Västerås, Sweden – November 2024 — Babcock & Wilcox (B&W), the global leader in environmental technologies, has been awarded a contract to perform a front-end engineering study for the co-firing of its SolveBright carbon capture technology at Mälarenergi AB’s waste-to-energy plant in Västerås, Sweden. The project will cut around 400,000 tonnes of CO2 annually from the plant and help Mälarenergi AB achieve its ambition to become carbon neutral by 2035.
It will explore how the innovative carbon capture system by SolveBright can be introduced into the present work in the plant. It is a revolutionizing solvent that will capture CO2 components in the exhaust gases of the plant and permanently store them in the captured carbon. The general objective is to improve energy efficiency while helping Sweden achieve its ambitious goal of conversion to cleaner energy and reduction in carbon emissions.
Sweden can support the Net Zero goals through Carbon Capture
Out of all these targets, one of the important targets met in the process is carbon capture technology integration into the Västerås power plant, such that a net-zero emissions target is set as aggressive for 2045 for Sweden. The Västerås power plant has already supplied half of Västerås’ district heating and reduced electricity consumption. As it acts with carbon capture, it would play much more important roles for the country to eventually go for net-zero emissions by 2045.
Babcock & Wilcox’s SolveBright system is designed to capture CO2 from industrial exhaust gases, an important component of reducing greenhouse gases from industrial sources. This will be one of the first applications of the technology at a waste-to-energy plant and could potentially become a model for other facilities as they look to reduce their environmental footprint.
Some Key Focuses of the Study
The soon to be launched feasibility study will look at how Babcock & Wilcox’s SolveBright technology can be integrated into the operation of this waste-to-energy plant so that energy efficiency is enhanced. One of the major intents of this feasibility study is to work out how the technology can decrease the carbon emissions of the plant in a way that it can continue to meet its requirements to give Västerås heat and power.
In terms of integration, the study will focus more on how the carbon capture system can be inserted to the pre-existing plant infrastructure without causing much disturbance to its operations. This means such technology can be blended practically with the plant’s operation without disturbing the plant’s operation. Therefore, the operations in this plant will be maintained and will be achieved in pursuing the environmental targets set.
Benefits for Mälarenergi and Sweden
For Mälarenergi, carbon capture technology is an excellent fit with the company’s sustainability goals: reaching carbon neutrality by 2035. Integration of the SolveBright system in the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be in line with efforts in the battle against environmental targets, as the company moves on with its progress towards cleaner energy sources.
The project will be in line with the overall goals of Sweden to reduce carbon emissions and incrementally shift towards more sustainable energy resources. As carbon capture technology is part of the waste-to-energy process, the plant will then, in a way, contribute to Sweden’s efforts in reaching its own climate goals.
Waste-to-Energy Plants’ Role in Sustainability
Waste-to-energy plants have been a fundamental component of the Swedish energy system for decades, and there is an important role they have in waste management and the production of energy. Västerås is one of those examples where it produces half of the district heating for the town and at the same time reduces overall electricity use. District heating is an incredibly effective means of delivering heat to homes and businesses and, therefore, plays a valuable role in Sweden’s energy strategy.
Nevertheless, the waste-to-energy plants come with environmental issues, mainly in terms of emissions through the combustion of waste. Possibly, the addition of carbon capture technology may reduce the carbon footprint by manyfold, hence making it a cleaner source of energy and supporting the country in its mission to reduce the emission of carbon in the environment.
Advancement of Climate Transition for Sweden
Carbon capture technology is, therefore, embedded in Sweden’s transition to becoming the first society of the low-carbon economy. However, wind and solar power are grown too fast, which is not enough; capturing and storing CO2 emissions from existing infrastructure is necessary for Sweden to reach a net zero level of emissions.
One step closer toward that goal is the Babcock & Wilcox feasibility study with Mälarenergi. Results may finally bring a carbon capture technology revolution for all waste-to-energy plants in Sweden, and every country wanting to hit their climate targets.
The Road Ahead
Continued in the study, Babcock & Wilcox and Mälarenergi will examine the possibility of an expansion and deployment of SolveBright technology into other plants which operate as waste-to-energy facilities, run across Europe. Successful implementation of the project at Västerås will then likely open up the potential for undertaking similar initiatives elsewhere with the first useful model of carbon capture in the waste-to-energy sector.
This study will lead to deep-going implications of the future of running of the plants and offer a pathway for the facility to contribute meaningfully to the fight against global climate change.
Source: Babcock & Wilcox