Svante Secures US DOE Funding to Boost Carbon Capture in Pulp & Paper Industry
Svante Technologies, a frontrunner in next-generation carbon capture and removal technologies, has made a significant stride toward reducing industrial carbon emissions by announcing a groundbreaking project at the Ashdown Pulp Mill in Arkansas. This initiative, the first of its kind, marks an essential milestone in advancing carbon capture and storage (CCS) within the pulp and paper sector. It is expected to be pivotal not only in showcasing Svante’s cutting-edge technology but also in supporting sustainability and the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions within one of the world’s most energy-intensive industries.
Partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy
Svante’s project at the Ashdown Pulp Mill has garnered attention and support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO). The project has been selected for a potential cost-sharing agreement worth up to $1.5 million (Pending Award Number: DE-FE0032652). The funding from the DOE will play a crucial role in advancing the technology, enabling Svante and its partners—Paper Excellence and Wood—to conduct a Pre-FEED (Preliminary Front-End Engineering Design) study.
This study will focus on evaluating Svante’s technology for post-combustion carbon capture from the flue gases of the recovery boilers at the Ashdown mill. The goal is to assess the viability of Svante’s proprietary carbon capture system for reducing CO2 emissions generated during the mill’s production processes. This step is key to demonstrating Svante’s technology’s potential in real-world applications and sets the foundation for large-scale implementation.
Svante’s Revolutionary Carbon Capture Technology
Svante’s carbon capture system is based on its innovative rotary solid sorbent technology, which is powered by advanced Metal-Organic Framework (MOF)-based filter technology. The system offers several unique advantages over traditional carbon capture methods, which are often cost-prohibitive and energy-intensive.
- Significant CO2 Capture Cost Reductions: One of the most compelling aspects of Svante’s technology is its ability to utilize low-grade waste heat for the carbon capture process. This unique feature significantly reduces the energy consumption required for CO2 capture, which directly lowers the overall cost of capturing carbon dioxide from industrial sources. By leveraging existing waste heat, Svante’s system can reduce the reliance on expensive and high-energy processes, making it an economically viable solution for industries like pulp and paper that produce large amounts of CO2.
- Modular, Simple Capture Plant Design: Svante’s modular design is another key benefit. The capture plant is designed to be flexible and scalable, which allows it to be easily integrated into existing pulp mill facilities. This modularity reduces the capital costs associated with building a new, large-scale carbon capture plant and minimizes the disruption to ongoing industrial operations. For pulp and paper mills, which are typically large and complex, the ability to seamlessly integrate carbon capture technology without significant changes to their operations is crucial for the project’s success.
- Environmental Responsibility: Svante’s use of solid sorbent nanomaterials ensures a more sustainable and environmentally responsible approach to carbon capture. Unlike many other methods, Svante’s technology does not produce harmful secondary emissions or liquid waste/effluents. This is particularly important in industries like pulp and paper, where the management of waste materials is a constant challenge. Furthermore, Svante’s filter materials are designed to be recyclable, which enhances the sustainability of the technology and contributes to a circular economy approach to carbon management.
The Impact on the Pulp and Paper Industry
Once the Ashdown Pulp Mill project reaches its final investment decision (FID), it will bring about transformative changes for the pulp and paper industry. The project has the potential to remove up to 1.5 million tonnes of biogenic CO2, which is CO2 that originates from sustainable biomass rather than anthropogenic, or man-made, sources. This is a key distinction because biogenic CO2 is considered carbon-neutral, as the carbon released is part of the natural carbon cycle.
By capturing and storing this CO2, the Ashdown mill project will help the pulp and paper industry significantly reduce its overall carbon footprint. The ability to remove large quantities of CO2 from the atmosphere will also open up new revenue opportunities for the industry, particularly through carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits. These credits can be sold in the voluntary carbon credit market, allowing pulp and paper mills to offset their emissions and generate additional income through sustainable practices.
Moreover, the successful implementation of Svante’s carbon capture technology at the Ashdown mill would demonstrate its unique advantage in the pulp and paper sector. This technology, which has already shown promise in other industries, will set a precedent for broader adoption within the manufacturing sector. The potential for widespread application of Svante’s system in pulp and paper mills across North America and beyond could be a major step forward in global efforts to combat climate change.
Svante’s Vision for a Sustainable Future
Claude Letourneau, President & CEO of Svante, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, emphasizing its importance for both the environment and the future of the pulp and paper industry. “The pulp and paper industry represents a unique opportunity for technology and nature to work in tandem to remove CO2 from the atmosphere,” Letourneau said. “Svante’s MOF-based carbon capture technology has the potential to revolutionize how industrial facilities manage their emissions, and we are confident that this project will pave the way for wider industry adoption.”
Letourneau’s comments highlight Svante’s broader vision of a sustainable future, where industries can balance economic growth with environmental stewardship. By advancing carbon capture and storage technologies, Svante is positioning itself at the forefront of the global movement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.
Strategic Collaborations and Future Growth
Svante’s collaboration with other key players in the energy and sustainability sectors further strengthens its ability to drive innovation and large-scale deployment of carbon capture technologies. Earlier this month, Svante announced a partnership with Tenaska, a leading energy company, to explore end-to-end carbon capture and storage projects across the United States. Tenaska has multiple Class VI applications under review, which will help create sustainable and economic carbon capture pathways in regions such as the Sugarberry CCS Hub in Texas.
This collaboration is part of Svante’s broader strategy to expand its carbon capture technology into new markets and applications. By working with partners like Tenaska, Svante is ensuring that its technology can be deployed in a wide range of industrial sectors, from pulp and paper to energy production, cement manufacturing, and beyond.
Svante’s pioneering project at the Ashdown Pulp Mill in Arkansas represents a significant milestone in the development of carbon capture and storage technology for the pulp and paper industry. With support from the U.S. Department of Energy and key industry partners like Paper Excellence and Wood, Svante is poised to demonstrate the effectiveness and viability of its advanced carbon capture technology in real-world industrial applications.
As the project progresses toward its final investment decision, the potential for large-scale CO2 removal, new revenue streams through carbon credits, and reduced carbon footprints in the pulp and paper sector is enormous. Svante’s unique ability to integrate its technology into existing industrial operations while maintaining environmental responsibility positions the company as a leader in the fight against climate change.
The collaboration with Tenaska further solidifies Svante’s role in driving the adoption of sustainable carbon capture solutions across various industries. Together, these initiatives are helping to lay the foundation for a future where industries and nature work in harmony to mitigate the effects of climate change, reduce carbon emissions, and create a more sustainable world for future generations.
