How much can I save by using bioenergy?

Reduce your CO₂ emissions by using a bioenergy plant

Burning fossil fuels is a major contributor to global warming and has a negative impact on the climate. In particular, the Earth’s production of fossil fuels is not able to absorb carbon dioxide as trees and plants do, which implies that we are using up a resource that takes an extremely long time to regenerate. One of the main reasons why a bioenergy plant can reduce CO₂ emissions is the renewable raw material that forms our biofuel – wood. A bioenergy plant runs on wood pellets or wood powder, which in turn come(s) from residual products of the wood industry – chips, offcuts and shavings.

Renewable energy is an important piece of the CO₂ reduction jigsaw and presupposes that the fuel used – that is, residual materials from the wood and agricultural industries – is able to absorb CO₂ as it grows, thus compensating for the CO₂ that is released once it is combusted to produce energy. The result is a circular consumption of biofuels and CO₂ emissions that offset each other and make their climate impact significantly lower than that of fossil fuels.

The potential degree of CO₂ reduction of a company is highly individual and depends mainly on what fuel is currently used and on its consumed amount. At BKtech, we perform calculations and make targeted recommendations based on specific operations and, together with our clients, have so far reduced CO₂ emissions by more than 300,000 tonnes per year as a result of switching to bioenergy.

Can I lower my operating costs by using a bioenergy plant?

Short answer: Yes! The difference between one of our bioenergy plants and a fossil-fuelled plant lies primarily in the fuel – both in terms of material and price. Fossil fuel is an expensive commodity and its cost has been on the rise for quite some time.

A BKtech bioenergy plant harnesses bioenergy in the form of by-products from the wood and agricultural industries. Wood pellets or wood powder are the primary fuel; our BioMulti plant can also run on either biogas or bio-oil in combination with wood powder.

As fuel costs vary widely from one industry to another, exact figures are hardly calculable. However, in percentage terms, cost savings are estimated to be as high as 70%, all the more so given that the Swedish fossil fuel industry is currently affected by rising oil prices.

A number of explanations can be found to justify such a high price difference. Nowadays, the Swedish wood industry is flourishing, which means that it will constantly give rise to a certain flow of discarded materials to be managed. Residual materials are themselves relatively inexpensive to dispose of because they would otherwise go to waste. The result is a win-win situation for both the wood industry and for us at BKtech, who have the opportunity to continue operating climate-friendly plants and provide biofuel to our clients.

As fossil fuel prices rise, the price differential also increases dramatically, making an energy transition even more appealing to industries that seek to get away from fossil fuels, wish to hedge against fuel shortages, and intend to significantly reduce their operating costs.

Is using a bioenergy plant as good as it sounds?

Going fossil-free, using renewable bioenergy while lowering operating costs by up to 70% sounds a little too good to be true. Yet it is the truth!! Many of our clients and partners are experiencing remarkable performance, efficiency and financial stability after switching to bioenergy. So, what’s the catch with a bioenergy plant?

There is indeed no catch, except the fact that we in the bioenergy sector are called upon to do a better job of informing all new, existing and prospective clients about everything they need to know. Bioenergy may well be a self-evident subject to those who are knowledgeable about it, yet we know that a large number of Swedish industries and companies are totally wrapped up in their own field, their own procurement and deliveries, their own expertise and – sometimes – their own survival.

As a result, familiarity with new energy concepts and propositions tends to become increasingly challenging, because of the general impression that it is more convenient to carry on as usual – which is why we at BKtech intend to take the next step and make energy switching as simple, efficient, clear and understandable as possible. For this very reason, we developed BKtech Total: an energy supply contract that perfectly fits all our bioenergy plants and that allows our clients to leave all responsibility to us. You do what you do best, and we do what we do best: bioenergy. This way, we ensure that your business can keep being part of the increasingly prominent Swedish industry, but in a climate-smart and cost-saving way!

Join the renewable energy revolution in Sweden

Did you know that Sweden ranks among the top countries in terms of share of renewable energy? More than 60% of today’s consumed energy is derived from some form of renewable source. Sweden was aiming to reach the EU objective of 57% renewable energy, yet achieved a much higher figure with a margin of four years.

The fact that more than half of all energy consumed comes from renewable sources is largely due to bioenergy. Swedish bioenergy is more significant than nuclear power and hydropower combined, and it is also more substantial than energy from fossil fuels. District heating accounts for a large portion of renewable energy, and a number of energy companies themselves are at the technological forefront of innovations to meet the growing demand for energy.

However, in order for the use of fossil fuels to progressively decrease, a major energy shift is needed in the Swedish industry, and at a faster pace than at present. All of our bioenergy plants are manufactured locally in Blomstermåla, in the province of Småland, thus facilitating faster and easier delivery to much of the Swedish industry. These are efficient and reliable plants that run on wood pellets or wood powder and, together with our energy supply contract, allow you to continue your business as usual, but in a more climate-friendly and economically feasible way.