Billerud and Adven double waste heat in Grums

The circular energy partnership in Grums has been ongoing for more than 20 years and has now reached a new milestone. By capturing even more excess heat from Billerud Gruvön’s mill, Adven can to an even greater extent run Grums' district heating network on residual heat – while also substantially increasing the waste heat supply to Stora Enso's sawmill.

"It's a clear example of how we can create climate benefits and more efficient use of resources through collaboration," says Anders von Dolwitz, energy engineer at Billerud Gruvön Mill.

Over the past years, around 80 percent of Grum’s district heating has already come from residual heat. With this new development, the share increases to about 90 percent - a level matched by few other regions in Sweden.

System tailored for residual heat

Residual heat is often challenging to reuse due to its low temperature. However, in this case, the potential for heat recovery was integrated early in the planning when Billerud modernized parts of its production. Investments in coolers and control technology have enabled the heat to reach 120 degrees Celsius – without the need for heat pumps.

“If you think circular right from the start, even low-grade heat can become a high-value resource”, says Adven's residual heat expert Lars Sjökvist.

40 GWh of energy saved – corresponds to 2,000 households

The result is an annual energy saving of 40 GWh– equivalent to the heating needs of approximately 2,000 standard-sized homes.

“This is an important milestone. We are now capturing energy that would otherwise be lost- while also freeing up biofuels for use where they’re needed more," says Adven’s Lars Sjökvist.

For more information, please contact:

Lars Sjökvist, Concept Developer, Adven, +4670 693 47 98, lars.sjokvist@adven.com