• Norwegian pulp plant replaces oil with electricity to eliminate 14,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually
• ABB power controllers provide precise control of the new air heaters while minimizing their impact on the grid
• Decarbonization effort equivalent to taking 7,000 cars off the road
Vafos Pulp, a Norwegian producer of unbleached pulp for cardboard manufacturing, will switch its energy-intensive drying process from oil to electricity, greatly reducing the plant’s carbon emissions. The company will replace a nine megawatt (MW) oil-fired boiler with electric heaters, controlled by ABB technology.
The Kragerø pulp plant, which produces 80,000 tons of pulp each year, will eliminate 14,000 tons of CO2 annually from Summer 2022. That is the equivalent to the annual emissions of approximately 7,000 combustion-engine cars.
The new air heaters require a significant amount of power and managing them is key to maintaining plant safety, operating efficiently, and minimized downtime. They are controlled by ten ABB DCT880 power controllers to manage the power supplied to the electrical heating elements.
The controllers are mounted in containers and utilize a Power Optimizer feature to create a steady load that minimizes disruption for the local electricity grid. The integration of the systems was a joint effort by ABB and Norwegian system integrators EAS and Actemium Electro.
The DCT880 power controllers are a long-lifetime product and contain the latest control technology and interfaces. This will enable the Kragerø plant operators to control the drying process more precisely than when they used oil. The switch to electricity also means that the facility no longer needs oil storage on site.
“The age of burning heavy oil in Norway is over,” says Roar Paulsrud, CEO of Vafos Pulp. “Customers expect us to be part of the green transition with sustainable production. It is also important that our industry helps reduce emissions here in Norway.”
“The project in Kragerø is a great example of how organizations can decarbonize by using modern electric alternatives,” says Lars-Fredrik Mathiesen, head of ABB Motion in Norway. “As Norway’s grid is being almost entirely powered by renewable energy, moves like this one by Vafos Pulp lead the way for others in industry, and will be key to achieving the government’s goal of cutting CO2 emissions in half by 2030.”
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com
ABB Motion keeps the world turning - while saving energy every day. We innovate and push the boundaries of technology to enable the low-carbon future for customers, industries and societies. With our digitally enabled drives, motors and services our customers and partners achieve better performance, safety and reliability. We offer a combination of domain expertise and technology to deliver the optimum drive and motor solution for a wide range of applications in all industrial segments. Through our global presence we are always close to serve our customers. Building on over 130 years of cumulative experience in electric powertrains, we learn and improve every day.
