Carbon emissions reduction potentials in pulp and paper mills by applying cogeneration technologies

Pulp and paper production is a highly energy intensive process and improvement of energy efficiency in this process is considered as promising measures for reducing industrial greenhouse gases emissions (GHG). This study focuses the Pakistan's pulp and paper industry which consumes around 7% of the country's industrial energy and contributes to over 317,269 tonnes of CO2 emissions. With rising demands for fuels and consequently as harp increase in CO2 emissions due to the growth of the paper sector in Pakistan, this article aims to analyse the energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions reductions potential through the incorporation of cogeneration technologies. The cogeneration technologies studied are agas turbine, steam turbine and combined cycle and are evaluated from the energetic and economic point of view to propose a best suitable technology for each paper mill. The proposed cogeneration technologies are selected on the basis of high energy utilisation factor, as implepayback period of five years or less with least Annualised life cycle cost. The result shows that a theoretical energy saving potential equivalent to 16.9% of the actual thermal energy requirement of mills can be achieved through cogeneration which will lead to 14.3% reduction of the present carbon emissions levels in Pakistan's paper sector.