International Paper Energy Center Cogeneration Project
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Location:
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Springfield, OR
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Capacity:
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13 MW
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Date built:
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1976
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EWEB and the Weyerhaeuser Company cooperatively developed a cogeneration facility
at the Springfield plant in 1976. In 2008, Weyerhaeuser Paper Company
sold the mill to the International Paper Company. The unit is owned by EWEB, with
International Paper providing operation and fuel. EWEB and International Paper each receive 50% of the output
from the generator. The project costs for
this unit are shared equally by EWEB and International Paper under terms of the
current agreement, which expires in 2015.
Cogeneration is the process of producing electricity in conjunction with thermal energy – supplied
to an industrial or commercial process – in the form of steam, hot water or hot combustion gases.
Cogeneration is a very efficient means to produce electricity.
Over 60% of the fuel source at the International Paper facility is from biomass in the form of black
liquor (a bi-product of paper pulp), with the rest supplied by natural gas. These two fuels are combusted
to produce high-pressure steam, which is used to generate electricity first. Then the lower pressure
steam output of the turbine is used for paper mill processes.
