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Biomass Heating Production From Food Industry Waste
Published on 28 October 2020
Finland
Etelä-Suomi
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About this good practice
Reducing emissions is a direct means of reducing the climate impacts of food production, and renewable energy plays an important role in cutting emissions.
The Finnish bakery and confectionery Karl Fazer Oy (Fazer) are participating actively in the work to curb climate change and is investing in sustainable food production. Fazer’s sustainability approach consists of four ambitious core goals by 2030: 50 % fewer emissions, 50 % less food waste, to be 100 % sustainably sourced and more plant based.
Fazer together with Lahti Energia Oy (municipally owned energy company) is building a biomass-fired heating facility located directly in Fazer’s factory area in Lahti. The facility will replace the previous natural gas-based heating, which has been getting increasingly expensive as taxes are raised on fossil fuels. The facility is expected to be ready in autumn 2020.
Produced bioenergy (heat and process steam) will be used by the Fazer mill, bakery and rye crisp production lines as well as the new xylitol production facility, for heating the facilities and can also be used for heating the rest of the city by feeding heat into the district heating network.
The fuel for the new heating facility will be derived from the production sidestreams in the factory area, mainly from the oat hulls which will be leftover following the Xylitol production process.
Stakeholders for such project are the energy company, the factory, district heating customers and grain markets.
The Finnish bakery and confectionery Karl Fazer Oy (Fazer) are participating actively in the work to curb climate change and is investing in sustainable food production. Fazer’s sustainability approach consists of four ambitious core goals by 2030: 50 % fewer emissions, 50 % less food waste, to be 100 % sustainably sourced and more plant based.
Fazer together with Lahti Energia Oy (municipally owned energy company) is building a biomass-fired heating facility located directly in Fazer’s factory area in Lahti. The facility will replace the previous natural gas-based heating, which has been getting increasingly expensive as taxes are raised on fossil fuels. The facility is expected to be ready in autumn 2020.
Produced bioenergy (heat and process steam) will be used by the Fazer mill, bakery and rye crisp production lines as well as the new xylitol production facility, for heating the facilities and can also be used for heating the rest of the city by feeding heat into the district heating network.
The fuel for the new heating facility will be derived from the production sidestreams in the factory area, mainly from the oat hulls which will be leftover following the Xylitol production process.
Stakeholders for such project are the energy company, the factory, district heating customers and grain markets.
Resources needed
Xylitol factory in total creates 30 new jobs. Total costs of the new factory systems were 8 million euros. The heating system is provided and managed under contract by municipally owned energy company Lahti Energia. System was otherwise privately funded.
Evidence of success
Fazer’s bioenergy-producing method supports the concept of a modern circular economy. Both the Xylitol and bio heating production processes are uniquely combined to use the raw material which, until now, has not been commercially utilised. System produces entirely renewable energy at the rate of 8 MW.
Potential for learning or transfer
Similar industrial synergies could be utilized in other places with the grain-based food industry and a district heating network. The energy produced is not only renewable but also material that would otherwise go to waste. System is also an example of publically owned businesses working towards local climate goals with Lahti Energia supporting a private company Fazer in reducing fossil fuel use.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Lab university of applied sciences
Finland
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi
Contact
RDI specialist