Two modern biomass cogeneration plants at Prüm and Garant will provide renewable energy in future. Using combined heat and power, these assets will cover round half of the electricity requirement and the entire heat requirement of the two factories. The assets will be fired with production residues, i.e. wood waste from door production.
New biomass cogeneration plants for greater efficiency and climate protection
The background to the investment in the new biomass cogeneration plants (BMHKW) was, on the one hand, the previous heating systems at Prüm and Garant, which had to be modernized after 30 years. On the other hand, changes to the German administrative regulations on keeping the air clean resulted in stricter emission standards, which made it necessary to adapt the plant technology. For this reason, the design of both plants was started, which could be combined with Arbonia's climate targets. The new CHP plants will replace an existing, less efficient CHP plant at Prüm and smaller decentralized heating systems, including heating oil systems, at both Prüm and Garant. The CHP plant at Prüm went into operation in 2024, while the plant at Garant is expected to be completed in 2025.
The technology of a BMHKW is based on the energetic use of biomass as fuel. Production waste such as wood dust and uncontaminated, shredded wood-based materials are burned, generating steam at very high pressure. The resulting heat is used in various operating and production processes, while the steam generates electricity using a steam turbine. This multiple use of the steam corresponds to highly efficient combined heat and power generation.
The aim is to use the new CHP units to cover the heat requirements of the Prüm and Garant plants entirely with self-generated energy. Self-generated electricity is expected to account for a good half of total demand. An important advantage of the BMHKW is the switch to renewable energy sources and the replacement of fossil energy sources. Furthermore, the production waste is efficiently recycled in line with the circular economy. By incinerating it, greenhouse gases are avoided that would be produced by rotting or incineration without energy recovery. In addition, emissions from the transportation of waste over long distances and disposal costs can be saved. As well as contributing to sustainability, the energy generation plants will bring long-term economic benefits asCO2 taxes can be saved.
The local community at the sites has responded positively to the use of wood waste for energy generation. The use of modern flue gas filter technology improves air quality. The plant at Prüm operates continuously, allowing electricity to be fed into the grid on non-production days. In addition, unused heat is passed on to neighboring companies, which ensures efficient use of resources and contributes to regional value creation.
