The Koehler Group announced plans to convert the power plant at its paper mill in Greiz, Germany, from pulverized lignite (a form of brown coal) to fine wood fraction fuel. Koehler Renewable Energy, a part of the Koehler Group, has succeeded in developing an innovative technique that will allow a type of biomass to be used as fuel in the existing coal-fired power plant.
In a press release, Koehler said, "The plant's conversion from lignite to fine wood fraction as the fuel, is part of the Group's climate strategy. It is an important contribution to keeping Koehler's promise of producing more energy from renewable sources by 2030 than is required for its paper production operations."
In total, the conversion will save 24,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year at the Greiz site. In addition, converting the fuel will also significantly reduce sulfurous emissions and pollutants compared with pulverized lignite.
The structural changes at the power plant and the additional plant engineering required are set to start in October 2021 and will be completed by May 2022. The plant is expected to start operating with the new, sustainable fuel in June 2022.
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