Biomass power plant inaugurated in Venizel

Saica group has inaugurated its first biomass plant at its paper mill in Venizel, France. 

With a 41 million euros investment as of today, and supported by Ademe and the Région Hauts-de-France, the biomass plant uses recycled wood and rejections from the production process to meet the demand of the steam process. The biomass plant, an example of circular economy, avoids sending waste to landfill by giving a second life to recycled wood.

The biomass plant generates all the required energy to operate the Saica Venizel paper mill, using 75 000 tonnes of discarded wood and 26 000 tonnes of by-products generated on the paper and pulp production process, which were formerly discarded. This way the plant displays its commitment to the principles of the circular economy: 280 000 tonnes of paper and cardboard are gathered in a radius of 150 kilometers to produce recycled paper, while 75 000 tonnes of discarded wood are collected in a radius of 80 kilometers to produce energy.

The new equipment fully contributes to sustainable development through:

• A 71% decrease in on site CO2 emissions (46 500 tonnes every year).
• An 89% reduction in consumption of natural gas, replaced by energy-from-waste.

The project was awarded by Ademe with the title Biomass Energy for Industry, Agriculture and Tertiary Sectors 2016, BCIAT (Biomasse Chaleur Industrie Agriculture Tertiaire) in the Energy Fund Framework. The biomass boiler will help sustain Venizel plant, recognized by its high-performance paper quality and its environmental efficiency. Saica Paper Venizel currently employs 160 workers and the plant activity, and more than 1400 indirect jobs mainly at the Hauts-de-France region.