Statkraft has shipped to a Danish customer over 3000 tons of wood chips from its biomass trading hub located south of Oslo in Norway.
The shipment is the first from the hub, which opened in August at the site of the former Södra Cell paper mill at Tofte on the Oslofjord.
Statkraft is processing round wood to energy chips at the site with moisture content close to 30%.
The hub terminal has multiple vessel berths for deep water and short sea vessels.
It has storage capacity for 100,000 tonnes of round wood logs and 50,000 tonnes of wood chip, as well as offering covered storage for wood pellets on site at the same time.
The company aims for an annual throughput of 500,000 tonnes of handled biomass materials to service the European energy market.
Statkraft also plans for Tofte to expand into the biofuel sector with the implementation of a production facility in partnership with SödraCell.
Statkraft head of biomass trading and origination Christopher Moore said: “There is significant annual growth of the demand in the Scandinavian wood chip market forecast for the next few years.
“The biomass is sourced from sustainably managed forests which are certified in accordance with PEFC standards and we expect to be SBP certified by the end of the year.
“In addition, we can help other companies with their wood chip logistics optimisation.”
Image: Statkraft plans annual throughput of 500,000 tonnes (sxc)
