The Koehler Group is converting its power plant at the paper site in Greiz, Germany from coal-fired to fine wood fraction fuel-fired generation, the company reported.
Construction is under way and expected to be completed by May or early summer. The combined heat and power facility working to serve the paper plant has been using pulverized lignite coal as its fuel source.
Subsidiary partners Koehler Renewable Energy has developed a technique allowing this type of fine wood biomass to be used within the existing coal-fired plant, according to reports. The switch is part of Koehler Group’s climate strategy to produce more energy from renewable resources above the paper production requirements by 2030.
The move will save 24,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually at the Greiz paper production plant. The use of biomass over lignite also will reduce sulfur and other emissions, the company said.
The biomass CHP plant is expected to be commissioned and operational later this year, according to reports.
Koehler is reportedly spending about 6.5 million Euros ($7.3 million U.S.) on the coal-to-biomass conversion.
The on-site, dedicated power plant has a capacity of close to 17 MW and was first built and operational in 2010, according to news reports.
