Norske Skog Skogn takes part in “EffiSludge for LIFE”

- We will participate in an European demonstration project for a sustainable pulp and paper industry called EffiSludge for LIFE. This will lower the energy inputs of the wastewater treatment process to generate biomass valuable for biofuels production. Applied to our Norske Skog Skogn site, biogas production from biosludge could provide up to 500 000 kWh per year, the managing director of Norske Skog Skogn Amund Saxrud says.

Reducing carbon emissions while generating biogas

The aim of the project is to enhance biogas production from waste sludge (biosludge) generated by the wastewater treatment plants processing effluents from the mill. The innovative EffiSludge for LIFE conditions allow to operate the existing wastewater treatment reducing energy inputs and the related carbon footprint. This, to generate higher volume of biosludge suitable for biofuels production.

Saving carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus

Thanks to the integration of the wastewater treatment with the Biokraft’s biogas plant, biosludge will be processed via anaerobic digestion. Products of this process are biogas and bio-fertilizer in one hand, and rejected water in the other. While biogas and bio-fertilizer have a high market value, rejected water is conventionally considered a waste stream to be treated due to its high content on nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) harmful for the environment. However, at Skogn, this stream of rejected water will be recirculated to the NSS’ wastewater treatment plant as primary source of nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients are today provided via chemical addition. The replacement of those chemicals with the rejected water post anaerobic digestion will therefore allow additional carbon and economic saving. Furthermore, this will provide an excellent example of valuable industrial symbiosis and onsite nutrients recovery.

A Nordic collaboration for Climate Change Mitigation (CCM)

Coordinated by Scandinavian Biogas Fuels AB (SE), the project is implemented in collaboration with Biokraft AS (NO) and Norske Skog Skogn. Part of the European LIFE programme, the project is included in a long-term strategy to reduce CO2 emissions and promote a sustainable development toward a green circular economy. Initiated in 2015, the project will last until December 2019. Since the LIFE started in 1992, the program co-financed more than 4300 project across Europe. For the 2014-2020 funding period, LIFE will contribute approximately €3.4 billion to the protection of the environment and climate.