Resource conservation by the use of recycled paper, the continuous optimization of the production process and the use of renewable energies are the focus of the environmentally friendly value chain of the paper mills Laakirchen and Steyrermühl.
The sustainable cycle of Heinzel Group
Sustainability at heinzelpaper
Steyrermühl - Pöls - Laakirchen
Two locations, three plants, dedicated to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and gas. In Laakirchen, an innovative center is being established, focusing on the development of sustainable packaging papers, the production of renewable energy, and efficient wood processing.
Laakirchen and Steyrermühl are growing into a hub for sustainable packaging papers, renewable energy, and wood processing. With this, we respond to global changes in the paper industry as well as in energy supply, and take responsibility for nature, the environment, and climate protection. In line with our sustainability goals, we aim to be part of the solution – moving away from energy based on fossil natural gas and toward to biogenic raw materials and the use of existing valuable and residual materials.
Our actions for environmental and climate protection
Together, we aim to further significantly reduce CO₂ emissions at our sites by 2030. To achieve this, we have set specific climate targets and are continuously implementing concrete measures. For example, we already recycle wood residues, bark, sawdust, and paper and fiber scraps into valuable thermal energy at Steyrermühl. We also use renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric power, biogas, and photovoltaics, and are expanding these further. With a new residue power plant, we will make an additional, major step toward the energy transition in the future. This will allow us to largely replace the remaining share of natural gas with biogenic energy sources.
Valuable raw material: paper for recycling
Conservation of valuable primary resources such as wood.
According to the latest findings, the fibers gained from waste paper can be reused up to 25 times.
Lower energy consumption and use of chemicals through the use of secondary fibers (waste paper).
When cleaning waste water, high-quality biogas is created for heat generation (saving natural gas and CO2).
Residue power plant
Mill: Steyrermühl
Products: Fluidized bed boiler plant (WSK), 55 tons/hour, 84 bar, 485° C, supplies energy in the form of steam for paper drying and electricity
Production: ~50 MW Fuel heat output
Raw materials: Fiber residues, bark, waste wood and recovered paper rejects from the Steyrermühl and Laakirchen mills
Ash: The resulting ash is reused as the product “Cinerit” as filling material, e.g. in road construction, dam construction, etc. More information on: cinerit.at)
Hydroelectric power station
Mill: Laakirchen
Production: 45 GWh of electricity from hydropower / year
2 Kaplan bulb turbines with a runner diameter of 2.88 m and a capacity of 60 m3/second each
Characteristics:
- 2 Kaplanrohrturbinen mit einem Laufraddurchmesser von 2,88 m und je 60 m3/Sekunde Schluckvermögen
- Weir system with 2 weir flaps and a segment gate
- Horizontal screen cleaning system with 240m² screen area and a screen width of 30/45 mm
- Fish ladder allows fish and small animals to migrate unhindered along the River Traun
- Near-natural design of the underwater area improves living conditions for aquatic organisms
Photovoltaic power plant
Mills: Steyrermühl und Laakirchen
Production:
- 4.4 GWh of green electricity / year to supply up to 1,000 households
- 11,900 PV modules are mounted on the roofs and facades of Laakirchen and Steyrermühl
- 1,200 tons of CO2 are saved annually
Gas turbine plant
Mill: Laakirchen
Capacity: Gas turbine 38 MWiso with downstream waste heat boiler: 120 tons / hour, 110 bar, 510 °C
During the wastewater treatment, high-quality biogas for heat generation ist produced. This replaces fossil natural gas and reduces CO₂ emissions.
The gas turbine heat and power plant provides 2/3 of the site's energy self-sufficiency and ensures a complete heat supply for the plant.
Wastewater treatment
Through our wastewater treatment, we guarantee an excellent water quality of the River Traun and ensure an ecological habitat for fish and small animals.
Steyrermühl
The sewage treatment plant in Steyrermühl has another important task in addition to the treatment of production wastewater: the treatment of municipal wastewater from Laakirchen and parts of Ohlsdorf.
Laakirchen
The wastewater treatment process produces high-quality biogas, which is used to generate steam. This replaces fossil natural gas and saves CO2.
In beiden Kläranlagen wird die Energie des strömenden Abwassers noch in kleinen Abwasserturbinen zur Stromerzeugung genutzt.
The expansion of the anaerobic digestion plant (plant under construction on the left) will increase the proportion of biogas in steam generation from 4% to up to 10%.
In both sewage treatment plants, the energy from the flowing wastewater is still used in small wastewater turbines to generate electricity.
Soil Stabilizer
Cinerit is a product of the thermal recycling of biogenic residues from the production process in paper mills, the starting material for which is paper fibers that can no longer be recycled for paper production.
Your opinion is important to us!
An important prerequisite for our communication policy is the open dialogue with our stakeholders and all persons interested in our company and products. For this reason, we are looking for a discussion with employees, customers, business partners, authorities, environmental associations, citizens from our municipality and the surrounding area as well as all interested readers of these pages.
We thank you in advance for your interest and look forward to your suggestions and any kind of constructive criticism.
-
Thomas StraussHead of Environment and Sustainability