The expanded Östrand pulp mill: Boosting the production of renewable energy

Project Description

In 2016-2018, SCA invested SEK 7.8 billion in its Östrand kraft pulp mill. The mill will increase production of bleached softwood kraft pulp, becoming the world’s largest NBSK (northern bleached softwood kraft) production line.

Through this investment, the Östrand pulp mill will also increase both energy output and energy efficiency, with electricity consumption reduced by 28% and heat consumption by 31% per tonne of pulp. At the same time, electricity production is increased by 23% per tonne of pulp. The result of this is a net supply of green electricity from the mill to the grid of 0.6 TWh per year.

Project Purpose

Östrand pulp mill is already a supplier of thermal energy to the district heating grids of the communities Timrå (0.1 TWh) and Sundsvall (0.1 TWh).
The purpose of the project has been to increase the production of kraft pulp from 430,000 tonnes to 900,000 tonnes per year. The expanded mill has been designed to deliver excellent quality and environmental performance, and at the same time optimise energy efficiency and output of green energy.

Project Evaluation

The expanded mill started in June 2018 and will be adjusted in 2019, reaching full capacity in 2020.
The expansion project at the Östrand pulp mill has set a whole range of records.
It is one of the greatest industrial investments in northern Sweden ever. It was carried out on budget and on schedule, and the new mill was built inside the existing mill, while it was running.

Ingela Ekebro

Project Director

It has been a fantastic project, says Project Director Ingela Ekebro. Safety has been our top priority and I’m happy to say that we have managed the project without any serious accidents, even though at times there were 2,000 of us working with the project on the site, while some 200 of the regular staff continued operating the mill.

We have strived to maximize the opportunities for energy efficiency and energy production, and I think we have succeeded quite well. And with the new mill we have created infrastructure and options for further development. We have applied for environmental permits for a biorefinery. We’re looking into the production of liquid biofuels and green chemicals from black liquor, a by-product from the pulp mill, and production of liquid biofuels from solid biomass, such as sawdust.

 

Main features:

Electricity consumption reduced by 28% per tonne of pulp

Heat consumption reduced by 31% per tonne of pulp

Investment SEK 7.8 billion

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