Klingele invests in sustainable energy supply at its Brazilian site

In the first phase of the “Energy Island” project, which started in February 2022 and was completed this October, Klingele is replacing the previous biomass boilers at the Nova Campina site (state of São Paulo) in Brazil with a modern fluidized bed boiler technology, which went into regular operation in October. The new fluidized bed boiler generates process steam, while a new steam turbine generates electricity entirely from biomass, including wood residues from the debarking drum and sewage sludge from the plant's own wastewater treatment.

With a steam output of 120 t/h at temperatures of 495 °C and a pressure of 67 bar, the plant significantly reduces fine dust emissions through the use of an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) and optimizes resource efficiency by incinerating the sewage sludge, which also reduces disposal costs.

A 15 MW steam turbine complements the new biomass boiler. The two existing steam turbines will remain in operation so that the combination of boilers and turbines will cover both the heat and the entire electrical energy requirements of the production facility in future. The additional water treatment system optimizes the water quality with reduced use of chemicals, which further reduces the environmental impact and ensures production quality.

Flagship project for resource-conserving growth

“The 'Energy Island' project brings us a big step closer to our goal of realizing resource-saving and low-emission production,” explains Ângelo Teixeira Junior, Plant Manager of the Nova Campina paper mill. ”With the completion of the first phase, we have laid the foundation for continuing to offer our customers products of the highest quality, strengthening the connection to the local community and securing a sustainable future for the Nova Campina plant.”

Multi-stage program secures the future of the site

The “Energy Island” project is part of the comprehensive Guepardo project, which comprises a total of 360 individual projects. The aim of these measures is to secure the ecological and economic future of the plant. The first phase of the project focuses on energy self-sufficiency, while the parallel second phase focuses on improving fiber quality for paper production. In the third phase, the production capacity for virgin fibers is to be increased over the next three to five years.

Employer and partner in the region

Nova Campina, part of Klingele since February 2021, produces kraftliner paper from virgin fibers. Due to their hygienic safety, kraftliners are mainly used for direct contact with food, for high-quality printing and for packaging fresh and chilled products. The plant processes FSC-certified pine and eucalyptus wood from nearby plantations, around 30 percent of which comes from Klingele's sustainable forestry, and meets the highest standards in terms of environmental compatibility and hygiene. With around 650 employees, the site is one of the largest employers in the region and contributes to regional value creation and economic development through continuous investment.

Investment strategy for international sustainability goals

Klingele has been investing in renewable energy generation plants for 20 years. With the “Energy Island” project, the medium-sized family business is underlining its commitment to resource-conserving and largely self-sufficient production as part of a global sustainability strategy. For the expansion investments at the Nova Campina site, the Brazilian subsidiary has taken out an eight-year loan of 40 million euros from the Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG), a subsidiary of the state-owned KfW Bankengruppe. The local facilities serve as collateral for the loan. DEG ensures compliance with all ESG criteria (environmental, social and governance) so that the investment not only contributes to regional development, but also supports global sustainability goals. “We are proud to shape the transformation of Nova Campina into a modern site with environmentally conscious production,” explains Robert Alexander Sieger, Chief Operating Officer of the Paper Division at Klingele. “This major project is an inspiring example of international investment that delivers sustainable growth both for us as a company and for the region.”