Forward to a carbon neutral future - Paper Technology International 2023 - Paper Technology International 2023 - Flipbook - Page 114

Forward to a carbon neutral future - Paper Technology International 2023

PAPERTECHNOLOGYINTERNATIONAL Forward to a carbon neutral future - Paper Technology International 2023
Forward to a carbon neutral future - Paper Technology International 2023
Toward carbon neutral production processes by 2030
Janne Pynnönen, Vice President of R&D at Valmet,
underlines that technology will play a crucial role in the transition to
carbon neutrality. Valmet’s total carbon footprint was approximately
104 million tonnes of CO2 in 2021.
“We’ve estimated that around 95 percent of the
environmental impact is caused by our customers’ use of our
technologies over their entire lifecycles. The remaining 5 percent
comes from the supply chain and our own operations.”
The pulp and paper industry aims to be a forerunner in the
transition to a low-carbon economy. A key contribution is made by
continuous R&D work, which is being done in all Valmet’s business
lines. Valmet aims to enable all its customers to move gradually to
carbon neutral production by 2030.
“The impact comes from investing in the best available
technologies, optimizing mill design and selecting the right
automation, and Industrial Internet and service solutions in
tissue, pulp and board and paper production. By developing
new technologies, we aim to enable entirely carbon neutral pulp
and paper production, with the customer using carbon neutral
electricity.”
For example, the Valmet Industrial Internet (VII) offering
covers an extensive range of solutions and applications for
advanced monitoring and prediction to increase production
capacity, machine uptime and energy efficiency, and to reduce
quality losses and overall operating costs.
Energy efficiency and replacement of fossil fuels are key to
emission reduction
“When we’re developing new technologies and products, our
new-generation innovations consume less raw materials, chemicals
and water. Energy efficiency is a key priority in our climate program,”
confirms Pynnönen.
“Drying is the most energy-intensive part of the papermaking
process, accounting for roughly 80 percent of energy use. One of
our focus areas is to replace gas burners with electric dryers,” notes
Pynnönen.
He adds that there are currently two significant focus areas
in Valmet’s energy-saving strategy. “We’re researching opportunities
to reduce the need for water in the papermaking process, which
will also reduce the need to dry the product. Another focus area is
to find ways of harnessing low-temperature heat, which is often not
recovered in papermaking.”
Janne Pynnönen, Vice President of R&D at Valmet.
Another key step is to fully eliminate the need for fossil fuels
in papermaking by providing customers with Valmet’s current energy
solutions, which enable carbon neutral energy production using
biomass.
“In pulp production, we can already attain full carbon
neutrality today by using bioenergy. Valmet is a leading global
supplier of biomass-based heat and power generation solutions. We
design our emission control solutions to ensure safe operation with
low emissions,” he explains.
“Our customers produce recyclable and carbon neutral
products for the consumer market. I don’t foresee any major
upheavals in this segment over the next ten years. Paper and board
production will remain essentially the same, but we can continuously
improve and increase efficiencies. On top of this, new products will
make the industry even more diverse,” predicts Pynnönen.
“The increasing demand for process technology, automation,
and services that enable carbon neutral industrial processes is
obvious,” Pynnönen adds. “Our customers and end users have the
same goals, even though legislation and scenarios
vary in different countries and continents. Ultimately,
everyone is working toward the same goals.”
Valmet’s offering for reducing CO2 emissions
and other environmental impacts:
valmet.com/climateoffering.
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