Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) (NYSE: BW) has announced a contract award to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for integrating its SolveBright™ carbon capture technology into Mälarenergi AB’s waste-to-energy plant in Västerås, Sweden. This collaboration aims to help Mälarenergi reach its goal of capturing 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, with permanent storage and a target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035.
The SolveBright system is a post-combustion carbon capture technology that removes CO₂ directly from plant flue gases using a regenerable solvent in an absorption process.
“We’re pleased to collaborate with Mälarenergi on this feasibility study, showcasing how our SolveBright technology can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the Västerås plant,” said B&W COO Jimmy Morgan. “Our decades of experience in waste-to-energy and flue gas treatment will support this critical initiative.”
The study will examine how to best integrate SolveBright with the waste-to-energy and district heating system, optimize facility performance, and identify heat usage opportunities to improve operational efficiency.
Mälarenergi Project Manager Ivette Farias expressed enthusiasm for the project, noting, “This project supports our energy transition journey and helps us move closer to our net-zero target.”
Mälarenergi’s plant supplies 50% of Västerås’ district heating, reducing electricity needs and helping secure energy for other uses. By incorporating carbon capture, waste-to-energy plants like Västerås play a key role in advancing Sweden’s net-zero emissions goals.
B&W’s SolveBright is part of its ClimateBright™ suite of decarbonization technologies, which offer diverse carbon-reduction options, from post-combustion and pre-combustion carbon capture to clean fuel alternatives and energy generation from varied feedstocks to produce hydrogen, steam, or syngas with carbon isolation.