New, Norwegian industry commitment: Will make charcoal for metal production and bio-oil … – Tu.no

Charcoal for silicon production, bio-oil for aviation, excess heat for district heating production and new activities in natural groves spaces of the old industrial area on Follum in Hønefoss.

These are the goals when Elkem, Trek Lyngen, Avinor and energy company Vardar now join forces to develop an entirely new value chain for industrial charcoal production and bio-oil, which all components of the tree trunk is put into use.

today disclose those plans, after the companies have received support from Innovation Norway to investigate an industrial pilot plant for pyrolysis charcoal production and bio-oil.

target is building a production plant in Follum within two to four years.

Replacing fossil coal

Elkem produces several hundred thousand tons of silicon and ferrosilicon year, causing emission of over 900,000 tons of CO2 per year in Norway.

Now wants Elkem to produce charcoal for yourself and use this instead of fossil coal – used to remove oxygen during metal production.

– Elkem need large amounts of charcoal for more environmentally friendly production of silicon. As of today there is no production of charcoal from the Norwegian forest to the metallurgical industry, and we are dependent on imports, says technology director at Elkem, Havard Moe and elaborates:

– If we can replace ten percent of the fossil carbon with biobased carbon, we will remove ten percent of emissions, says Moe to TU.

Elkem already using large amounts of wood in the form of wood chips in their production. Here from Elkem Salten Photo: Elkem

New industrial cluster

Elkem’s goal is replacing 20 percent of the fossil coal used in silicon production by charcoal.

the long-term goal to replace even more. The assumption is access to charcoal with the right quality at the right price.

– It is not yet decided to build the plant, but we will now investigate whether there is an economic basis for doing so. We have made preliminary studies that look promising. Now we totally use 2000 hours on studying the plant properly, says Moe to TU.

Moe believes it can create a new industrial cluster in Norway, about the success of the project.

District heating and aviation

in coming months they will create the design of a factory that takes the timber, remove twigs and bark and hugger tree trunk into suitable pieces, before they undergo heat treatment at 4-500 degrees.

the combustible gas produced may be used including district heating and energy company Vardar Heat, which supplies district heating shall include the possibility of power production of emissions.

– We want activities at Follum which ensures efficient use of heat and steam our plants, says Kjetil Bockmann, CEO of Vardar Heat, in a message.

Avinor wants to investigate whether condensation or oil / liquid formed in the process can be further processed into aviation fuel.

Belief in success

the starting point for the whole project is the existing infrastructure to Trek Lyngen traveling new timber industry on the ancient site of Norwegian Skog Follum.

CEO of Trek Lyngen believes the project can create new life for forestry industry at Follum.

– we’ve teamed up with big, serious players who consider this as important, and we strongly believe in success. Viken Skog is pleased that more and more looks industrial potential of Follum, says CEO of Trek Lyngen, Rolf Jarle Aaberge in a message.