Sustainability in the paper industry: How thermal energy storage systems contribute to the green transformation

Nachhaltigkeit in der Papierindustrie

written by

Share

Sustainability is no longer a foreign concept in the paper industry. With a recycling rate of almost 80 per cent, paper is a prime example of how a successful circular economy can work. However, when it comes to the use of energy in production, the paper industry, as one of the most energy-intensive sectors in the world, is facing ever-increasing challenges. Increasing requirements for the reduction of CO₂ emissions and the implementation of environmentally friendly production processes make comprehensive changes necessary. Thermal energy storage systems offer a promising solution in this context. Thanks to their ability to reliably provide renewable energy for production, they can promote sustainability in the paper industry and help it to comply with climate policy requirements.

Sustainability challenges in the paper industry

The challenges facing the paper industry in terms of sustainability are complex. On the one hand, production is extremely water-intensive. This enormous demand for water can become a problem for the environment and the local population, particularly in regions where water is scarce. By using closed water cycles, more efficient technologies and improved wastewater treatment systems, the industry has already succeeded in significantly reducing the high water consumption.

 

In addition, the production of paper requires an extremely high amount of energy: the largest proportion of this is used to generate heat in the form of steam, particularly for drying processes. Currently, the majority of the energy used to generate process steam is still obtained from fossil fuels, which causes considerable CO₂ emissions. Due to rising costs for emission certificates, the high energy consumption is not only harmful to the climate, but is also becoming increasingly cost-intensive. In order to make paper production processes more sustainable and, above all, future-proof, the use of fossil fuels must be reduced and completely replaced by renewable energies in the long term.

Electrification of steam production for sustainable paper production

Steam production for paper manufacturing is possible in different ways. Different technologies can also be combined with each other relatively easily. Electrification of steam production makes sense, particularly in times when electricity is available at low cost, in order to reduce CO2 emissions on the one hand and to save on alternative energy sources, such as biomass, which is only available to a limited extent, on the other.

 

A major advantage of electric steam boilers is their high flexibility. An electrode boiler can switch from minimum output to full load operation within a very short time. In addition, these boilers are characterised by high efficiency and achieve efficiencies of up to 98 percent when using electricity as an energy source.

The biggest problem with the use of electric steam generators is the volatility of renewable energies – both in terms of availability and cost – as steam production in paper manufacturing requires constant energy. This is where thermal energy storage offers a forward-looking solution to drive sustainability in the paper industry.

Increasing energy efficiency for greater sustainability

Another important step is the efficient utilisation of the energy required. Digitalisation and automation offer great potential for optimising energy flows within production processes. Intelligent control systems can help to make production processes more efficient and minimise energy losses. Here too, heat storage systems can provide additional support in utilising the available energy as efficiently as possible to reduce overall energy consumption.

Thermal energy storage as a key technology for a sustainable paper industry

Innovative power-to-heat solutions with integrated thermal energy storage make it possible to effectively integrate renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy into industrial processes. By converting surplus electricity from renewable sources into heat, this energy can be stored and used to produce steam for paper production whenever required. In this way, the energy supply can be secured even when the availability of renewable energy fluctuates and constant production can be guaranteed. In addition, companies can reduce their energy costs by purchasing electricity at low load times at a favourable price and storing it for delayed use. The additional option of storing surplus waste heat and utilising it again at a later date also enables companies to significantly increase their energy efficiency and thus further reduce their CO₂ emissions.  

 

By utilising renewable energy efficiently and replacing fossil fuels, the carbon footprint of the entire production chain is reduced. This is not only an important step towards improving the carbon footprint, but also a long-term competitive advantage at a time when there are ever stricter requirements to reduce emissions and consumers and clients are increasingly prioritising sustainability. The paper industry has the potential to become a more sustainable sector through the use of innovative technologies such as thermal energy storage, thereby making an important contribution to achieving global climate targets.

Latest News

Despite its high recycling rate, the paper industry faces major challenges, particularly in the energy-intensive production process. Thermal energy storage systems can play a key role here by efficiently utilising renewable energy and supporting the implementation of sustainable production methods.

ENERGYNEST announces the appointment of Alex Robertson as its new Chief Executive Officer to lead the company’s next phase of growth, effective 1 February 2025.

In a time of increasing energy crises, energy security is becoming a decisive competitive factor for companies. Thermal storage technologies make it possible to store energy efficiently, bridge supply gaps, and reduce dependency on volatile energy markets. Energy-intensive industries, in particular, benefit from greater resilience, lower energy costs, and a significant contribution to climate goals.