A deal for the purchase of a 43 MW biomass power plant from Energie 42 Beteiligungs GmbH in the Heiligenkreuz business park in Burgenland, Austria, has been signed by The Lenzing Group, a major manufacturer of speciality fibres for the textile and nonwovens sectors.
The transaction’s implementation, which is anticipated to take place in the second quarter of 2023, is particularly subject to regulatory approvals. The Lenzing production facility in Heiligenkreuz will use much less fossil fuels as a result of this strategic investment. Future energy from renewable sources might replace around half of the natural gas presently consumed.
The Lenzing Group creates premium fibres like Tencel X Refibra or Veocel as well as environmentally friendly lyocell under the Tencel and Veocel brands. Tencel lyocell fibres at Heiligenkreuz that are CO2 neutral are used in the textile and nonwovens sectors. The location previously relied largely on natural gas, with less than 10% of its energy coming from renewable sources like biomass and biogas. The location will be able to reduce its annual CO2 emissions from energy use by almost 50,000 tonnes thanks to the exclusive use of biomass from the neighbouring power plant.
Lenzing’s speciality fibres assist its clients, particularly brands and retailers, in achieving their environmental and sustainability objectives by dramatically reducing CO2 emissions across the supply chain.
“With this tactical investment, we are strengthening our selection of environmentally friendly specialty fibres and contributing significantly to site security. We’ll put even more money into renewable energy in the future. “Christian Skilich, Chief Pulp Officer and Chief Technology Officer of the Lenzing Group, has developed concepts to further cut our CO2 emissions in keeping with our aggressive climate target.
Lenzing established a strategic commitment in 2019 to cut its CO2 emissions per tonne of product by 50% by 2030 in accordance with the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. By 2050, Lenzing also wants to become carbon-neutral. Lenzing is the first producer of cellulosic fibres made from wood to have a science-based target that has been approved thanks to the Science Based Target Initiative.
Lenzing is speeding up the switch to renewable energies and, consequently, the attainment of its climate goals with the purchase of the biomass power plant. This regular action also creates future chances to more fully develop photovoltaics and other renewable energy sources.
