How Electric Power Could Drive Paper Mills to Net-Zero Emissions

In a recent press release from NC State University, it announced that electric powers could bring paper mills to net zero emissions.

The press release states "A study finds that replacing natural gas with electric and biomass power, along with improved energy efficiency, could help some pulp and paper mills reach zero net emissions.

Researchers began with a simulation of mills defined by two characteristics: whether they used virgin or recycled fibers, and whether they were integrated or not. A virgin mill creates pulp and paper from fresh wood that is being used for the first time, while a recycled fiber mill re-uses readily available fibers which may have been previously processed. A mill is considered integrated if it has the capability to turn wood and other biomass into pulp and paper on site, whereas a non-integrated mill uses pulp that has been produced and dried off site."

You can read the full press release and the abstract of the paper by clicking here.

Helen Roush is Executive Vice President of Paperitalo Publications.