Unilin renders chipboard production more sustainable thanks to heat connection with A&S Energie
Annual consumption of 45,000 MWh of natural gas is replaced by green heat
Oostrozebeke, ,Today, the gas valves were turned off at Unilin and the steam valves were opened at A&S Energie in Oostrozebeke. Together, they invested €8.5 million in a heat connection between A&S Energie's green power plant and Unilin Panels' production site in Oostrozebeke. With this multi-million investment, Unilin is taking the chipboard plant into the future. From now on, the presses used to produce chipboard will be warmed by green heat instead of natural gas. This replaces 45,000 MWh of gas consumption annually and avoids annual CO2 emissions of 9,090 tonnes. This investment strengthens Unilin Panels' competitiveness and is the beginning of a further modernisation of the chip site in Oostrozebeke.
A&S Energie, a joint venture between Aspiravi and Unilin, already provides 95% of the electricity needs of the adjacent Unilin plant today. But the presses, the heart of the site where the wood chips are compressed into high-quality chipboards, were until now heated with natural gas. Thanks to the investment in a cogeneration unit, A&S Energie will now also supply green heat to this production site. That way, gas consumption is completely eliminated.
"The production of chipboards is an energy-intensive production process. In recent years, we have been working hard on efficiency and electrification of our production processes. Our site in Oostrozebeke was already using green electricity from A&S Energie. Now we are taking the last big hurdle on the energy front in Oostrozebeke. With this investment, we are taking the production site into the future. We are turning off the gas valve and opening the steam valve. This 8.5 million euro investment underlines our focus on a circular European manufacturing industry. In the coming years, we will invest further in modernising the entire site."
Wim Messiaen, CEO Unilin
At A&S Energie, non-recyclable wood waste is converted into green energy. With the current investment, the power plant provides not only electricity but also green heat to Unilin. Via an industrial heat exchanger, steam of 370°C brings a closed circuit of thermal oil to a temperature of 280°C. This 2.4 km long circuit meanders through Unilin's 31 ha production site, where it heats 2 chipboard presses and 2 melamine presses.
"With A&S Energie and A&U Energie, we have two state-of-the-art green energy plants. There, we convert non-recyclable wood waste into green electricity and green steam. For nearby industrial companies, our plants are a strategic solution to make their production processes more sustainable. Green electricity is widely known. But in many production processes, you also need heat. Just think of press installations or furnaces. Very often, these now run on gas. But steam via heat coupling is the way to produce more efficiently and environmentally consciously."
Steven Vandenbulcke, Plant Manager A&S Energie
Unilin is pushing hard for sustainability. As part of its sustainability strategy, Unilin continuously invests in further increasing its efficiency and reducing emissions throughout the organisation. Currently, Unilin is already a global leader in circularity with its chipboard production. 95% of the wood in its chipboards is recycled waste wood. Unilin thus leads the sector and makes the company the largest wood recycler in Belgium. Replacing natural gas with green steam in the production process further reduces the carbon footprint of chipboard. The carbon footprint of the materials used is an increasingly important purchasing criterion in the construction world. This investment provides chipboard products with a competitive advantage.
About A&S Energie
A&S Energie, founded by Aspiravi and Unilin, sustainably processes non-recyclable wood waste and produces 190 GWh of green electricity, enough to power 55,000 families in and around Oostrozebeke. At A&S Energie and A&U Energie, the circular economy is in the genes. All waste wood that can still be recycled or reused will first start a second life as a product through other channels, such as Unilin's chipboards. Only the non-recyclable waste wood, originating from container parks, demolition companies,... will be processed into green energy at A&S Energie. In this way, we complete the circle and no waste wood is lost. Moreover, the residues are maximally reused.
Louise De Hertogh