IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v14y2021i4p1161-d503703.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Pulp and Paper Industry: Decarbonisation Technology Assessment to Reach CO 2 Neutral Emissions—An Austrian Case Study

Author

Listed:
  • Maedeh Rahnama Mobarakeh

    (Chair of Energy Network Technology, Montanuniversitaet Leoben, Franz-Josef Straße 18, A-8700 Leoben, Austria)

  • Miguel Santos Silva

    (Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Thomas Kienberger

    (Chair of Energy Network Technology, Montanuniversitaet Leoben, Franz-Josef Straße 18, A-8700 Leoben, Austria)

Abstract

The pulp and paper (P&P) sector is a dynamic manufacturing industry and plays an essential role in the Austrian economy. However, the sector, which consumes about 20 TWh of final energy, is responsible for 7% of Austria’s industrial CO 2 emissions. This study, intending to assess the potential for improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions in the Austrian context in the P&P sector, uses a bottom-up approach model. The model is applied to analyze the energy consumption (heat and electricity) and CO 2 emissions in the main processes, related to the P&P production from virgin or recycled fibers. Afterward, technological options to reduce energy consumption and fossil CO 2 emissions for P&P production are investigated, and various low-carbon technologies are applied to the model. For each of the selected technologies, the potential of emission reduction and energy savings up to 2050 is estimated. Finally, a series of low-carbon technology-based scenarios are developed and evaluated. These scenarios’ content is based on the improvement potential associated with the various processes of different paper grades. The results reveal that the investigated technologies applied in the production process (chemical pulping and paper drying) have a minor impact on CO 2 emission reduction (maximum 10% due to applying an impulse dryer). In contrast, steam supply electrification, by replacing fossil fuel boilers with direct heat supply (such as commercial electric boilers or heat pumps), enables reducing emissions by up to 75%. This means that the goal of 100% CO 2 emission reduction by 2050 cannot be reached with one method alone. Consequently, a combination of technologies, particularly with the electrification of the steam supply, along with the use of carbon-free electricity generated by renewable energy, appears to be essential.

Suggested Citation

  • Maedeh Rahnama Mobarakeh & Miguel Santos Silva & Thomas Kienberger, 2021. "Pulp and Paper Industry: Decarbonisation Technology Assessment to Reach CO 2 Neutral Emissions—An Austrian Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-30, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:4:p:1161-:d:503703
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/4/1161/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/4/1161/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. FALCKE Heino & HOLBROOK Simon & CLENAHAN Iain & LOPEZ CARRETERO Alfredo & SANALAN Ahmet & BRINKMANN Thomas & ROTH Joze & ZERGER Benoît & ROUDIER Serge & DELGADO SANCHO Luis, 2018. "Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for the Production of Large Volume Organic Chemicals. Industrial Emissions Directive 2010/75/EU (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control)," JRC Research Reports JRC109279, Joint Research Centre.
    2. Fleiter, Tobias & Fehrenbach, Daniel & Worrell, Ernst & Eichhammer, Wolfgang, 2012. "Energy efficiency in the German pulp and paper industry – A model-based assessment of saving potentials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 84-99.
    3. LECOMTE Thierry & FERRERIA DE LA FUENTE Jose Felix & NEUWAHL Frederik & CANOVA Michele & PINASSEAU Antoine & JANKOV Ivan & BRINKMANN Thomas & ROUDIER Serge & DELGADO SANCHO Luis, 2017. "Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for Large Combustion Plants. Industrial Emissions Directive 2010/75/EU (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control)," JRC Research Reports JRC107769, Joint Research Centre.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Furszyfer Del Rio, Dylan D. & Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Griffiths, Steve & Bazilian, Morgan & Kim, Jinsoo & Foley, Aoife M. & Rooney, David, 2022. "Decarbonizing the pulp and paper industry: A critical and systematic review of sociotechnical developments and policy options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    2. Junsong Jia & Jing Lei & Chundi Chen & Xu Song & Yexi Zhong, 2021. "Contribution of Renewable Energy Consumption to CO 2 Emission Mitigation: A Comparative Analysis from a Global Geographic Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Mariusz Reczulski & Włodzimierz Szewczyk & Michał Kuczkowski, 2023. "Possibilities of Reducing the Heat Energy Consumption in a Tissue Paper Machine—Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-15, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pasquali, Andrea & Klinge Jacobsen, Henrik, 2019. "Construction of energy savings cost curves: An application for Denmark," MPRA Paper 93076, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Simona Di Fraia & M. Rakib Uddin, 2022. "Energy Recovery from Waste Paper and Deinking Sludge to Support the Demand of the Paper Industry: A Numerical Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Alessandra Cantini & Leonardo Leoni & Filippo De Carlo & Marcello Salvio & Chiara Martini & Fabrizio Martini, 2021. "Technological Energy Efficiency Improvements in Cement Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-28, March.
    4. Ke, Jing & Price, Lynn & McNeil, Michael & Khanna, Nina Zheng & Zhou, Nan, 2013. "Analysis and practices of energy benchmarking for industry from the perspective of systems engineering," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 32-44.
    5. Marco Abis & Martina Bruno & Kerstin Kuchta & Franz-Georg Simon & Raul Grönholm & Michel Hoppe & Silvia Fiore, 2020. "Assessment of the Synergy between Recycling and Thermal Treatments in Municipal Solid Waste Management in Europe," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Georg Liebig & Jens Rommel, 2014. "Active and Forced Choice for Overcoming Status Quo Bias: A Field Experiment on the Adoption of “No junk mail” Stickers in Berlin, Germany," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 423-435, September.
    7. Paramonova, Svetlana & Thollander, Patrik & Ottosson, Mikael, 2015. "Quantifying the extended energy efficiency gap-evidence from Swedish electricity-intensive industries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 472-483.
    8. Li, Yuan & Zhu, Lei, 2014. "Cost of energy saving and CO2 emissions reduction in China’s iron and steel sector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 603-616.
    9. Kohler, Marcel, 2014. "Differential electricity pricing and energy efficiency in South Africa," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 524-532.
    10. Andersson, Elias & Karlsson, Magnus & Thollander, Patrik & Paramonova, Svetlana, 2018. "Energy end-use and efficiency potentials among Swedish industrial small and medium-sized enterprises – A dataset analysis from the national energy audit program," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 165-177.
    11. Juaidi, Adel & AlFaris, Fadi & Montoya, Francisco G. & Manzano-Agugliaro, Francisco, 2016. "Energy benchmarking for shopping centers in Gulf Coast region," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 247-255.
    12. Satu Kähkönen & Esa Vakkilainen & Timo Laukkanen, 2019. "Impact of Structural Changes on Energy Efficiency of Finnish Pulp and Paper Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-12, September.
    13. Karolina Sobieraj & Sylwia Stegenta-Dąbrowska & Jacek A. Koziel & Andrzej Białowiec, 2021. "Modeling of CO Accumulation in the Headspace of the Bioreactor during Organic Waste Composting," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-17, March.
    14. Utlu, Zafer & Kincay, Olcay, 2013. "An assessment of a pulp and paper mill through energy and exergy analyses," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 565-573.
    15. Panagiotis Grammelis & Nikolaos Margaritis & Petros Dallas & Dimitrios Rakopoulos & Georgios Mavrias, 2021. "A Review on Management of End of Life Tires (ELTs) and Alternative Uses of Textile Fibers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-20, January.
    16. Minh Nguyen Dat & Kien Duong Trung & Hoang Truong Huy, 2021. "Energy Benchmarking Management for Beer and Beverage Industry in Vietnam," Management, Sciendo, vol. 25(2), pages 36-58, December.
    17. Bühler, Fabian & Zühlsdorf, Benjamin & Nguyen, Tuong-Van & Elmegaard, Brian, 2019. "A comparative assessment of electrification strategies for industrial sites: Case of milk powder production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 1383-1401.
    18. Herrera, Bernardo & Amell, Andrés & Chejne, Farid & Cacua, Karen & Manrique, Raiza & Henao, Wilson & Vallejo, Gabriel, 2017. "Use of thermal energy and analysis of barriers to the implementation of thermal efficiency measures in cement production: Exploratory study in Colombia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 1047-1058.
    19. Hepburn, Cameron & Teytelboym, Alexander & Cohen, Francois, 2018. "Is Natural Capital Really Substitutable?," INET Oxford Working Papers 2018-12, Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford.
    20. Leonardo Leoni & Alessandra Cantini & Filippo De Carlo & Marcello Salvio & Chiara Martini & Claudia Toro & Fabrizio Martini, 2021. "Energy-Saving Technology Opportunities and Investments of the Italian Foundry Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-29, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:4:p:1161-:d:503703. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.