Decarbonization Prospects for the European Pulp and Paper Industry: Different Development Pathways and Needed Actions

Satu Lipiäinen (), Eeva-Lotta Apajalahti and Esa Vakkilainen
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Satu Lipiäinen: LUT School of Energy Systems, LUT University, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland
Eeva-Lotta Apajalahti: LUT School of Energy Systems, LUT University, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland
Esa Vakkilainen: LUT School of Energy Systems, LUT University, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: The pulp and paper industry (PPI) has several opportunities to contribute to meeting prevailing climate targets. It can cut its own CO 2 emissions, which currently account for 2% of global industrial fossil CO 2 emissions, and it has an opportunity to produce renewable energy, fuels, and materials for other sectors. The purpose of this study is to improve understanding of the decarbonization prospects of the PPI. The study provides insights on the magnitude of needed annual renewal rates for several possible net-zero target years of industrial fossil CO 2 emissions in the PPI and discusses decarbonization opportunities, namely, energy and material efficiency improvement, fuel switching, electrification, renewable energy production, carbon capture, and new products. The effects of climate policies on the decarbonization opportunities are critically evaluated to provide an overview of the current and future business environment of the European PPI. The focus is on Europe, but other regions are analyzed briefly to widen the view. The analysis shows that there are no major technical barriers to the fossil-free operation of the PPI, but the sector renovates slowly, and many new opportunities are not implemented on a large scale due to immature technology, poor economic feasibility, or unclear political environment.

Keywords: energy transition; pulp and paper industry; climate policy; bioenergy; CO 2 emissions; BECCS; biofuels; energy efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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