FINLAND - Metsä Group is collaborating with the technology company Andritz to explore integrating carbon capture into its bioproduct mill, potentially pioneering a global first.

This initiative aims to capture up to 4 million tonnes of CO2 annually from the Kemi bioproduct mill, the largest of its kind in the northern hemisphere.

Andritz will conduct a study to optimize the carbon capture system’s size, energy efficiency, and logistical needs, utilizing electricity, heat, and steam generated by the mill without waste.

If feasible, this project could introduce a significant new wood-based raw material for Finland's forest industry. Metsä Group envisions using the captured CO2 to produce renewable fuels and chemicals, supporting the country's hydrogen economy and fostering a sustainable chemical industry.

"This collaboration represents pioneering efforts in carbon capture and a crucial step towards leveraging biogenic CO2 for sustainable fuel production," remarks Sari Pajari-Sederholm, EVP of Strategy at Metsä Group. Klaus Baernthaler from Andritz adds, "Decarbonization efforts are amplifying the demand for renewable fuels, and bioproduct mills are poised to meet this demand by harnessing their side streams."