Vow ASA and Betula Energy aim for biocarbon production in Bamble in Norway

Demand for biocarbon in the Nordic region is expected to increase significantly in the next few years. Large, international industrial groups are undergoing a significant green transformation to achieve their goals of significant reductions in the use of fossil coal by 2030. Biocarbon has qualities that enable it to replace fossil coal as a reducing agent in the metallurgical industry.

“Technology and solutions from Vow will play a key role in this change. We are in the process of showing not only the Norwegian, but also the international industry, that we have technological solutions that accelerate the green energy transition,” says Henrik Badin, CEO of Vow ASA.

The plant in Bamble will be the second in Norway where Vow’s technology is used in this way. At Follum near Hønefoss, Vow’s wholly owned subsidiary Vow Industries plans to build a similar plant. Here, wood waste from the forest industry and recycled wood from the construction industry will be converted into CO2-neutral energy in the form of biocarbon for the metallurgical industry, gas for district heating, and bio-oils for the petrochemical industry, Badin continues.

Synergies in the production of bioenergy are important

Betula Energy will produce homogeneous wood particles as a raw material and feedstock for one production line for biocarbon for the metallurgical industry, and one production line for wood pellets as a replacement for fossil coal in thermal power plants. With such configuration, synergies can be achieved by using the syngas from biocarbon production to dry wood particles for both production lines. Betula Energy will handle reception, cutting, drying, and pelleting for both production lines. This provides economies of scale.

“At the Betula Energy’s facility, detailed control of production is planned through all stages to ensure the desired and consistent quality of the products. The choice of Vow’s technology is consistent with this principle and will ensure the quality of the biocarbon produced, says Gisle Hegstad, general manager of Betula Energy.

Vow will supply the process equipment for the biocarbon production, and orders will be placed by Betula Energy once they have secured financing planned within 2021. For Vow, this order may result in the delivery of process equipment worth up to NOK 200 million.

Market with great potential

Today, the metallurgical industry in Norway consumes annually close to one million tonnes of fossil based reducing agents. This corresponds to around seven percent of the nation’s CO2 emissions. In the Nordic countries, this consumption is four-five times greater.

The market for biocarbon is already large and growing. The first construction phase for Betula Energy will be able to produce 15,000 tonnes of green and climate-neutral biocarbon, and corresponding volumes of bio-oils.