Starting recycling from Langøya: Will produce pure gypsum
NOAH's board has decided to establish a gypsum plant that will produce pure, white gypsum from surplus salts. This is a milestone in the Norwegian circular economy.
A few years ago, treatment and disposal were the only solutions for handling residual fractions from industry, such as ash and acid. The combination of high expertise, innovative power and willingness to invest means that we can now use the residual fractions to make clean, white gypsum. Together with Nordic partners, NOAH is thereby realizing the circular economy in practice.
New thinking about material flows
The development has great social significance. Material flows from several industries, across national borders, form the basis for future gypsum production. Among the partners are listed companies Munters AB, Norgips and Stockholm Exergi.
This is a WOW project that we are very proud of. Innovative thinking about material flows and collaborative constellations provides recycling that few or no one thought was possible. Through joint efforts with Munters, Norgips, Stockholm Exergi and others, we reduce the environmental impact of all parties, says CEO of NOAH Anders Lægreid.
The gypsum is produced with salt residues from Munters' factory in Tobo, north of Stockholm, where rotary dehumidifiers are made. Together with residues from the processing of fly ash from incineration plants, we produce a white and clean gypsum. This gypsum can replace long-distance and virgin natural gypsum, which is a non-renewable material.
Socially critical
Munters has previously treated wastewater from its production using sedimentation and filter presses, and then sent salt residues to landfill. With investments in new equipment, the salt residues can now be separated from the process water.
"Collaboration with other industries is the right way to go to achieve circularity and emission reductions in Munters' value chain. Gypsum production is an important step towards reducing climate and environmental impact," says Andréa Haag, Vice President Sustainability at Munters.
The fly ash comes from a number of incineration plants, primarily Nordic. The plants' energy production is critical to society, and one of the largest is Stockholm Exergi.
NOAH's focus on extracting gypsum from fly ash is a good example of how we can work together in a circular way and conserve resources that would otherwise go to waste. It is also an example of how the energy system can become more resource-efficient and environmentally friendly, says Anders Egelrud, CEO of Stockholm Exergi.
Letter of intent with Norgips
Initially, NOAH will produce 6.500 tons of pure, white gypsum in its existing test center at Langøya. The plant is designed so that it can be scaled up to up to 30.000 tons. The gypsum will be further processed regionally, for example in the production of gypsum boards. A potential buyer is Norgips in Drammen, and a letter of intent already exists between the parties.
Together we create a circular value chain that is a win-win for society, companies and consumers: Your and my residual waste is incinerated and the fly ash is processed at Langøya"The salt from the process, which previously went into the sea, is used to produce gypsum, which comes to us in a short time, with low emissions and without interference with nature. This is something we really look forward to being able to offer our customers," says Christian Stålem, CEO of Norgips.
Norgips's research also shows that the gypsum from Langøya is cleaner than the virgin gypsum that is extracted from nature. The plaster from Langøya can be part of a complete circular cycle.
Large investments
We have used our cutting-edge expertise in chemistry and process. With innovative employees and a visionary owner who is willing to take risks, we recycle materials and obtain products from problematic residual fractions! The goal is that a large proportion of what the company receives from industry will go back in the form of products, says the head of NOAH's operations at Langøya, Tove Stuhr Sjøblom.
The fact that NOAH will produce gypsum is news in a series of several good news. Previously, the company has invested significant sums in a plant that separates moisture from mineral masses produced on LangøyaThis investment forms the basis for gypsum production. The decision to invest in gypsum production was made by the board and NOAH's owner Bjørn Rune Gjelsten.