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Klemetsrud CHP

About


Efficient and safe waste-to-energy plant with recycling capacity of 310000 tons annually, Klemetsrud is a significant contributor to City of Oslo's goal to cut GHG emissions in half by 2030.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE


BBC: TURNING WASTE INTO ENERGY

1. Waste

All households in Oslo must sort food, plastic and residual waste. Paper, glass, metal, textiles and hazardous waste are sorted as well. Sorting waste at source makes it possible to recycle and recover a larger portion of the waste, thereby retaining valuable resources in the waste life cycle.

2. COLLECTION

Food, plastic and residual waste is collected by waste collection vehicles that run on biogas and transport to Klemetrud’s optical sorting plant. Collection is carried out by private waste management companies that also collects glass, metal packaging and hazardous waste.

3. SORTING

The green bags containing food waste and blue bags with plastic waste are separated from other residual waste by optical readers which detect the colour of the bags with approx. 98% precision. The bags are then sent for respective material recovery processes.

4. RECOVERY

Next, food waste is recycled into emission-neutral biogas and into nutrient-rich biofertiliser. Plastic packaging is converted into new plastic products, while residual waste is converted into district heating and electricity through incineration.

5. END PRODUCTS

Electricity is supplied to Oslo schools and heating is distributed in Oslo’s district heating network. Biogas from the food waste is used as eco-friendly fuel for Oslo buses and waste
management vehicles, while the biofertiliser contributes to an ecofriendly Norwegian agricultural industry.

Environmental Impact


Grounded in the philosophy of holistic, circular thinking, Klemetsrud has implemented several advanced measures to minimize the impact from its operations on the environment.

Carbon Capture from Renewable Energy


As one of the major initiatives encompassed by Oslo’s new climate and energy action plan, Klemetsrud plant is currently undergoing a test program for establishment of at least one full-scale plant for CO2 capture by 2020.

The Klemetsrud Plant is one of Eastern Norway’s larg­est land-based industrial companies, and a major point source for CO2 emissions from biological materials. Never­theless, significant CO2 emissions from the process still remain.

A Carbon capture and Storage (CCS) initiative can significantly contribute to reducing these greenhouse gas emissions. When CO2 is drawn from the air and deposited, the emissions are reduced to less than neutral, going from plus to minus in the emission calculation. Then the so called “carbon negativity” is achieved.

Oslo has a unique opportunity to further develop its status as a European pioneer in the area of environmental and climate efforts, and to have a leading role in the development of technology related to the capture and storage of CO2 emissions from waste-to-energy plants. Carbon capture from renewable energy contributes toward a more sustainable waste management, as well as a green circular economy and can potentially increase the sustainable performance of the Klemetsrud plant.

Some of the reasons that made Klemetsrud an ideal candidate for a CCS project are:

  • The plant will be in operation continuously throughout the year, and will still be operating after 40 years, even if ownership changes hands over time. It therefore provides an excellent base for technological development.
  • The plant provides flexible energy, supplying both heat and electricity.
  • It’s located relatively close to Oslo Harbour, and boat transport of liquid CO2 from Oslo Harbour will be feasible.
  • A Norwegian pilot plant could pave the way for greater emphasis on CCS in tendering procedures and criteria, and for future requirements regarding CCS at waste-to-energy plants within the EU.

For the latest updates about the test program, please see our News section.

Four tonnes of waste has the same energy content as one tonne of fuel oil.

Pål Mikkelsen, CEO