Running along the roads, in the industrial area of Kalundborg, are big green pipes, which transports steam from Asnæsværket to several partners of the Kalundborg Symbiosis. The green pipes have become the symbol of the industrial symbiosis and is the most visible sign that the companies in the symbiosis are connected.

Previously, Asnæsværket had an overcapacity of steam as part of the electricity production. In time, the steam for the Kalundborg Symbiosis has become a main product and electricity a byproduct. This development shows that industrial symbioses, over time, can advance new business models.

At Statoil’s refinery, the steam is used to heat the raw oil, so volatile compounds are separated, and the raw oil is condensed into gasoline, diesel and other compounds at different temperatures.

At Novozymes and Novo Nordisk, the steam is used for a variety of purposes, including cleaning, sterilization and distillation.

Running along the roads, in the industrial area of Kalundborg, are big green pipes, which transports steam from Asnæsværket to several partners of the Kalundborg Symbiosis. The green pipes have become the symbol of the industrial symbiosis and is the most visible sign that the companies in the symbiosis are connected.

Previously, Asnæsværket had an overcapacity of steam as part of the electricity production. In time, the steam for the Kalundborg Symbiosis has become a main product and electricity a byproduct. This development shows that industrial symbioses, over time, can advance new business models.

At Statoil’s refinery, the steam is used to heat the raw oil, so volatile compounds are separated, and the raw oil is condensed into gasoline, diesel and other compounds at different temperatures.

At Novozymes and Novo Nordisk, the steam is used for a variety of purposes, including cleaning, sterilization and distillation.

For certain purposes in the production at Novozymes and Novo Nordisk, the steam received from Ørsted is too hot. Therefore, the temperature is reduced to about 200 degrees. This is done by using it to heat up “used” steam from the production. The “used” steam, which is about 90 degrees, is called warm condensate. This condensate loops and recycles locally on site when it is made to “new” 200 degrees hot steam. Some of the warm condensate is also used to preheat fresh water for local steam production, so that the water temperature rises from 10 to 90 degrees. Thus, steam production requires less energy.

For certain purposes in the production at Novozymes and Novo Nordisk, the steam received from Ørsted is too hot. Therefore, the temperature is reduced to about 200 degrees. This is done by using it to heat up “used” steam from the production. The “used” steam, which is about 90 degrees, is called warm condensate. This condensate loops and recycles locally on site when it is made to “new” 200 degrees hot steam. Some of the warm condensate is also used to preheat fresh water for local steam production, so that the water temperature rises from 10 to 90 degrees. Thus, steam production requires less energy.

District heating is common practice in Denmark. More than 60 percent of Danish households are heated by district heating. At Ørsted’s CHP (Combined Heat and Power) plant, Asnæsværket, part of the energy, which is converted to steam and electricity, is turned into district heating. This is sent to Kalundborg Utility, who then distributes it to citizens and companies. Kalundborg Utility’s heat pump ensures that the city’s citizens are supplied with additional heat in the coldest months of the year.

In addition to receiving district heating from Kalundborg Utility, Novo Nordisk and Novozymes utilize part of the excess heat that is generated from their own production. The utilization of the excess heat happens locally, on-site, and means that the heat production uses less resources.

Additionally, Gyproc also supplies Kalundborg Utility with heat for district heating.

District heating is common practice in Denmark. More than 60 percent of Danish households are heated by district heating. At Ørsted’s CHP (Combined Heat and Power) plant, Asnæsværket, part of the energy, which is converted to steam and electricity, is turned into district heating. This is sent to Kalundborg Utility, who then distributes it to citizens and companies. Kalundborg Utility’s heat pump ensures that the city’s citizens are supplied with additional heat in the coldest months of the year.

In addition to receiving district heating from Kalundborg Utility, Novo Nordisk and Novozymes utilize part of the excess heat that is generated from their own production. The utilization of the excess heat happens locally, on-site, and means that the heat production uses less resources.

Additionally, Gyproc also supplies Kalundborg Utility with heat for district heating.

District heating is common practice in Denmark. More than 60 percent of Danish households are heated by district heating. At Ørsted’s CHP (Combined Heat and Power) plant, Asnæsværket, part of the energy, which is converted to steam and electricity, is turned into district heating. This is sent to Kalundborg Utility, who then distributes it to citizens and companies. Kalundborg Utility’s heat pump ensures that the city’s citizens are supplied with additional heat in the coldest months of the year.

In addition to receiving district heating from Kalundborg Utility, Novo Nordisk and Novozymes utilize part of the excess heat that is generated from their own production. The utilization of the excess heat happens locally, on-site, and means that the heat production uses less resources.

Additionally, Gyproc also supplies Kalundborg Utility with heat for district heating.

District heating is common practice in Denmark. More than 60 percent of Danish households are heated by district heating. At Ørsted’s CHP (Combined Heat and Power) plant, Asnæsværket, part of the energy, which is converted to steam and electricity, is turned into district heating. This is sent to Kalundborg Utility, who then distributes it to citizens and companies. Kalundborg Utility’s heat pump ensures that the city’s citizens are supplied with additional heat in the coldest months of the year.

In addition to receiving district heating from Kalundborg Utility, Novo Nordisk and Novozymes utilize part of the excess heat that is generated from their own production. The utilization of the excess heat happens locally, on-site, and means that the heat production uses less resources.

Additionally, Gyproc also supplies Kalundborg Utility with heat for district heating.

District heating is common practice in Denmark. More than 60 percent of Danish households are heated by district heating. At Ørsted’s CHP (Combined Heat and Power) plant, Asnæsværket, part of the energy, which is converted to steam and electricity, is turned into district heating. This is sent to Kalundborg Utility, who then distributes it to citizens and companies. Kalundborg Utility’s heat pump ensures that the city’s citizens are supplied with additional heat in the coldest months of the year.

In addition to receiving district heating from Kalundborg Utility, Novo Nordisk and Novozymes utilize part of the excess heat that is generated from their own production. The utilization of the excess heat happens locally, on-site, and means that the heat production uses less resources.

Additionally, Gyproc also supplies Kalundborg Utility with heat for district heating.

Kalundborg Utility is responsible for the final purification of the waste water from the companies in the Kalundborg Symbiosis, but before that, several of the partners have cleaned and treated the waste themselves, so it complies with the legal requirements. Even though these flows are indicated with the same number, the term covers several different types and qualities of process and wastewater from the companies. Some types of wastewater run in separate pipes, so the purification process can be done optimally and with the lowest possible energy use.

Before being discharged into the environment, the purified wastewater from Kalundborg Utility is run through a heat exchanger at the heat pump. Here part of the heat in the wastewater is utilized for district heat production.

Kalundborg Utility is responsible for the final purification of the waste water from the companies in the Kalundborg Symbiosis, but before that, several of the partners have cleaned and treated the waste themselves, so it complies with the legal requirements. Even though these flows are indicated with the same number, the term covers several different types and qualities of process and wastewater from the companies. Some types of wastewater run in separate pipes, so the purification process can be done optimally and with the lowest possible energy use.

Before being discharged into the environment, the purified wastewater from Kalundborg Utility is run through a heat exchanger at the heat pump. Here part of the heat in the wastewater is utilized for district heat production.

Kalundborg Utility is responsible for the final purification of the waste water from the companies in the Kalundborg Symbiosis, but before that, several of the partners have cleaned and treated the waste themselves, so it complies with the legal requirements. Even though these flows are indicated with the same number, the term covers several different types and qualities of process and wastewater from the companies. Some types of wastewater run in separate pipes, so the purification process can be done optimally and with the lowest possible energy use.

Before being discharged into the environment, the purified wastewater from Kalundborg Utility is run through a heat exchanger at the heat pump. Here part of the heat in the wastewater is utilized for district heat production.

The Novozymes Wastewater and Biogas plant is where the first part of the purification of process water from the production in Novozymes and Novo Nordisk happens. Hereafter the water is led to the final purification at Kalundborg Utility. The entire process is highly benefited by the fact that wastewater and process water from Novozymes and Novo Nordisk always is around 20 degrees. This means that the bacteria cleaning the water is faster, more efficient and with a lower energy consumption. This wat, the excess heat in the water helps saving resources.

Millions of cubic meters of surface water from Tissø are used annually by the Kalundborg Symbiosis, instead of drinking water from groundwater reserves. The surface water runs in a 13 kilometer long pipeline from Tissø to Kalundborg Utility, and is then distributed on to the companies. The surface water is used for cooling in production at Statoil, Ørsted and Novo Nordisk. In addition, Ørsted has a water reservoir where they extract surface water used in the plant that cleans the smoke for sulfur.

Millions of cubic meters of surface water from Tissø are used annually by the Kalundborg Symbiosis, instead of drinking water from groundwater reserves. The surface water runs in a 13 kilometer long pipeline from Tissø to Kalundborg Utility, and is then distributed on to the companies. The surface water is used for cooling in production at Statoil, Ørsted and Novo Nordisk. In addition, Ørsted has a water reservoir where they extract surface water used in the plant that cleans the smoke for sulfur.

Millions of cubic meters of surface water from Tissø are used annually by the Kalundborg Symbiosis, instead of drinking water from groundwater reserves. The surface water runs in a 13 kilometer long pipeline from Tissø to Kalundborg Utility, and is then distributed on to the companies. The surface water is used for cooling in production at Statoil, Ørsted and Novo Nordisk. In addition, Ørsted has a water reservoir where they extract surface water used in the plant that cleans the smoke for sulfur.

Out of the more than 3 million cubic meters of surface water recovered from Tissø and used in Kalundborg Symbiosen, more than 1 million cubic meters will be cleaned to the quality of drinking water. It all ends up at Novozymes, where the cleaned surface water is used directly in their production of industrial enzymes. This saves drinking water and conserves groundwater reserves. Furthermore Novozymes can reduce one of the production costs significantly, being that cleaned surface water is far cheaper than drinking water.

A large part of the walls and ceilings in homes, companies and offices are covered with gypsum produced at Gyproc in Kalundborg, part of the Saint Gobain Group. Gyproc gets a significant amount of Ørsted’s gypsum, where the gypsum is a residual product. When Ørsted cleans the sulfur from the smoke from Asnæsværke, the smoke is passed through a calcium solution that binds the sulfur and thereby converts the calcium into industrial gypsum.

This industrial gypsum is usable for Gyproc in the production of new gypsum borads. Gyproc thus provides a stable supply of local produce ready at hand, and much cheaper than natural gypsum. In addition, the gypsum has already been crushed. This way Gyproc saves money for the processing of the gypsum and, at the same time, limits the exploitation on Earth’s resources of natural gypsum. This is a classic example of good economy, resource optimization and increased robustness of companies in an industrial symbiosis.

Statoil Refining Denmark removes sulfor from the oil and converts the sulfur into ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) that boost the growth of plants. Instead of contaminating the air by burning the sulfur has become a valuable resource sold to the large fertilizer companies in Denmark.

ATS is a liquid fertilizer, making it easier for the farmers to dose the amount and thus fertilize more efficiently. ATS causes the plants to absorb the Sulphur and other nutrients better, which leads to less evaporation of nitrogen. So, instead of becoming acid and damaging rain, the sulphur is channeled to the right crops as a booster for their growth.

When Ørsted produces electricity, the generators are powered by stea, turbines, requiring that the steam in this case is made of deionized water (make-up-water). This is also known as demineralized water, as all minerals and salts has been removed to avoid breaking internal parts of the steam turbines, boilers and the heat pipes.

Ørsted also delivers deionized water for Statoil’s steam production, which is based on the residual heat from the refinery.

The Kalundborg Utility treats the wastewater from homes and companies and collects a large amount of sand from the wastewater in their sand traps. The sand consists of different sizes of pebbles and gravel and is excellent as filling for digging jobs. All sand used for work like this is rinsed, sanitized and checked to make sure it meets the requirements to be reused as filling.

When Kalundborg Utility treats the wastewater from homes and companies, one of the residues is sludge. Part of this sludge is delivered to farmers for fertilizer, as the sludge contains nutrients. Before leaving the treatment plant at Kalundborg Utility, the sludge is sanitized and checked, to make sure it is usable for all types of farm land and private gardens.

So, instead of being a problem, the sludge is exploited and displaces the use of commercial fertilizer. This reduces the use of nature’s own minerals and resources.

Tissø supplies the Kalundborg Symbiosis with surface water for cooling and production purposes. This is made possible via a 12 kilometer long pipeline, which was established in 1961 by a public-private partnership between the refinery and Kalundborg Municipality. It was the first step towards the successful symbiosis partnership that has now existed in Kalundborg for over 50 years.

Tissø is the fourth largest lake in Denmark with an area of 12,3 square kilometers. It is where the biggest North European Viking settlements where located, and the place was a trading hub with international contacts.

It is told, that if you, on Midsummer’s Eve, drink from the lake’s waters, nothing ill will befall you for a year. It is unknown whether the legend is still true, but the companies that utilizes the water have definitely not been unlucky. On both Midsummer’s Day and the rest of the year, Kalundborg Utility extracts the surface water for cooling and also delivers a cleaned, potable version, which is part of the enzyme production at Novozymes.

ARGO (formerly known as Kara/Noveren) handles waste for companies in the Kalundborg Symbiosis as well as companies and households in nine municipalities on Zealand. ARGO is a stakeholder owned waste management company and has a total of 125 employees, 13 of which are located in Kalundborg, where ARGO operates recycling centers for Kalundborg Municipality. Here the waste is divided into fractions and recycled and reused as much as possible. The remainder is used for electricity and heat production.

Gyproc is a part of the Saint-Gobain group, who is a global market leader in solutions for “LIGHT CONSTRUCTION”. In Kalundborg, Gyproc produces plasterboards and utilizes the gypsum Ørsted has as a byproduct. When Ørsted cleans their exhaust for sulfur, limestone is converted to industrial grade gypsum. However instead of depositing the gypsum as waste, it is sold to Gyproc where it is used as a raw material in the production of plasterboards and is aiding in ensuring that 85 percent of the materials in Gyproc’s products are recycled. This way the Kalundborg Symbiosis gives Gyproc access to local raw materials of a high quality at a compe-tetive price.

Gyproc develops innovative, market leading and sustainable solutions with a focus on increasing demands for energy efficient and environmentally friendly construction. Many walls and ceilings in Denmark and the rest of the world are covered with plasterboards from Gyproc, where part of the gypsum is a residual which has become a resource for Gyproc in Kalundborg, which has around 145 employees.

Read more about Gyproc here.

Kalundborg Utility extracts and delivers surface water and cleansed surface water to the partners of the Kalundborg Symbiosis. Kalundborg Utility also has one of Northern Europe’s biggest and most advanced water treatment plant, which uses ozone (O3) to process the difficultly degradable organic compounds. Kalundborg Utility processes wastewater for both the industry, companies and households in Kalundborg Municipality, as well as deliver potable water and district heating to companies and households in Kalundborg City.

Kalundborg Utility has 70 employees and plays a central role in the utilization of waterborne resources in the Kalundborg Symbiosis and are part of several new projects. For example, Kalundborg Utility is working on utilizing the residual heat in the process and wastewater from Novozymes and Novo Nordisk, which is always around 20 degrees Celcius. That leftover heat can be utilized in the district heating grid by using heat pumps.

Read more about Kalundborg Utility here.

Ørsted (formerly known as DONG Energy) owns Asnæsværket, which produces steam, electricity and heat. The steam is delivered to partners in the Kalundborg Symbiosis and in the plant itself, the steam is used to drive turbines which, with the help of big generators, produce electricity for the power grid. The residual heat from that production is utilized as district heating for households and companies in Kalundborg City. For Gyproc, Ørsted supplies gypsum, which is a byproduct of the sulfur cleansing of the exhaust smoke. Ørsted also has a close cooperation with Statoil about exchanges of special water fractions and utilization of surface water and residual energy. Ørsted diverts part of the rain water from their areas to a water reservoir, where the water is gathered for production. So in this way, it reduces the extraction and use of potable water from ground water or surface water from Tissø, since the rain water is very suitable for the production purpose.

Ørsted plays a central part in the Kalundborg Symbiosis, especially with the plans and projects that have been put to work to transition the energy and steam production from coal to biogas and biomass.

Read more about Ørsted here

Equinor in Kalundborg is the largest refinery in Denmark and the only one in the world, where the residual sulfur from the desulphurisation plant is converted to liquid and high-efficiency fertilizer. The Kalundborg Symbiosis provides Equinor with easy access to steam for process purposes, cooling and surface water, as well as various types of specialized water.

The Kalundborg Symbiosis assists in  streamlining the operation of the refinery, where 335 employees produce some of the cleanest petrol and diesel in the world, which is virtually free of sulphur.

Read more about Equinor here

Novo Nordisk and Novozymes are part of a common landowners’ association, with the purpose to run and maintain the two companies’ common production areas in Kalundborg. This is where water and energy flows for both companies are distributed.

Novo Nordisk Kalundborg has 3,500 employees and produces 50 % of the world’s insulin. A total of 28 million patients worldwide use the insulin, that starts its journey in one of the production facilities in Kalundborg.

The insulin is purified from a basic material, which is produced using fermentation processes. The microorganisms in the fermentation tank are fueled primarily by sugars, vitamins, and other micronutrients. This type and size of production has big demands in terms of water and energy, which means that Novo Nordisk benefits greatly from being part of the Kalundborg Symbiosis, where there is easy access to energy and water, as well as good opportunities to develop the production to make it even more sustainable. Novo Nordisk also contributes by utilizing surplus heat and residual fractions for example for fertilizers and the production of biogas.

With its about 3,500 employees, a solid investment growth, and focus on sustainable production, Novo Nordisk Kalundborg plays a central part for the Kalundborg Symbiosis by creating new projects.

Read more about Novo Nordisk here

Inbicon is owned by Ørsted and is a plant that converts straw into 2nd generation biofuel. Inbicon makes use of enzymes from, among others, Novozymes, and the plant can convert four tonnes of straw per hour, resulting in 30,000 tonnes per year. Inbicon has developed a fermentation process which converts both C5 and C6 sugar compounds from the straw into bioethanol. This increases the yield by about 40 %. This way, Inbicon can produce 5.4 million liters of bioethanol per year and at full load employ 30 people.

Inbicon’s production process also results in the byproducts lignin and C5 molasses. Lignin can be used as fuel, for instance at Asnæsværket, and C5 molasses is well-suited as animal feed or to increase the efficiency in biogas plants. When Inbicon chooses the most effective conversion of straw to bioethanol, it does not result in C5 molasses, but in vinasse, which can also increase biogas production, albeit less so than the C5 molasses.

Read more about Inbicon here