Residuals become resources
- Article
In Frånö, just outside Kramfors, BEWI transforms a local residual product into valuable energy. Sawdust from SCA’s sawmill in Bollstabruk powers the steam boiler that supplies both production and facilities with fossil-free energy.
Residual product from the sawmill
At BEWI’s facility in Frånö, insulation material of the EPS type is produced. To reduce climate impact, the company focuses on material recycling and uses fossil-free fuel – sawdust from its neighbor, SCA.
The sawdust is the heart of our operations. We use it both for heating the facilities and for steam in the production process.
Smooth and Reliable Deliveries
Deliveries of sawdust are fast and efficient. Usually, the sawdust arrives in Frånö within an hour of ordering. The short transport distance from SCA’s sawmill in Bollstabruk also results in minimal environmental impact.
“It works smoothly, and we never have to worry about delivery reliability,” says Markus Eriksson at BEWI.
The steam boiler, which reaches temperatures of 700–800 degrees Celsius, has a capacity of 3 MW and consumes around 5,200 MWh per year. That corresponds to approximately 50 truckloads of sawdust.
98 Percent Air – 100 Percent Efficiency
The raw material for EPS (expanded polystyrene) consists of small beads that, when exposed to steam, expand up to 50 times their original size.
Once cooled, the beads are formed into large blocks that are cut into the desired shape using heated wire. The result is a lightweight material made up of 98 percent air – yet with excellent insulating properties.
Every day, around 90–100 large blocks are produced, which are then cut into smaller units. All material waste is recycled and reintroduced into the production process.
The raw material for EPS (expanded polystyrene) consists of small beads that, when exposed to steam, expand up to 50 times their original size.Photographer: Erika Edmark
The boiler in Frånö is powered entirely by sawdust and delivers fossil-free heat to both the production process and the facilities.Photographer: Erika Edmark
Markus Eriksson in front of the large EPS blocks, of which BEWI produces around 90–100 every day.Photographer: Erika Edmark
Cut EPS blocks are being packagedPhotographer: Erika Edmark
The raw material for EPS (expanded polystyrene) consists of small beads that, when exposed to steam, expand up to 50 times their original size.Photographer: Erika Edmark
Sawdust – an energy-rich byproduct
Sawdust is a byproduct generated at sawmills when logs are cut into planks and boards. SCA uses the largest volumes of sawdust for pellet production at its facilities in Härnösand, Stugun, and Luleå. A significant amount is also delivered to external customers – as fuel and as raw material for products such as particle boards. The energy value is around 2.3 MWh per ton.
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