Creating a Minimal Footprint with Renewable Energy
In Sappi's 2012 report, we adopted a calculation method used by the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA).
In this method, energy consumption from purchased electricity is calculated in terms of fuel inputs to account for different fuel efficiencies during power generation and efficiency losses in power transmission. The equivalent energy value is represented in terms of sources as per power supplier-provided data. Our Westbrook Mill does not buy power, and the mill energy profile reflects sales of Renewable Energy Certificates
(RECs). The 2013 conversion of the Cloquet pulp mill to dissolving pulp, a higher-purity pulp requiring more energy to produce, increased the energy intensity of that site. At the same time, Cloquet achieved higher use of renewable fuels, reducing natural gas, purchased electricity and fuel oil. Somerset began using natural gas in 2014 after Summit Natural Gas of Maine completed construction of the pipeline, and capital improvements have been made to a hog fuel boiler as well as the lime kiln (see p. 30). The Somerset Mill energy profile also reflects REC sales. Plant engineers at each of the mills have developed plans to reach our goal of a 10 percent improvement in energy intensity by 2016.
Read the full Sappi North America Sustainability Report 2014 by downloading an online PDF version directly from our website here or for more on sustainability, check out our eQ microsite at: http://www.na.sappi.com/eQ/index.html.
