By replacing fossil coal with climate-friendly biocarbon on a large scale, the smelter at Kyrksæterøra can contribute to one of the largest emission reductions in Norwegian industrial history.
We greatly appreciated having Enova on the team in this important restructuring with support and risk relief, says Torbjørn Halland, managing director of Wacker Chemicals Norway.
Will increase organic share
The Wacker group's silicon smelter at Kyrksæterøra in Trøndelag has ambitions to increase the total bio share in the long term to 100 percent. The organic share is to be increased gradually, as new forms of production are tested.
In this way, the traditional plant can cut today's CO2 emissions by several hundred thousand tonnes each year, fully in line with both Wacker and Enova's goals of cleaner industrial production towards and in the low-emission society.
Transfer of experience to the industry
Annually, Wacker produces 80,000 tonnes of silicon and 40,000 tonnes of microsilica at Kyrksæterøra, which are subsequently delivered to other parts of the group. With a higher proportion of bio in the production, the company can actually produce more, without that meaning that the discharge goes up dramatically again. It is important when many of the end products are and will be essential in the green transition.
What is Wacker planning to do in the west of Trøndelag in the coming years? Yes, with support from the state enterprise Enova, they will build and test various types of infrastructure and facilities for handling large amounts of biocarbon.
A temporary raw material warehouse for the biochar has been built and set up for periods of tests at a total of four farms at the plant at Holla. The pilot period is estimated to last a couple of years. The project will demonstrate how more than 430,000 tonnes of fossil CO2 can be removed annually from the current production process of high-quality silicon.
Support from Enova
Enova has promised a good 80 million kroner in state aid for the project, and expects that the effect and transfer value to the rest of the industry will be great.
- Not only is the reduction in emissions large, as the plant accounts for around one per cent of Norway's total CO2 emissions. If the pilot is closed and Wacker goes ahead with the project, there will be a spreading potential for the technology in networks that Wacker participated in nationally and globally and from which other actors can thus benefit, says Arve Solheim, area manager for process industry and carbon capture at Enova.
- This particularly applies to knowledge about handling and results about how the biochar behaves in the smelting area.
Work systematically
The German-owned smelter at Kyrksæterøra with close to 250 employees is of course pleased to be supported by Enova, and has now accelerated the work to prepare for the test project. There is a large and increasing demand for silicon, and Wacker wishes to meet this demand with the smallest possible climate footprint.
Wacker takes systematic action and works on two tracks towards the low-emission society: They wish to replace fossil coal with biocoal, at the same time as the company and want to try their hand when it comes to carbon capture. As soon as both tracks are closed, the work at Kyrksæterøra can become carbon negative.
Excited about the development
- The process industry has an important role in the green transformation, first we must contribute with an export product that is decisive for the world to transform, in addition we have a responsibility to facilitate sustainable production, says Torbjorn Halland in Wacker Chemicals Norway.
- This is a very exciting project, and I look forward to hearing about the results from the smelter at Kyrksæterøra! With innovation and new technology, we cut greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time creating value and jobs for the future. Enova plays an important role in the transition in Norway, says Climate and Environment Minister Tore O. Sandvik.
