In 2021, Koehler Group announced the ambitious decision to convert the power plant at Koehler Paper’s Greiz mill from pulverised lignite to the more sustainable fuel wood fine dust. This conversion has significantly reduced the mill’s CO2 emissions and contributed to the climate action strategy. The rebuilt power plant has been operational since spring 2023.
The project’s main goal was to save more than 24.000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year thanks to the conversion. The investment of around 8 million euros is part of the Koehler Group’s sustainability strategy.
Greiz acted as a pilot, closing a gap in the market with an innovative process from Koehler Renewable Energy, where wood fine dust fraction is used as fuel in existing coal-fired power plants.
The conversion in Greiz was the first step to a more comprehensive decarbonisation strategy. Koehler intends to continue investing in the Thuringian mill in the future. In general, the Group has set itself the goal of generating more renewable energy with its own plants than is required for its own production by 2030.
The expertise of our colleagues at Koehler Renewable Energy (also part of the Koehler Group) has successfully resulted in developing an innovative process that turns a normally rather unpopular waste material into a valuable fuel that can be used in existing coal-fired power plants. This is an innovation on the market.
Technical hurdles included finding the best approach to process varying low-quality wood dust material into a more homogenous biofuel.
“Birgit Hagebölling reaches into the container labeled “Wood dust” and nods her head in satisfaction. Her gaze sweeps over the two new concrete silos that are connected to conveyor units. In the background you can hear the sound of the material being prepared in the cone mill, and there is a scent of freshly chopped wood in the air. The wood dust trickles through her fingers back into the container, fine as flour. It has taken the teams at Koehler Renewable Energy, Koehler Anlagentechnik, and Koehler Greiz seven years to work out how to replace lignite with a bio-based fuel at the power plant in Greiz. “We finally achieved our goal in 2024,” reports the delighted engineer. “Since then, we have only been incinerating wood dust.”
Birgit Hagebölling
Corporate Director Technology & Operations at Koehler Renewable Energy
The Project’s Achievements:
Investment
About 8 million euros.
CO2 emissions saved
24.000 tonnes of direct CO2 emissions per year are expected.
Any other sustainable benefits
A reduction of sulphur emissions.
A pilot of an innovative new process that can be carried out in other power plants.
