Commissioning of new waste-to-energy recovery plant lowers Borealis’ CO2 emissions by 20% at its Beringen operations

Biostoom Waste Energy Plant In Beringen Belgium
Photo: © Bionerga, Frozen Moments 52

• New state-of-the-art power station transforms non-recyclable waste from local households into electricity and steam
• Successful first deliveries of steam and electricity to Borealis Beringen operations
• Borealis moves one step closer to sourcing 50% of its total electricity consumption in operations from renewable sources

(PRESS RELEASE) VIENNA, 15-Dec-2020 — /EuropaWire/ — Borealis and its partner Bionerga, a Belgian specialist in recovering energy from waste jointly announce the commissioning of a new waste-to-energy plant Biostoom. The plant, constructed and operated by Bionerga in Beringen, Belgium, enabled Borealis to move closer to its goal of sourcing 50% of its total electricity consumption from renewable sources for operations in its major business areas by the year 2030. The new Biostoom Beringen facility supplies steam and electricity recovered from processing of non-recyclable waste collected from nearby communities to Borealis which reduces the amount of natural gas used in its operations. The first electricity and steam delivery took place in August and October 2020.

New biosteam power station reduces dependence on fossil fuel-based energy sources

The newly-built Biostoom power station supplies steam and electricity generated from non-hazardous, non-recyclable waste collected from local households in nearby Limburg. By reducing its dependency on fossil fuel based sources of energy, Borealis is lowering its direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions (defined as Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol) by 20% at its Beringen operations. The state-of-the-art facility generates steam and electricity exclusively for Borealis operations on site. The facility will supply nearly 100% of the electricity consumed by Borealis Beringen operations, of which 47% is considered renewable. The intake of natural gas will be reduced by around 40%.

“Life demands progress. Borealis is taking concrete steps to bring about a circular economy based on reuse, recovery and recycling. The Biostoom Beringen project is the perfect example of re-inventing for more sustainable living: if materials are not recyclable, recovering energy is the best alternative for waste that would otherwise be landfilled,” says Martijn van Koten, Borealis Executive Vice President Base Chemicals & Operations. “The fact that this project is sourcing non-recyclable waste from adjacent communities further strengthens the sustainability aspect.”

“The success of this project is the result of the careful planning and preparations carried out by highly-qualified Borealis and Bionerga teams,” says Thomas van De Velde, Borealis Senior Vice President Hydrocarbons & Energy. “This waste-to-energy recovery plant is bringing a sustainability step-change to the Borealis Beringen site. We aim to deepen and solidify co-operation with partners like Bionerga in the future.”

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Media contact:

Borealis Group Communications:
Virginia Mesicek
Senior Manager External Communications
tel.: +43 1 22 400 772 (Austria)

Borealis Belgium:
Anne Cornelissen
Senior Specialist Regional Communications
tel.: +32 1145 9066 (Belgium)

SOURCE: BOREALIS AG