Opcon supplies green technology for green growth
20-30% improved energy efficiency for Dutch greenhouse heated by biomass
Right now, hundreds of thousands of poinsettias and cyclamen plants are growing in a 20-hectare greenhouse operated by Kwekerij Wouters in the Netherlands. Brightly coloured and easily looked-after cyclamen are among the top ten most popular pot plants in Sweden. Poinsettias have been the biggest-selling Christmas plant in Sweden since the 1960s.
But green plants are not always grown using green methods. Most of the greenhouses in the Netherlands are heated using fossil fuels such as natural gas or oil. The Wouters family, however, who are one of the major flower producers in the Netherlands with production of around 100 million plants per year, are among the few who have switched to biomass. And after their neighbours across the road earlier this year installed energy and environmental technology from Opcon Bioenergy, Kwekerij Wouters decided to follow suit and order flue gas condensation equipment and treatment from Opcon.
Through the installation of SRE Renergi flue gas condensation, flue gases can be treated while large quantities of energy are recycled instead of being wasted as smoke. Energy efficiency can be improved by up to 20-30% depending on which fuel is used. This means that Kwekerij Wouters can get a further 1-1.5 MW out of its 5 MW boiler.
“We have delivered over 100 of these plants to 13 countries. We mostly supply district heating plants powered by biomass, although we are now seeing new customers in other sectors, such as sawmills and greenhouses. But there are still not many greenhouses that have switched from fossil fuels to biomass. When they do start using biomass they learn that our technology can significantly cut emissions while the improvement in energy efficiency makes the investment profitable,” says Lars Rådberg, the head of Opcon Bioenergy’s new office in France.
The new plant will be delivered in early 2012 and will be Opcon’s fourth flue gas condensation unit to be in operation in the Netherlands.
Opcon Bioenergy is part of Opcon’s Waste To Value initiative with a special focus on Waste Heat Recovery and bioenergy. Within the bioenergy sector, Opcon Bioenergy offers everything from the design of complete combined heat and power (CHP) plants to handling systems and incineration plants under the Saxlund brand.
Under the SRE Renergi brand, systems are supplied for cleaning and improved energy efficiency for bioenergy-powered district heating plants, sawmills, pellets producers and commercial greenhouses. The offer also includes flue gas condensation equipment for industrial activities as well as drying systems for biomass. The Opcon Group also supplies Opcon Powerbox for production of green electricity produced from hot water or wet steam.
For further information, please contact
Niklas Johansson, vice president, Investor Relations, Opcon AB, tel. +46 8-466 45 00,+46-70-592 54 53
Opcon AB, Box 15085, 104 65 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel. +46 8-466 45 00, fax+46 8-716 76 61
e-mail: info@Opcon.se
www.Opcon.se
The Opcon Group
Opcon is an energy and environmental technology Group that develops, produces and markets systems and products for eco-friendly, efficient and resource-effective use of energy.
Opcon has activities in Sweden, China, Germany and the UK. There are around 400 employees. The company’s shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm. The Group comprises two business areas:
Renewable Energy focuses on the following areas: electricity generation based on waste heat, bioenergy-powered heating and CHP plants, pellets plants, drying of biomass, handling systems for biomass, sludge and natural gas, industrial cooling, flue gas condensation, treatment of flue gases and air systems for fuel cells.
Engine Efficiency focuses on energy-efficient solenoid technology and ignition systems for combustion engines including ethanol, natural gas and biogas engines.
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