Features Research & Innovation
Paprican, Weyerhaeuser and Nexterra partner in pursuit biofuel alternative

Paprican and Weyerhaeuser’s Kamloops Cellulose Fibre mill have signed an agreement with Nexterra Energy Corp. to evaluate the application of Nexterra’s gasification technology for pulp mill lime kilns.

The gasifier enables mill operators to reduce fuel costs by converting boilers, kilns and dryers from natural gas to ‘syngas,’ a clean, low-cost biofuel produced by gasifying wood residue.

“Rising energy costs continue to be a major challenge for the pulp and paper industry,” said Paprican’s Mike Towers, senior research engineer, “and lime kilns are major consumers of fossil fuels. Developing alternative fuel systems, such as Nexterra’s gasification technology, is essential for the industry to remain competitive.”

“Reducing our fuel costs is a strategic priority for Weyerhaeuser, so we’re excited to be working with Nexterra and Paprican on a potential gasification solution for our lime kilns,” Bill Adams, manufacturing services manager at the company’s Kamloop’s mill, said of the partnership.

Adams explained that the past ten years have seen the mill substantially reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, and that Nexterra’s technology might serve as the next logical step towards increased energy self-sufficiency.

“This agreement allows us to take a closer look at how the gasifier would perform in our mill before making a decision to acquire the technology,” he said.

The system has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emission at the mill by 25,000 tonnes per year. The 60 million Btu/hr gasification system would displace the equivalent amount of natural gas needed to heat 4,000 residential homes.