Metsä Group pioneers carbon capture technology in pulp and paper industry
Finland's Metsä Group is at the forefront of carbon capture technology, aiming to transform wood-based carbon dioxide into valuable raw materials while tackling climate challenges.
The pulp and paper industry is exploring innovative approaches to address carbon emissions, with Finland's Metsä Group leading initiatives in carbon capture technology. With its production units generating approximately 12 million tonnes of wood-based carbon dioxide annually, the company aims to transform this by-product into a valuable raw material, aligning with both industry growth and environmental targets.
Kaija Pehu-Lehtonen, project director of Metsä Group’s carbon capture project, emphasised the significance of these efforts, stating, “Carbon capture offers Finland a major opportunity to build a new industry – and to undertake significant climate action, as the use of wood-based carbon dioxide reduces fossil raw material consumption and the related carbon dioxide emissions. It also promotes the EU’s climate targets.” Such statements underline the dual focus on environmental sustainability and economic viability in the company's strategy.
Metsä Group is advancing its bioproduct mill concept, which focuses on resource-efficient conversion of wood into a diverse array of bioproducts. Central to this strategy is the capture and utilisation of carbon dioxide, derived from the flue gases of pulp mills. This autumn, Metsä Group partnered with ANDRITZ, a technology firm, to assess the feasibility of capturing around four million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the emissions of a bioproduct mill comparable in size to the Kemi facility.
The preliminary survey addressed the substantial energy requirements of carbon capture, particularly the integration of this process within the operations of the bioproduct mill. It was determined that while it is technically feasible to capture all the carbon dioxide generated by a large mill, achieving profitability necessitates significant investments in technology and market developments. Pehu-Lehtonen noted, “Twenty per cent of the heat energy required for carbon capture can be obtained from the bioproduct mill’s current heat flows. New technological solutions are needed for the remainder.”
As part of the project’s phased approach, Metsä Group plans to initiate a pilot programme for carbon capture at the Rauma pulp mill next summer, in collaboration with ANDRITZ. The outcomes of this pilot will inform subsequent plans for the establishment of a demonstration plant.
If the carbon capture initiatives prove successful, they could provide the Finnish forest industry with a substantial new source of wood-based raw materials. This development has the potential to foster significant investments, create employment opportunities, generate tax revenue, and contribute positively to climate readiness in the region.
Source: Noah Wire Services