Solvay has officially inaugurated a second biomass boiler at its Rheinberg plant in Germany, making it the world’s first soda ash plant to be fully powered by waste wood. This significant move has allowed the plant to phase out coal and drastically reduce its carbon emissions, reported Biomass Magazine.
The two biomass boilers at the Rheinberg facility use waste wood from industrial and demolition materials, which would otherwise go to waste, to produce steam and electricity. This shift replaces the use of fossil fuels and is expected to cut the plant’s carbon dioxide emissions by 65% annually compared to 2021 levels. The system uses highly efficient technology that produces both steam and electricity, achieving over 90% efficiency.
The changes at Rheinberg are part of Solvay’s broader plan to reduce its overall greenhouse gas emissions by 5% by 2025. This follows the recent introduction of a new process at Solvay’s Green River, Wyoming plant, which is expected to cut emissions by an additional 4%.
Solvay CEO Philippe Kehren praised the move, calling it a key step in the company’s global energy transition. “The end of coal use at Rheinberg supports our long-term growth and sustainability goals as we work towards carbon neutrality by 2050,” he said.
With the second biomass boiler now in operation, Rheinberg is completely coal-free. Etienne Galan, President of Solvay Soda Ash & Derivatives, said this change strengthens the plant’s performance and helps meet customer demands for more sustainable operations.
Since its establishment in 1907, Solvay’s Rheinberg plant has been an important supplier to industries like glass, solar panels, and electric vehicle batteries. It also produces products used in food, cosmetics, and air pollution control.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mona Neubauer, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action, and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Heyde Dietmar, Mayor of Rheinberg, along with Solvay’s partners and customers. The transition to biomass energy at Rheinberg reflects Solvay’s commitment to innovation and sustainable practices in the chemical industry.
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