A survey was recently conducted between Andritz and Metsä Group and this survey will play a key role in the carbon capture industry. The purpose of this survey was to explore ‘what the capture of 4M tonnes of CO2 from the flue gases from the Kemi bioproduct mill would mean in terms of technology and energy.’

Right now Metsä Group is focusing on gradually progressing step by step with a carbon capture project. This company’s plan is to pilot carbon capture in the summer of 2025 at the Rauma pulp mill, alongside Andritz. Once the pilot stage has been completed, the next step will be for the companies to carry out the their plans for a potential demo plant.

The survey that was carried out, had a particular focus on exploring energy-efficient options when it comes to integrating carbon capture into the bioproduct mill. This was a key focus, because in ‘normal’ practises, carbon capture needs a lot of heat energy.

Once these steps are complete, if carbon capture is proved viable, it will then provide the forest industry with a new high-volume wood-based raw material, therefore giving rise to investments and tax revenues, along with climate impacts.

Furthermore, the importance of this project, is that carbon dioxide which is generated by pulp mills is both valuable and well-known as a largely untapped side stream, which certainly has the potential to be both captured and utilised as a raw material for products. If it does go on to be used as a raw material, it also has the potential to replace fossil-based materials, as well as fuels whilst technology and markets develop. Right now, global carbon dioxide consumption is estimated at 240 million tons and it has been suggested that the future opportunities within carbon utilisations could be processes such as ‘mineralisation, chemical conversion with hydrogen to various chemicals and fuels, biological conversion, and direct use as industrial gas, and solvent, amongst others.’

Currently, Metsä Group is viewed as a forerunner when it comes to capturing CO2 which has been generated by pulp mills. The company’s production units create an estimated twelve million tonnes of wood-based carbon dioxide on an annual basis and the main focus within the company right now, is to focus on exploring their large-scale capture.

Project Director of Metsä Group’s carbon capture project, Kaija Pehu-Lehtonen, commented, “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.”

Pehu-Lehtonen mentioned that, ‘Metsä Group aims to develop its mills in accordance with the bioproduct mill concept. This means making ever greater use of pulp mill side streams to resource efficiently convert wood into increasingly valuable bioproducts. Harnessing carbon dioxide as a raw material is one example.’

Pehu-Lehtonen also stated that, ‘the survey demonstrated that it is possible to capture all the carbon dioxide generated by a large bioproduct mill but that it requires major investments and developments in the related technology and market before it can result in a profitable business.’

Finally, Pehu-Lehtonen added, “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.”