NLI Engineering has been awarded a contract for process installation of the groundbreaking biocarbon factory for Vow Green Metals.

NLI Engineering has signed a contract with Vow Green Metals for process installation for the company’s large-scale biocarbon factory at Hønefoss. The factory will be one of the largest of its kind in Europe and will enable emission reductions equivalent to approximately 100,000 tons. The assignment represents a milestone for NLI and the company’s work with the construction and installation of plants for sustainable industries.

— At NLI, we are very proud to have been awarded this contract by Vow Green Metals and that we will play a central role in the construction of a new and groundbreaking green industry in Norway. The award of the contract demonstrates that NLI has succeeded in building a strong market position within the green industry, says Even Hatlo Andersen, CEO of NLI Engineering.

NLI has worked with Vow Green Metals on the company’s early production line, which is also located at Hønefoss and uses the same technology as the large-scale factory. The companies expect that this will provide synergy effects to the work with process installation at the large factory as the experience and identified improvements contribute to increased efficiency.

— NLI came up with a comprehensive and competitive offer where the company can carry out a complete process installation and primarily use its own resources, which provides shorter lines of communication and efficient progress, says Project Director at Vow Green Metals, Cathrine Adolfsen.

Prefabrication is well proceeding at NLI Grenland’s workshop in Brevik, and in an external workshop. Installation activities on site started in October and will continue for approximately one year. NLI’s project will directly employ up to 50 people during the period and includes detailed engineering, procurement, fabrication and installation of process equipment, as well as piping, structural steel, electrical and automation. NLI is interested in getting in touch with people who are interested in contributing to similar projects.

— NLI Engineering, together with its sister companies, has many skilled employees who will contribute to implementing the project and we look forward to a good collaboration with Vow Green Metals, says Adm.Dir. NLI Engineering, Even Hatlo Andersen.

For more information, contact Sales and Marketing Manager, Theo Lakerveld, (theo.lakerveld@nli.no, tel. 4176 3631)

This is biocarbon:
Biocarbon is produced from biomass (timber, energy wood and recycled wood) using pyrolysis technology. The biomass is exposed to high temperature without oxygen, which simply means that the biomass “chars”. This product can replace fossil coal as a reduction material in the production of metals and reduce fossil emissions. The metallurgical industry accounts for about ten percent of global emissions.

In the production of biocarbon, clean energy is also produced in the form of heat and bio-oil, the latter being a product that can decarbonize a number of industries. The pyrolysis technology generates energy and only requires a few MW of grid capacity. The projects are therefore not power-intensive and are well suited to symbiosis with power-intensive industries to reduce the need for power and grid connection.

The biocarbon factory at Hønefoss:
Vow Green Metals already has a plant in operation at Treklyngen industrial park in Hønefoss and is currently building what will be one of Europe’s largest biocarbon factories in the same industrial area. The large-scale factory will have a production capacity of 20,000 tons of biocarbon (10,000 tons in the first phase) and enable emission reductions of over 100,000 tons of CO2 each year. The large-scale factory at Hønefoss is already connected to the local district heating network and will provide the Hønefoss region with increased access to clean energy. Vardar Varme will buy the surplus energy from the factory and a contract has been signed with silicon producer Elkem for annual deliveries of 15,000 tons of Biocarbon. The project has been carefully reviewed and supported by Enova, Siva and Eksfin.