AustroCel Hallein

Bioenergy

The heart of our energy production on site is the so-called recovery boiler with 90 megawatts of thermal output and steam back pressure turbine. The Brown liquor resulting from the cooking process contains resins, hemicellulose and lignin with a high calorific value. First, the Brown liquor is concentrated in an evaporation system until it has a dry content of up to 60 percent and then it is burned. During the burning process, steam is produced for the production and green energy which we use ourselves. At the same time, the chemicals in the Brown liquor are largely recovered.

In 2005, the site invested around 36 million euros in building a biomass thermal power station (BHCP). Each hour, 30 megawatts of thermal output demands 15 tons of fuel. A large proportion of the fuel requirement is served using internal residual materials from the factory, for example bark and fines from the Wood yard, rejects from the pulp production and sludge from the waste water treatment. In addition, wood logs and forest wood chips from the region are used.