R Buitrago-Tello et al.
Original Article: Linerboard production and decarbonization
Table 4. Cost of avoided carbon (CAC) for different energy efficiency alternatives assuming different carbon emission factors for the electricity demand. Alternative Total carbon saved 2023–2033 (kg CO 2 - eq) Cost of avoided carbon emissions Scope 1, 2 and 3 ($/ton CO 2 - eq) Ecoinvent High renewables cost scenario Low renewable cost Ecoinvent High renewables cost scenario Low renewable cost scenario Recovery boiler 7.05 × 10 5 3.393 ×10 5 3.245 ×10 5 $392 $814 $851 Electric boilers −3.86 ×10 6 1.032 ×10 6 1.211 ×10 6 – $383 $327 4-membranes 9.91 × 10 5 2.027 ×10 6 2.059 ×10 6 $237 $116 $114 5-membrane 9.53 × 10 5 2.028 ×10 6 2.061 ×10 6 $362 $170 $167 MVR 5.31 × 10 5 1.114 ×10 6 1.132 ×10 6 $ (19) $ (9) $ (9) Nylon felt 5.25 × 10 5 7.201 ×10 5 7.250 ×10 5 $ (67) $ (49) $ (49) Shoe press 3.25 × 10 5 4.787 ×10 5 4.828 ×10 5 $ (29) $ (20) $ (20) Condebelt 9.84 × 10 5 1.267 ×10 6 1.274 ×10 6 $38 $30 $30
liquor offers a 15% reduction in carbon emissions but with a CAC ranging from $237 to $362 per ton of CO 2 -eq. avoided. Moreover, the industry has the opportunity to improve CAC by trading carbon reductions in the market, with prices projected to reach $11 per ton of CO 2 -eq. avoided by 2030 and $47 per ton of CO 2 -eq. by 2050. However, for alternatives with high capital investments, such as condebelt, high-efficiency recovery boilers, and black liquor membrane systems, the carbon price must exceed $47/ton of CO 2 - eq. to recover the investment and prevent additional costs to the mill. Finally, the electrification of the pulp and paper industry presents a significant opportunity to decarbonize the sector by reducing on-site fossil emissions associated with steam generation. The anticipated reduction in carbon emissions from the US electric system, driven by an increased share of renewable energy, enhances the benefits of technologies like MVR, black liquor membrane systems, electric boilers, and condebelt, where heat demand is replaced by electricity. Acknowledgements The authors gratefully acknowledge the Fulbright Program and the Colombian Institute of Educational Credit and Technical Studies Abroad (ICETEX) for funding Rodrigo Buitrago-Tello’s doctoral studies through the ‘Fulbright– Pasaporte a la Ciencia’ fellowship, and the Forest Biomaterials Department at North Carolina State University (NCSU) for additional support. References 1. IEA, Pulp and paper (2022). https://www.iea.org/reports/pulp- and-paper.
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© 2025 The Author(s). Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. | Biofuels, Bioprod. Bioref . (2025); DOI: 10.1002/bbb.2790
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