Immediate Deployment of Waste Energy Technologies at Multiple Sites

Program Document · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 2011

OSTI ID:1219507

Castonguay, Dennis J.

Verso Paper Corp. implemented a portfolio of 13 commercially available proven industrial technologies each exceeding 30% minimum threshold efficiency and at least 25% efficiency increase. These sub-projects are a direct result of a grant received from the Department of Energy (DOE) through its FOA 0000044 (Deployment of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Systems, District Energy Systems, Waste Energy Recovery Systems, and Efficient Industrial Equipment), which was funded by the American Recovery Act. These were installed at 3 sites in 2 states and are helping to reduce Verso costs, making the facilities more competitive. This created approximately 100 construction jobs (FTE’s) and reduced impacted Verso facilities’ expense budgets. These sub-projects were deployed at Verso paper mills located in Jay, Maine, Bucksport, Maine, and Sartell, Minnesota. The paper mills are the economic engines of the rural communities in which these mills are located. Reinvestment in waste energy recovery capital improvements is providing a stimulus to help maintain domestic jobs and to competitively position the US pulp and paper industry with rising energy costs. Energy efficiency improvements are also providing a positive environmental impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the quantity of wastewater treated and discharged, and fossil fuel demand. As a result of these projects, when fully operating, Verso realized a total of approximately 1.5 TBtu/Year reduction in overall energy consumption, which is 119% of the project objectives. Note that three paper machines have since been permanently curtailed. However even with these shutdowns, the company still met its energy objectives. Note also that the Sartell mill’s paper machine is down due to a recent fire which damaged the mill’s electrical infrastructure (the company has not decided on the mill’s future).

• Research Organization: EERE Publication and Product Library
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Advanced Manufacturing Office (EE-5A) (Advanced Manufacturing Office Corporate)
• OSTI ID: 1219507
• Report Number(s): DOE/EE-0433; 5531
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

distributed energy
combined heat and power
CHP
pulp and paper
thermomechanical pulp
white water recovery
heat recovery
drying
air compressor