In Sweden, Gotlands Energi AB (GEAB), the island of Gotland's energy utility has announced that it is investing SEK 27 million (c. €2.39 million) in a new, modern bioheat plant in Slite. To be fired by wood pellets, the initiative will strengthen security of supply for local district heating customers and sustainable, fossil-free heat production.
The existing district heat plant in Slite, currently fired with bio-oil, has been operational for around 40 years, supplying households and businesses with heat and hot water.
GEAB is investing in a new facility to replace the current one, to enhance operational reliability, ensure compliance with the EU’s Medium Combustion Plant (MCP) Directive, and secure continued heat delivery to customers.
Waste heat and pellets
GEAB purchases waste heat from Heidelberg Materials cement plant in Slite. The new bioheat plant is designed to supply heat to the network at peak loads and as backup, should Heidelberg Materials be unable to provide heat for any reason.
The new plant will use pellets as fuel—a fossil-free, renewable option.
This is a significant investment for Slite and our district heating customers. With the new pellet boiler, we are laying the groundwork for stable, sustainable heat delivery for many years to come. At the same time, we are taking another step toward reducing our environmental impact and developing district heating on Gotland, said Lotta Eriksson, Project Manager at GEAB.
A modular unit
The contract for the plant was awarded to compatriot BKtech Group, a leading developer and supplier of modular bioenergy solutions for industrial and municipal heating purposes.
Site preparation is already underway, and the project is expected to be completed in early 2027.
According to BKtech, its delivery comprises a modular BioTwin 4 MW for hot water production, built around two 2 MW boilers.
The scope of supply includes boilers and technical modules, pellet storage silos, fuel-handling equipment, control and monitoring systems, pellet burners, hot water boilers, flue-gas cleaning, stack and ash handling systems.
The delivered solution consists of two 2 MW boilers integrated into a modular plant. This provides both the required output and operational flexibility for the district heating network in Slite. The twin-boiler configuration enables efficient operation during periods of low heat demand, such as the summer season, while also providing built-in redundancy, ensuring continued heat supply even when one boiler is taken offline for service or maintenance, said Daniel Chrigström, Bid Manager at BKtech Group.
Manufactured and assembled using BKtech’s modular concept, the plant is designed to minimize on-site installation work while ensuring a high level of factory testing and quality control before delivery.
