97 % Biofuels account for 97 per cent of the fuels used in Metsä Fibre’s production. The goal is for all mills to be 100 percent fossil-free by 2030.
25 m 3 /t Metsä Fibre’s use of process water is already below the BAT (Best Available Technique) lower limit of 25 cubic metres per tonne.
85 % Metsä Fibre uses 85 per cent of the
solid production side streams as bioenergy or products. The goal is to make 100 per cent use of side streams by 2030.
Emission data is gathered by the measurement booth. The Finnish Meteorological Institute, where Mika Vestenius works, oversees air quality monitoring.
In Joutseno, Metsä Fibre has been cooperating with Saimaan Vesi- ja Ympäristötutkimus Oy, a research provider, since the 1980s. “We analyse Metsä Fibre’s wastewater, groundwater and other waters that end up in waterbodies in their production areas. We also handle updates to the monitoring programmes in cooper ation with Metsä Fibre and the authorities,” says Mikael Kraft , a limnologist at Saimaan Vesi- ja Ympäristötutkimus. The waters of the southern end of Lake Saimaa are monitored by Metsä Fibre and seven other parties. Water samples are taken eight times a year, and the number of analyses based on them runs into the thousands. The quality of water in Joutseno has remained stable since the introduction of biological treatment plants. Since the volume and quality of wastewater have a direct impact on the quality of water and the living organisms in Lake Saimaa, they also contribute to the quality of water. Anyone can follow the air quality index calculated from the measurements and results.
“The measures adopted in wastewater treatment have been the right kind. This does not rule out additional investments that could improve the situation further,” says Kraft. Air quality index available to all A modest-looking measurement booth stands by Äänekoski bio- product mill, its probes sticking out into the sky like antennae. They collect data on emissions, which are monitored daily at the mill and regularly reported to the environmental authorities. The Finnish Meteorological Institute oversees air quality monitoring. The devices inside the booth continuously collect data on the particulate concentration, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and total reduced sulphur (TRS) in the atmosphere. The mill’s environ- mental permit sets limits on all of them. The weather station in the building helps determine the source of concentrations observed by the measuring devices. “Nitrogen oxides also originate from traffic, which is typically the main source in urban settings, whereas TRS and sulphur diox- ide are usually of industrial origin,” says Mika Vestenius , Research Scientist at the Meteorological Institute. The data is public, meaning that anyone can go to the Institute’s website and follow the air quality index calculated from the meas- urements and results. At Äänekoski bioproduct mill, the recovery boiler plays a key role in the management of air emissions. An appropriately dimen- sioned air system supports efficient combustion and the manage- ment of nitrogen oxides. Particulate emissions have been curbed with effective electrostatic filters, and sulphur emissions have been minimised with appropriate fuel choices.
Mikael Kraft Limnologist and waterway expert at Saimaan Vesi- ja Ympäristötutkimus Oy. His duties include water system, fish fauna, algae and other biological investi- gations, water system projects and expert statements.
Mika Vestenius Research Scientist at the Meteorological Institute, who specialises in PAH measurements, laboratory analyses of atmospheric pollutants, and air quality measurements and calibration.
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