Dalkia opens 69 MW biomass, heat plant in France

Oct 4, 2012 - French energy services provider Dalkia yesterday announced the opening of a 69 MW biomass-fired electricity and heat generation plant at a factory of papermaker Smurfit Kappa Cellulose du Pin in southwestern France.

The facility is capable of generating 260 tonnes of steam per hour. According to the statement, this is the largest biomass cogeneration plant in France. It is located at Smurfit's Biganos-Facture factory in the Aquitaine region. Dalkia, a unit of French utilities Veolia Environnement (EPA:VIE) and EDF (EPA:EDF), got approval from the French government to build and operate the facility for 20 years at the Smurfit site after a call for tenders in 2006 by France's Regulatory Commission of Energy.

The electricity generated by the facility, which replaces a heating plant, is to be sold to EDF, while the steam will be used on site to dry paper.

Smurfit Kappa Cellulose du Pin is a subsidiary of Ireland-based paper packaging maker Smurfit Kappa Group (ISE:SKG).

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