Solvay to cut 20% of CO2 emissions in energy production at Bulgarian soda ash plant

Belgium-based chemical company Solvay said on Wednesday it plans to cut one-fifth of the carbon dioxide emissions related to energy production at its largest European soda ash plant in Devnya, Bulgaria.

In order to increase its co-combustion rate with biomass, Solvay is adapting one of the plant's existing boilers to make it able to be powered with 30% biomass, it said in a press release.

The boiler is expected to start operating in November 2022, Solvay added. The biomass will come from various sources, including locally-sourced sunflower husk pellets.

Solvay noted the project is the first major milestone in transitioning the soda ash plant away from coal power towards sustainable energy, in line with the company’s ambition to reach carbon neutrality before 2050.

Solvay's Bulgarian unit, Solvay Sodi, booked a consolidated net profit of 94.4 million levs ($54.6 million/48.2 million euro) in 2020 and generated revenue of 385.8 million levs, data from the company's annual financial statement showed.

(1 euro = 1.95583 levs)

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