R&D challenged by resource efficiency

EU's energy and climate change policy calls for a large reduction of CO2 emission, efficient use of energy and increased use of renewable energy in energy production and in transportation. The emission allowance price and subsidised national energy tariffs are likely to increase the cost of energy and wood raw material. This development together with the persistent trend of low product selling prices is setting big challenges on forest industry. Resource efficiency and the value of products should be improved. The paper illustrates the potential of various process concepts and their combinations in improving the resource efficiency of papermaking. Total site LWC paper mill model (BAT) consisting of debarking, effluent treatment, power plant, TMP production and LWC paper machine is used as the reference. Resource efficiency improvement is discussed in terms of available and new developing technologies and in terms of required research and development work. The efficiency improvement is estimated both as the change of consumption of wood and purchased electricity and fuel on annual basis and as changes in specific consumption values. In general, resource efficiency is improved through development of more efficient unit operations, through development of lighter paper and board products, and through use of optimised process control methods. Low quality wood raw material should rather be used for other purposes than paper or board production. Emphasis should put on methods that increase the value of fibre and that reduce the energy dependency of production methods. However, while improving the productivity of present operations, forest industry needs to indentify, develop and foster also new business concepts along the present ones and determine what the optimal future product portfolio is. Well-balanced project portfolio covering also research infrastructures and training needs of people is a must for success.