do customers find out more information about the production of e-fuels and advanced biofuels at their mills?

GRÖNQVIST: Our customers can contact their key account manager from ANDRITZ or visit our website.

We would be delighted to answer any questions and discuss specific needs further and together we can make this planet a better place in which to live.

Contact: Henrik Gronqvist henrik.gronqvist@andritz.com

ADVANCED Produced from a list of waste and residuebased feedstocks specified by regional regulations. In the EU, this is Annex IX Part A. In the USA, advanced biofuel refers to biofuels with GHG reduction above 50% and not made from corn.

RENEWABLE Fuel or electricity with energy derived from nonfossil sources. All biofuels and biomass energy are included.

DROP-IN FUEL Fuels that are molecularly similar to conventional fuels and can be substituted like-for-like.

RECYCLED CARBON FUEL (RCF) Any fuel reliant on a source of inorganic carbon that would otherwise reach the biosphere and be recorded as such, e.g., plastic waste syngas or a coal power plant exhaust.

Winter 2023 Forest Bioenergy Review

11

Ukraine Industry News

Ukraine’s largest private investment project

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t COP28 in Dubai on 4 December, DTEK Group and Vestas signed a Memorandum of Understanding to complete the construction of the largest wind farm in Eastern Europe, a project supported by the European Commission and the governments of Ukraine and Denmark. The installed capacity of the Tyligulska Wind Power Plant will be 500 MW, with a total investment in excess of 650 million Euros.

The Memorandum of Understanding between Ukraine’s DTEK and Vestas, the world’s leading manufacturer of wind turbines, stipulates that the Danish company will supply wind turbines to Ukraine for the construction of the second stage of the Tyligulska wind farm.

The memorandum was signed at the UN COP28 climate conference in the presence of European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson and Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko (via video link).

The second stage of the windfarm will consist of 64 wind turbines of 6 MW each, with a total

12 Forest Bioenergy Review Winter 2023

capacity of 384 MW. The first stage with a capacity of 114 MW was commissioned in Spring, 2023.

Combined, the first and second phases of DTEK Tyligulska wind farm will have a capacity of around 500 MW (83 wind turbines). The

plant will be capable of generating about 1.7 TWh of electricity annually – enough for the needs of 900,000 households. It is expected the project will save 1.7 million tons of CO2 that would otherwise be emitted.

DTEK is ready to start construction

of stage two in Q2, 2024, and expects to complete it by the end of 2025.

The installed wind turbines are expected to be gradually connected to the grid from the end of 2024.

Investments for phase two amount to 450 million euros and are to be financed by the company and leading banks under state guarantees.

The wind farm project is aligned to the broad development of distributed generation across Ukraine – a concept approved by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Assets such as wind turbines, which are dispersed over a wide area, have proved to be more resilient during the war and bring Ukraine closer to its ultimate goal to become a green energy hub for Europe.

The Tyligulska windfarm project was developed in accordance with the company’s long-term strategy to achieve carbon neutrality and integration into the single energy market of the European Union, approved by DTEK shareholder Rinat Akhmetov.

More information: www.dtek.com

Industry Combilift News

New machine for handling wind turbines

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esigned to meet the load handling demands of large scale offshore wind manufacturers, the Combi-LC has been developed at Combilift’s Irish HQ and manufacturing plant in collaboration with Siemens Gamesa. It allows for the movement of wind turbine blades and towers through production stages and on to storage locations and can handle lengths of up to 115 metres and weights of about 70 tons.

As the green energy sector continually pushes the boundaries of height and size for components like wind turbine towers and blades, there arises an ever-growing need for novel methods to transport these finished products from the manufacturing facility to the storage yard before dispatch to their intended destinations.

Combilift has collaborated with industry giants in this sector to engineer stable and highly efficient lifting solutions for these challenging and exceptionally valuable loads, culminating in the

creation of the Combi-LC. The Combi-LC carrier unit boasts a unique attachment designed to securely grip the substantial cylindrical end of the blade, firmly affixed to the generator hub.

This robust machine, powered by a 75-ton capacity diesel engine and equipped with 12 wheels, offers versatile multi-directional steering with six wheels. What sets it apart is its ‘tip side’ carrier unit, which

smoothly manoeuvers beneath the blade, supporting it via a hydraulic tilting table-mounted clamp toward its narrower tip.

More information: www.combilift.com

Winter 2023 Forest Bioenergy Review

13

Novocarbo Industry News

Germany’s largest carbon removal plant opened

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emoving CO2 from the atmosphere while at the same time producing climate-neutral heat – these two important decarbonisation measures are combined in the new ‘Carbon Removal Park Baltic Sea’ of the German cleantech company Novocarbo in Grevesmühlen, Germany.

Hamburg-based start-up Novocarbo officially opened the Carbon Removal Park Baltic Sea in Grevesmühlen on 12 October. The opening ceremony was attended by invited guests from politics and business. Jochen Schulte, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour of the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Western

14 Forest Bioenergy Review Winter 2023

Pomerania, praised the park in his welcoming address “as an important component in the fight against climate change.” He emphasised the opportunities offered by the energy transition for additional jobs and economic development.

The Paris climate targets call for carbon dioxide emissions to be reduced to net zero. To achieve this, global CO2 emissions must be massively reduced. At the same time, CO2 must be actively removed from the atmosphere through so-called Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies.

The Carbon Removal Park Baltic Sea (CDR-Park Baltic Sea) in the green industrial area North-West in Grevesmühlen is a unique example in Germany of a holistic approach to CO2 removal and green heat

generation. Each year 3,200 tons of CO2 will be removed from the atmosphere, 6,600 MWh of climateneutral heat will be generated and 1,700 tons of biochar will be produced, which can be used as a soil conditioner in agriculture, among other things.

The showcase site for Biochar Carbon Removal, one of the world’s most effective CO₂ removal technologies, is the result of a unique co-operation of German climate pioneers and combines several climate-saving measures at once.

State-of-the-art pyrolysis technology from German plant manufacturer PYREG is used to process biogenic residues into biochar. This binds the carbon present in the biomass and stores it in the biochar over the long-term.

The biochar serves as a water and nutrient reservoir, making agricultural soils healthier and more climate-resistant, for example. The pyrolysis process also produces climate-neutral waste heat, which Stadtwerke Grevesmühlen will feed into its district heating network from 2023. This will make the supply of around 1,800 connected households greener and increase the share of renewable energy from 60% to 75%.

Novocarbo builds and operates carbon removal parks and is one of Europe’s leading suppliers of biochar.

The Carbon Removal Park Baltic Sea is the third and so far largest of its sites. The construction of 200 further CDR parks worldwide is planned by 2033.

More information: www.novocarbo.com

10–11 April 2024 | Messukeskus Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre

The New Era for PulPaper Pulp & Beyond is the leading forum bringing together the latest forest-based bioeconomy innovations, products, services and technologies as well as key people throughout the ecosystem.

Pulp & Beyond offers new encounters, inspiration, networking and business possibilities for marketing global and sustainable solutions, products and services within the forest-based bioeconomy. The event provides the widest available showcase on the latest trends and innovative new products within the forest-based bioeconomy, supporting learning, employer branding and competence development.

CONTACT Hanna Mårtensson, Sales Manager +358 40 565 1433 hanna.martensson@messukeskus.com

#pulpandbeyond | pulpandbeyond.com

Moving forward towards more autonomous operations

More and more companies aim to increase the autonomy of their mill or plant operations. In an autonomous mill or plant, an autonomous system can monitor its own performance, which brings several benefits, like improved safety and efficiency, lower costs and reduced environmental impact. Digitalization and more autonomous operations also mean that there is less need for human intervention. The role of people will continue to be important, evolving towards supervising and ensuring that different process areas perform well together, and towards managing exceptions. Operations and maintenance work will become more collaborative in the future as well.

Whether you are just beginning your digital transformation journey or you’re further along in the process, Valmet’s framework helps you recognize the necessary steps and building blocks. Our experts are there to support you as you move towards more autonomous and optimized operations.

More on valmet.com/autonomousoperations