UK – British fiber-based packaging supplier DS Smith and European energy company E.ON have unveiled a new state-of-the-art combined heat and power (CHP) plant at DS Smith’s paper mill in Kent.
The agreement between the two companies was announced in 2019 and construction commenced the same year after being financed by E.ON who will operate the plant.
The new CHP plant, which produced its first energy in 2022, has been designed to set the standard in efficiency, sustainability, and reliability – reducing CO2 emissions by 36,000 tonnes a year, the equivalent of 30,000 medium-sized cars driving more than 6,000 miles a year.
It boasts an electrical capacity of 73MW, generating steam and power to help the Kemsley mill manufacture around 830k tonnes of recycled paper every year.
DS Smith head of paper and recycling Niels Flierman said: “We’re excited about the sustainability and operational benefits this state-of-the-art plant brings to our flagship mill in Kemsley.
“Leading the way in reducing the impact paper making has on our environment is something we are passionate about – it’s important to us, our customers and the communities in which we operate.
“This is one of a number of projects we have across Europe and North America that will help us to reduce Green House Gas emissions by 46% on an absolute basis by 2030, compared to 2019 levels and to reach Net Zero emissions by 2050.”
The CHP plant will operate on E.ON IQ Energy which the company says is an intelligent energy supply solution developed for energy-intensive industries.
The energy solution features an automated, self-controlled power plant and artificial intelligence to optimize supply.
On his part, E.ON managing director of energy projects Manfred Wirsing said: “We are delighted the new site for our partner DS Smith here in Kemsley has come on-line.
“This successful project is another example of how we are driving decarbonization for our industrial customers and their production processes across Europe.
“The new energy solution we have implemented on site will make DS Smith more independent and flexible and, with a high degree of automation, optimally positioned for the future.”
The move is the latest in sustainable developments from DS Smith. Last month, DS Smith invested US$159.11 million (€145m) to upgrade its kraft paper mill in Viana, Portugal, rebuilding the mill’s paper machine and reducing CO2 emissions.
The investment package includes the rebuilding of the existing paper machine and a new state-of-the-art recovery boiler, which will be one of the most modern in Europe.
The boiler will improve environmental performance by enhancing steam efficiency at the mill by 25%, with steam from the boiler being recycled back into the mill.
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