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Slave Lake Pulp turns to bio-methane for electricity and process heat

A renewable energy project at West Fraser’s Slave Lake Pulp mill is one of three projects approved for funding from Alberta’s Climate Change and Emissions Management (CCEMC) Corporation.

The Slave Lake Pulp Bio-Methanation Project involves the integration of an energy-efficient anaerobic digestion system into the existing effluent treatment system. The system will treat effluent and generate a methane-rich biogas while significantly reducing the energy and chemical consumption, and sludge generation. The biogas will be used to generate electricity and heat for use in the pulping process.

The total project value is estimated at $25 million. CCEMC is contributing $5 million.

Two other projects have also received funding from CCEMC in recent weeks:

– The High North RTP Project in High Level, Alta., will be the world’s largest fast pyrolysis plant, converting wood waste from Tolko’s sawmill at High Level to pyrolysis oil, which generates power for a series of modified diesel engines. Waste heat will be recovered and used for drying lumber.

– Growing Power Hairy Hill will be a large-scale carbon-neutral biofuel plant powered by municipal and industrial waste. The facility also includes other operations such as fertilizer manufacturing and biofuel feedstock production.

“The CCEMC is advancing clean technology by supporting projects that are innovative and reduce GHG emissions,” said CCEMC Chair Eric Newell. “By supporting projects like the world’s largest commercial fast pyrolysis plant and the world’s first large scale carbon neutral biofuel plant, CCEMC demonstrating the promise of clean technology.”

Combined the three projects are estimated to reduce GHG emissions by more than 2.3 megatonnes over 10 years, the equivalent of removing 46,000 cars off the road.

The High North RTP Project, a joint venture between Tolko Industries and Ensyn Technologies, will be the world’s largest commercial fast pyrolysis plant. The facility will be capable of producing 75 million litres of pyrolysis oil annually from 400 tonnes per day of sawmill residual biomass that is currently being incinerated with no energy recovery. This pyrolysis oil will be used to produce renewable energy in the form of electricity and heat that will be used in Tolko’s sawmill at High Level.

The renewable energy produced will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossil fuel based energy. The facility will also be capable of producing a renewable resin ingredient that can be used in the manufacture of wood panel products.