Babcock & Wilcox to Implement Carbon Capture Technology at Swedish Waste-to-Energy Plant

Feasibility Study for CO2 Emissions Reduction
Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) has been awarded a contract to conduct a feasibility study for the integration of its SolveBright CO2 capture technology at Mälarenergi AB’s waste-to-energy plant in Västerås, Sweden. The study is aimed at assessing the potential for capturing 400,000 tonnes of CO2 annually and permanently storing the captured carbon, a critical component in the company’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2035. This contract underscores B&W’s role in supporting global efforts toward decarbonization.

SolveBright Technology: A Post-Combustion Solution
The core of the project is Babcock & Wilcox’s SolveBright carbon capture system, a post-combustion technology designed to capture CO2 directly from the flue gases produced during the waste-to-energy process. The system uses a regenerable solvent to absorb CO2, which is then separated and stored. This technology has been shown to dramatically reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from industrial operations, making it an ideal solution for industries like waste-to-energy plants that seek to lower their environmental footprint.

Optimizing Operational Efficiency for Carbon Reduction
The study will explore how to effectively integrate the SolveBright technology with the existing infrastructure of Mälarenergi’s waste-to-energy facility, which already supplies 50% of Västerås’ district heating. This integration aims to optimize both carbon capture and the facility’s operational efficiency. Babcock & Wilcox will also focus on improving heat management, identifying the best ways to use waste heat, and ensuring a sustainable technical configuration that maximizes energy production and reduces emissions.

Mälarenergi’s Path to Net-Zero
The integration of carbon capture into Mälarenergi’s operations is part of the company’s broader strategy to meet Sweden’s ambitious net-zero targets. The plant’s waste-to-energy operations already help reduce electricity consumption by providing essential district heating, ensuring that the integration of carbon capture technology will further reduce the plant’s carbon footprint. This project is a significant step in advancing Sweden’s energy transition, where waste-to-energy plants play a key role in both sustainable energy generation and emissions reduction.

ClimateBright: Babcock & Wilcox’s Decarbonization Technologies
The SolveBright system is part of Babcock & Wilcox’s ClimateBright suite of clean energy solutions designed to support industries in their decarbonization efforts. ClimateBright technologies offer a comprehensive approach to reducing carbon emissions, including post-combustion and pre-combustion capture technologies, as well as methods to produce clean energy from a wide variety of feedstocks. Babcock & Wilcox’s leadership in carbon capture and clean energy solutions positions the company at the forefront of the global transition to sustainable energy.