How to use production by-products wisely

The use of residual heat, sludge, effluent, and residual products from industrial processes as an energy source – these are just a few examples where Adven in partnership with different industrial companies, have managed to achieve energy savings and reduce the environmental impact and the amount of waste to be deposited.

The Finnish store and service chain for agriculture-related products Hankkija, which produces also industrial animal feed, previously used liquefied gas as fuel to produce steam. As the fuel prices increased, the company began to look for solutions for the introduction of different fuels, considering the environmental aspect also important.

In the animal feed production process, oat husks are formed as a by-product. In partnership with Adven, the possibilities for restructuring the energy production were mapped and a solution was chosen in which the oat husk residues from the factory could be used as renewable fuel in the steam production process. For this solution Adven built a bioenergy boiler for Hankkija.

–We no longer have to transport oats anywhere, and the cost-effectiveness of our production and environmental friendliness in the form of a local renewable energy source also improved, says Jarno Erkamaa, the Head of Hankkija Turku plant, about the benefits of the solution.

This solution contributes also to the circular economy and made it possible to largely replace LPG (liquid petroleum gas) as a fuel. Reserve and peak loads are covered by wooden pellets and with liquefied gas to some extent. The technology of burning oat shells requires special knowledge, but Adven’s previous experience made it possible to smoothly manage the construction of the solution. Namely, Adven has previously established a similar type of energy center, where steam is produced from barley shells.

Read more about the solution here.

A new boiler house was introduced at the Nokia flour mill of the Raisio group, which uses oat shells as fuel. The conversion of residues into energy made it possible to make energy production carbon neutral. Jukka Heinänen, a representative of Raisio, pointed out that the introduction of by-products as an energy source reduced energy costs and contributed to environmental sustainability. In addition, the advantage is the fact that fuel no longer has to be transported from elsewhere, and the industry does not depend on changes in fuel prices.

When the new boiler house was completed, the previous equipment was left to cover the reserve and peak loads, and the fuel there was replaced with biogas. Previously, energy production emitted about 1000 tons of carbon dioxide per year, but after the amendment, emissions practically fell to zero.

–The technology of boilers and energy production has evolved, so it is now easier to produce energy from fuels that were previously not suitable for this purpose. Together with our customers, we are constantly looking for solutions to make effective use of residues, this is clearly a growing trend, says Jari Ojala Account Manager at Adven.

Read more about the solution here.

The Nammo Vihtavuori propellant plant in Finland uses the water of the nearby Lake Siikajärvi for cooling production processes. The company was looking for a solution to decrease the fall in the water level in the lake, as well as ways to save energy.

Adven built an energy solution for the plant, where previously essentially wasted energy was used. Instead of letting the cooling water that warms up during the process back into the lake, the same water was now circulating in the cooling system. Heat as a “residue” from cooling was put into use and fed into the region’s heat network. This effectively used the previously lost heat, which corresponds to the energy consumption of 250 private houses.

The new energy solution based on a closed water cycle made it possible to reduce the consumption of cooling water and restore the water level in the lake.

–We achieved the goal of energy savings and were able to use residual energy. For us, the fact that Adven offers the entire package as a full service was important when choosing an energy partner. We did not have to finance the investment ourselves, but we made a long-term contract, and Adven itself maintains the equipment and ensures the functioning of the solution, comments Ilkka Heikkilä, CEO of Nammo Vihtavuori.

Read more about the solution here.

Several companies are exploring the possibilities of using wastewater from production processes for energy production. During wastewater treatment, sewage sludge is formed. Organic sewage sludge can be used to produce biogas, which is quite like natural gas, but belongs to renewable energy sources.

The reprocessing of sewage sludge and other residues makes it possible to reduce waste generation and create new value. This can reduce the energy and waste management costs.

For industries looking for solutions in the transition to renewable energy, ensuring flexibility of fuel types, exploiting residues and using energy efficiently, Adven helps to consider different options and find the most suitable solution in the long term.

Adven values strong and long-term partnerships, and the Energy as a Service® partnership model covers the entire value chain.

Read more about Energy as s Service® here.