In October it was announced that heavy machinery manufacturer Sumitomo SHI FW (SFW) was selected to supply a biomass-fuelled circulating fluidised bed (CFB) boiler plant to global sustainable packaging and paper manufacturer Mondi SCP’s EcoPower project at its integrated pulp and paper mill in Ružomberok, Slovakia.

SFW’s delivery will support Mondi SCP in increasing energy self-sufficiency, reducing emissions, decarbonising industrial energy use and enabling fossil- free district heating for the surrounding community.

SFW’s delivery scope includes the design, engineering, procurement, supply, erection and commissioning of a biomass- fuelled CFB boiler plant, as well as the related flue gas cleaning systems and training services.

The new CFB plant will replace an existing bark boiler and will have a significant positive effect on the Ružomberok mill’s operational and environmental performance.

It will increase the mill’s energy self-sufficiency from 75% to 90%, enable fossil-free district heat supply to the city of Ružomberok, and improve air quality through reduced nitrogen oxide (NOx) and dust emissions.

The project continues SFW and Mondi’s long-standing relationship, which has included multiple service projects and technology upgrades.

“We are pleased to continue our long-term collaboration with Mondi through this wide-scoped project, now focusing on sustainable energy generation and the decarbonisation of industrial energy production,” SFW Energy Generation VP Juha Kalenius said at the time.

He added that, for SFW, the project also marked a “welcome return” to the pulp and paper sector, where it has decades of experience in large-scale biomass applications.

Commercial operation of the boiler plant is expected by 2027.

SFW’s CFB technology is designed for high-efficiency biomass combustion, thereby reducing emissions, fuel and water consumption, and minimising waste generation. It has delivered over 550 CFBs globally.

The Mondi Project

Besides increasing the plant’s energy self-sufficiency, the project will also bolster Mondi SCP’s operational resilience and cost competitiveness.

It will also reduce emissions in support of the group’s Mondi Action Plan 2030 sustainability commitments.

The new plant will provide more sustainable and reliable energy supply for both the mill and the local community.

The investment will also meet the strictest emission standards and help to further improve air quality, with expected environmental benefits including a 50% reduction in NOx emissions and up to 83% less particulate matter emissions, compared with the previous boiler.

“The project provides long-term operational resilience and supply reliability, strengthening Mondi’s ability to deliver consistent, high-quality products for its customers while also enhancing cost competitiveness,” said Mondi SCP MD Joachim Grunewald.

The new plant will use residual materials from the pulp and paper production process to generate energy, thereby reducing landfill waste and emissions while increasing the use of renewable-energy sources.

Mondi noted that all biomass is sourced from certified forests that adhere to responsible forest management practices, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability.

Mondi SCP is investing €120-million, net of subsidies from the EU’s Modernisation Fund, which supports modernisation of energy systems and enhanced energy efficiency.