The project is one of two pilot schemes from WA3RM. Project subsidiary Regenergy Frovi AB (RKFB) says that the project: “will utilize waste streams from the world-leading manufacturer of packaging carton in the mid-east of Sweden to create a circular economic environment around the site where excess heat and CO2 from the plant is used for a sustainable food production, while the plant avoids costs for cooling and reduces its environmental footprint.”
The project sees construction of a 20-hectare greenhouse and fish farm producing 15,000t of food/year, heated by 50GWh/year of recycled heat. The project, whose agricultural partner is Local Harvest, is also expected to create 220 jobs. Construction is slated to start in late 2022 with operations to begin summer 2023.
Richard Morén, factory manager in Frövi, said: “Today, 97 percent of BillerudKorsnäs’ operations are completely fossil-free, and we’re happy to work with companies that, like us, are working towards a carbon-neutral society.”
For BillerudKorsnäs, this means utilising surplus heat from the production of pulp. By capturing waste heat and distributing it to the greenhouse, BillerudKorsnäs contributes to a circular process and thus to sustainable food production.
“We already contribute to the energy supply of the town of Lindesberg by transferring waste heat to Linde Energy. As the largest employer in the area, having the opportunity to contribute to growing vegetables in Frövi while making use of our excess heat and avoiding emitting large amounts of carbon dioxide obviously feels great,” says Ingrid Engström, senior director technology.