Welcome to the second edition of Symbiosis Stream, where we share the latest happenings and developments within the Kalundborg Symbiosis!
——————————————————————————————————————————————— No. 2, June, 2024
Pathways to Resource Efficiency in Santa Cruz Industries
Ren Energi Lolland project
Novo Nordisk and Novonesis Scale Up Waste Treatment in Kalundborg
In week 21, Per and Mette were in Rio to carry out project activities locally, including symbiosis screenings, giving presentations, and teaching facilitation and support of governance and policy regarding industrial symbiosis.
The symbiosis project is one year long, named PRESI (Pathways to Resource Efficiency in Santa Cruz Industries), and project partners also include the consulting and energy efficiency firm Viegand Maagøe, and CLEAN, Denmark’s water and environmental cluster. The goal is a Danish-Brazilian collaboration to create industrial symbiosis in the State of Rio.
Symbiosis chronicles:
A journey through history
The Environment Club of Kalundborg
Founded in 1988, the Environment Club of Kalundborg, known locally as “Miljøklubben”, was an integral part of the Development Initiative in Kalundborg. The club served as a dynamic discussion forum, bringing together representatives from various sectors including industry, the municipality, local government, agriculture, and environmental organizations.
The Environment Club operated as an inter-municipal working group, addressing environmental issues pertinent to the natural resources, citizens, and businesses of the area. The club’s jurisdiction spanned across the municipalities of Bjergsted, Gørlev, Hvidebæk, Kalundborg, and Tornved, aligning with Kalundborg’s labor market area and the coverage of Kalundborg Business Council.
The club was chaired by Valdemar Christiansen from Asnæsværket. Under his leadership, the club adhered to a vision of fostering a healthy and active lifestyle in a region celebrated for its beautiful industrial city and local centers. The goal was to create an area characterized by “quality of life” and job opportunities within a varied, green landscape where the population, nature, businesses, and agriculture coexisted in sustainable harmony.
The Environment Club of Kalundborg was active until at least January 19, 2005, as this is the date of the last document we can find. The exact duration of the club’s existence is unknown, but the available documents provide valuable insights into its contributions and the environmental advancements made during its activity.
The Secretariat of the Kalundborg Symbiosis completed a mapping of symbiosis potentials on Lolland at the end of May. This year-long project involved screening local businesses, compiling data, and producing a comprehensive report. The project was commissioned by Ren Energi Lolland, a partnership between Lolland Municipality, Andel, and European Energy, with Gate 21 as the operator. The goal of this partnership is to enhance local value creation from renewable energy.
We engaged with both existing and planned companies in renewable energy, PtX, biogas, and heat and water supplies. This analysis was combined with insights into businesses from entirely different sectors that could be synergistically linked with these energy players. Together, this provided stakeholders with a unique perspective on the significant potential for advancing the green transition in the area. With a solid data foundation and a practical approach to symbiosis work, we hope to have initiated movements that will help realize these potentials, benefiting the economy, increasing local employment, and supporting the environment and community.
For the members of the Kalundborg Symbiosis, the project has promoted specific companies and cases, while also enhancing the overall branding of the partnership. Additionally, such tasks offer the opportunity to develop tools and upgrade the skills, knowledge, and competencies of the employees, which are then reintegrated into the local partnership.
The environmental facility at Novo’s Kalundborg site is undergoing a major expansion, significantly increasing its capacity to treat industrial wastewater and biomass from current and future factories of Novo Nordisk and Novonesis. This collaboration between Novonesis and Novo Nordisk on shared wastewater and biomass treatment is one of the longest-standing projects within the Kalundborg Symbiosis.
Currently, Novonesis produces biogas from liquid waste streams, while Kalundborg Bioenergy processes solid biomass to produce biogas. The remaining nutrients are then recycled as fertilizers. This process exemplifies the core principle of the Kalundborg Symbiosis, where industrial residuals are transformed into valuable resources.
Upon completion, the expanded facility will be capable of treating 6.5 million cubic meters of wastewater, enough to serve half of Denmark’s population, and will produce 10,000 cubic meters of biogas, sufficient to power 7,000 households. The project aims to reduce the CO2 footprint by 12,000 tons annually.
Dear members of Kalundborg Symbiosis,
As the summer season approaches, we would like to extend our warmest wishes to all of you. May your holiday be filled with sunshine, tranquility, and sustainable practices that reflect the values we share. Enjoy a restful and rejuvenating break, and we look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts towards a more sustainable future upon your return.
Best regards,
Kalundborg Symbiosis administarion team
