In Sweden, Moelven Vänerply AB, part of Norway-headed solid wood processing major Moelven Industrier ASA, has held the official inauguration of a new biomass-fired steam boiler at its plywood facility in Otterbäcken.
In mid-2024, Moelven Vänerply decided to replace the aging boiler at its plywood plant. Just two years later, it was handed over: on time, within budget, and without incident.
Supplied by bioenergy specialists AKJ Energieteknik AB, the new 17.6 MW plant supplies process steam at 20 bar to the plywood plant in Otterbäcken, which operates around the clock year-round to produce c. 6 million m2 of plywood annually.
The boiler plant is also approved for up to 72 hours of unmanned operation and will ensure stable, long-term, and sustainable energy supply, completely independent of fossil fuels.
Already entirely fuel self-sufficient, the boiler uses chipped/shredded residues generated from plywood production.
However, the new plant is designed to handle larger volumes of bark with higher moisture content than previously. This enables a larger share of woodchips from the peeler cores to be sold to the pulp and paper industry.
The investment is strategically important for Moelven. It is about more than just a new energy plant; it is about creating the conditions to develop a vital industry for Moelven, while strengthening Vänerply’s competitiveness and future growth. Furthermore, this is an outstanding example of a well-executed project: completed on time, within the agreed budget, and meeting the specified quality standards. The project team deserves great credit for their work, said Lars Storslett, Chair of Moelven Vänerply during the inauguration ceremony.
Textbook project management and implementation
Several key success factors contributed to the safe and successful delivery of a project of this scale.
Good dialogue, close collaboration, and a strong focus on safety have been the guiding principles for all parties.
It has been a fantastic project to carry out together with AKJ, where openness and dialogue have been crucial to reaching where we are today. This demonstrates what can be achieved when working together with a high level of mutual trust, said George Petersson, Technical Manager and Project Manager at Moelven Vänerply.
