Smurfit Kappa Mill in Spain Starts up New Biomass Powered Cogen Plant
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Smurfit Kappa reports that it has successfully started up a new 21.4 MW steam cogeneration plant at its Nervión paper mill in Spain. The plant is part of a EUR 20 million investment project on energy generation from biomass, which will significantly reduce fossil carbon dioxide emissions as well as improve the mill's profitability.
The project has increased Smurfit Kappa Nervión's energy generation by more than 40%, exceeding the yearly production of 120,000 MWh, and reaching 65% of energy self-consumption.
For Rafael Sarrionandia, GM of Smurfit Kappa Nervión, "the objective of this energy project has been to increase the mill's thermal and electrical energy generation, by increasing the installed equipment efficiency and the capacity of the forest waste treatment plant."
The company's strategic investment program included the acquisition of a multi-functional crusher able to process all forest waste, and a selection and storing system that has increased biomass consumption by 40,000 metric tpy, exceeding 100,000 metric tons.
The biomass cogeneration plant project started in 2009 with an engineering study and equipment purchases. In January 2011 the building phase began. A building has been constructed to house the new 21.4 MW steam condensation turbine, together with four new refrigeration towers with a water circulation capacity of 2,500 cubic meters per hour in a continuous process.
The biomass waste used as fuels is typically from black liquor and bark from sawmills and from the debarking of pulp logs used in the mill's process. The new crushing line, however, allows other forest waste to be used such as land cleaning, pruning, and thinning, enhancing sustainable forest management and helping to keep the forest clean.
The company's strategic and environmental investment program started in 2008 with a EUR 20 million expenditure for paper machine quality and efficiency improvement. This was followed by a EUR 5 million investment for a new odorous gas and foul condensate treatment plant, and has concluded with the startup of a power substation, changing the mill's input from 30,000 volts to 132,000 volts.
A total of EUR 50 million has been invested in Smurfit Kappa Nervion between 2008 and 2012, enhancing the mill's position in terms of efficiency and cost reduction, and reinforcing its commitment to green energy.
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