Geminor has invested heavily in electricity and eliminated the use of fossil fuels in its operations. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the annual reduction in CO2e is comparable to an average passenger vehicle driving around the Earth at the equator 16.9 times.
“By electrifying our processes, we’re reinforcing our commitment to sustainable resource management within an industry characterised by fossil-consuming machinery,“ says Petur Thor, General Manager at Geminor’s Storøy facility.
A Shift to Clean Technology
Geminor’s Storøy facility processed around 20,000 tonnes of waste wood in 2023 for recycling into panel boards, in line with the EU circular economy action plan. However, the diesel-powered grinder at Storøy emitted an annual carbon footprint of approximately 174,000 kg CO2e.
To address these emissions, Geminor has invested heavily in electrifying the hub and replacing its diesel-powered shredder and transport conveyors with an electric shredder. The new machine is 53% more energy-efficient than its predecessor and eliminates the consumption of 28 litres of diesel per hour.
In addition, the electric setup's noise reduction complies more easily with noise regulations, increasing its operational hours and productivity.
Expanding Local Capacity and Supporting Circular Economy Goals
With the new setup, Geminor plans to double its waste wood processing capacity at Storøy, paving the way for potential additional contracts.
Thor states:
"Our strategy for decarbonisation focuses on the total impact. In the short term, the new electrical infrastructure will enable us to deliver more waste wood for recycling, moving waste solutions higher up the hierarchy. With a mobile electric shredder in place, we aim to be the first in our region to offer services for processing garden waste and waste wood.”
"Finally, we see our upgraded facility as an ideal centralised hub for exporting waste wood via vessels. Currently, trucks transport much of the waste wood inefficiently to various offtakers. By redirecting these deliveries to our Storøy facility, we could streamline operations and significantly reduce transport emissions in our local community," concludes Petur Thor, Geminor’s Storøy General Manager.
