The new boiler can flexibly use solid fuels such as bark from the mill's debarking process, other wood-based fuels, and coal. Together with the mill's current biofuel boiler and Valmet's new boiler, it is possible to produce biomass-based energy up to 100%.
"With this investment, we will be able to improve our cost competitiveness and profitability as well as secure energy supply at our Kirkniemi Mill. In line with Sappi's commitment to sustainable development, the processes will be based on BAT-Best Available Technology, and the use of effective flue gas cleaning equipment will minimize any environmental impact," said Martti Savelainen, mill director of Sappi Kirkniemi.
Valmet's delivery will include a complete circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler, and a Valmet baghouse filter. The contract also covers installation, training, and commissioning for the equipment. The boiler plant will have a steam capacity of 88 MW. The boiler combines high-efficiency combustion of various solid fuels with low emissions, even when burning fuels with completely different calorific values at the same time.
"Commissioning a boiler plant of this size in 1.5 years is a challenging timetable. This tight delivery schedule is possible thanks to Valmet's standardized CFB boiler design, proper pre-engineering, and experienced project team," Juha Särkijärvi, project manager, Pulp and Energy business line, Valmet, pointed out.
Sappi Kirkniemi mill in Lohja, Finland, is part of Sappi Fine Paper Europe. Annually it produces 735,000 tons of magazine papers used for premium quality publications all over the world. The mill employs 600 people from production to R&D. More than 90% of the mill's production is exported.
TAPPI
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