Study maps low-cost path to cut pulp mill emissions by 90 percent
Researchers have identified which machines in a pulp mill burn the most energy and carbon—and which technologies can replace them cheaply. The analysis suggests electric heat pumps and vapor recovery systems could slash a mill's emissions by up to 90 percent, offering a concrete roadmap for an industry under pressure to decarbonize.
Originaltitel: Decarbonization Pathways for the Pulp and Paper Industry: An EmissionCentric Techno-Economic Assessment
<p>The pulp and paper industry accounts for ~6% of global industrial energy use and ~2% of direct CO₂ emissions. This study develops a process-level energy and emissions model for an integrated Swedish kraft mill. Thermal and electrical demands were quantified using benchmark-specific energy consumption values, refined with first-principles models for drying, evaporation, and cooking. Emissions covered biogenic and fossil CO₂ from combustion and indirect electricity use. Drying (38%), evaporation (24%), and cooking (18%) dominated thermal demand, with recovery and bark boilers supplying most steam and contributing >50% of total CO₂ emissions. Three electrification pathways were assessed: electric boilers (EB), high-temperature heat pumps (HTHP), and mechanical vapour recompression (MVR). MVR reduced evaporator demand by ~92%, while complete substitution with low-carbon electricity cut mill emissions by up to 90%, depending on grid intensity. The framework integrates energy balances with technoeconomic indicators, supporting process-level prioritization and cost-effective decarbonization.</p>