Swedish Company BKtech Expands to France and Launches Two Pilot Projects with the Bel Group
BKtech, a private Swedish company specializing in turnkey bioenergy solutions for the decarbonization of variable steam and thermal fluid demands, with 85 employees, an annual turnover of €25 million and 50 clients active in Nordic countries, is pleased to announce the opening of its French subsidiary and the launch of two "Test & Learn" pilot projects with the Bel Group, a leading producer of healthy cheese, fruit, and vegetable snacks. These pilot projects will be conducted at the Bel Group's sites in Lons-le-Saunier, France, and Ulzama, Spain.
Founded in 2005 in southeastern Sweden in response to a devastating cyclone that impacted vast forest areas, BKtech initially focused on manufacturing wood pellets from residual materials. Leveraging its expertise in pellet production, the company shifted its focus in 2011 to combustion techniques and enhancing the efficiency of industrial biomass boilers. Today, BKtech provides comprehensive solutions for sustainable, long-term energy production using biofuels.
BKtech’s modular bioenergy systems are designed to minimize resource consumption and environmental impact. With expertise across the entire supply chain, the company customizes solutions to meet the specific needs of its clients. All facilities are manufactured in-house in Blomstermåla, Sweden, ensuring rigorous quality control and operational efficiency before final delivery. As an independent company, BKtech selects components for its systems based on the optimal balance of functionality, quality, and cost. The streamlined assembly process not only lowers project costs but also accelerates delivery times, facilitates efficient integration, and reduces assembly durations with minimal impact on ongoing operations. Additionally, BKtech’s installations are space-optimized and can be easily transported by road or relocated as needed.
Since its inception, BKtech has played a pivotal role in helping numerous Swedish industrial companies transition away from fossil fuels and lower their energy costs. The company’s facilities produce steam, hot water, and thermal fluids, providing sustainable and efficient alternatives to meet a range of energy needs.
Jan Vikstrom, President of BKtech, declares:
Our group is committed to being a key player in Europe’s green transition by promoting sustainable and innovative energy solutions. We are excited to expand into France, a strategic market, and honored to support the Bel Group in their advanced decarbonization efforts at the Lons-le-Saunier and Ulzama sites.
John Robinson, Director of BKtech France, added:
Wood pellets offer a local, renewable, and sustainable solution for industrial steam production. In France, we are primarily targeting industries with significant steam requirements, as fluctuating steam applications are among the most challenging to decarbonize. Our focus is particularly on the food processing, paper, and laundry sectors.
The Bel Group joined the Science-Based Targets initiative in 2017 and further increased its climate ambitions in 2022 to align with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global temperature rise to below +1.5°C. This commitment requires a net reduction of 75.6% in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from scopes 1 and 2 between 2017 and 2035. The two “Test & Learn” pilot projects with BKtech at the Ulzama (Spain) and Lons-le-Saunier (France) sites, set for deployment in fall 2024 and summer 2025 respectively, will introduce new boiler technology of 700 kW and 2 MW. The objective is to reduce GHG emissions from current fossil fuel use at these sites by more than 90%.