Corner Brook P&P to Test TDF as Supplemental Fuel
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Corner Brook Pulp and Paper (CBPPL), Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, is launching a public information and feedback process as part of its registration for a provincial environmental assessment to evaluate the potential of using tire derived fuel (TDF) at the mill. Using TDF as a supplemental fuel would help the mill cut back on fossil fuels and reduce its energy costs, while offering an environmentally safe solution to dispose of the province's used tire stockpile, the company notes.
If the environmental assessment is approved, CBPPL will test TDF by adding it to the boiler fuel mix at the steam plant in 1% increments, up to a maximum of 5% of the total. Tests would be conducted at regular intervals to ensure stack emissions remain within provincial standards.
"Our foremost concern is maintaining emissions within the environmental regulations established by government to protect public health. At this stage, we are undergoing an environmental assessment in the hope we can move forward to test the possible ways TDF can be used at the mill," explained Dwayne White, continuous improvement and technical manager, CBPPL. "The project will not move forward if we encounter any risks or problems that cannot be addressed."
CBPPL has been reviewing supplemental fuel sources for several years and TDF stands out as the most readily-useable and efficient option, it says. It is currently used in 123 facilities in more than 30 U.S. states and is approved as a supplemental fuel source in Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Quebec.
CBPPL has worked with the Multi Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) as the agency in charge of used tires in the province to assess options moving forward. The MMSB has indicated it would support this initiative provided it meets environmental standards, that the parties are able to reach an acceptable commercial arrangement, and subject to any other legislative requirements.
Since 2005, CBPPL has invested more than $5 million in boiler upgrades to improve combustion efficiency and use supplemental fuels such as TDF. "The mill is equipped with state-of-the-art technology that should enable us to use TDF in a safe and environmentally responsible manner," explains White. "If the results of our testing fall within the government guidelines, TDF could help us save on energy costs and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels."
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