Terrafame energy emissions dropped by 9,000 tonnes

Terrafame and Adven have been cooperating on a large scale in developing energy efficiency and energy production as well as reducing emissions for several years. The opening shot for these activities is the construction of the new battery chemical plant in Sotkamo, which is an investment of approximately EUR 240 million.

Terrafame is currently building one of the largest battery chemical production lines in the world. At the launch of the battery chemical plant in 2021, Terrafame’s current main product, nickel-cobalt sulphide, will be further processed into nickel and cobalt sulphates, raw materials for electric vehicle batteries.

“We are constantly looking for ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce our carbon footprint”, says Kristian Granit, Chief Refining Office at Terrafame Battery Chemicals Factory.

To meet the energy needs of the battery chemical plant, Adven will implement a renewable energy-based heating plant on the plant site. The 10 MW solid fuel energy plant uses renewable fuels to produce steam and heat energy for the manufacture of battery chemicals as well as for other needs in the factory area.

The agreement between Terrafame and Adven also covers a production unit for high-pressure steam, which is needed to start production processes.

Adven and Terrafame will also improve the energy efficiency by utilizing excess energy of Terrafame’s hydrogen plant in the district heating network in the area. Similar technology has been utilized, for example, in power plants, but it is new in hydrogen plants. The project received investment support for the new energy technology from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.

“The underlying aim is to reduce emissions and, on the other hand, to save on energy production costs. Capturing energy from the existing processes can either cover the growing energy needs or replace current energy production, often done with fossil fuels”, says Arto Liikanen, Account and Sales Manager at Adven.

The amount of heat to be recovered depends on the usage level of the two hydrogen plants: the more the hydrogen plants are used, the more excess energy is generated. At best, recovery corresponds to about five megawatts of energy generation.

In addition, Adven is expanding its district heating network also to the mining depot, which will end the usage of light fuel at the depot.

The new energy plant, the recovery of excess energy from the hydrogen plant, and the development of the region’s infrastructure as well as other measures to improve energy efficiency, will bring together an annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 9,000 tonnes. It shows in practice for the first time in the numbers of 2021.

Adven develops Kemira’s energy efficiency and process integration

Smart energy systems position Ovako among its industry’s climate leaders

Nammo Vihtavuori propellant plant cuts water consumption in half

Download our Energy as a Service® guidebook