The art of paper-making has been practiced in Greiz for more than 400 years. The paper factory in Greiz has been part of the Koehler Group for over 25 years now. The site, renowned for its innovation, produces novel and sustainable products of the highest standard. For example, Koehler Paper produces silphie-fiber-based paper and cardboard grades in collaboration with OutNature.
As an energy-intensive company, Koehler Group has set itself the goal of producing more renewable energy with its own plants than is required for its paper production by 2030. To safeguard jobs at the Greiz site, there is a specific need to set aside space for systems for generating renewable energy.
Conversion of power plant
In 2021, the Koehler Group announced that it was converting its power plant at the Koehler Paper site in Greiz from pulverized lignite to fine wood fraction fuel. The power plant is expected to be opened in spring 2023. Switching from lignite to fine wood fraction will enable savings of more than 24,000 metric tons of carbon emissions per year at the Greiz site.
The Koehler Paper site in Greiz. Source: Koehler GroupKoehler is investing around 7.6 million euros in the conversion, which is part of the sustainable strategy being implemented at the site. This will bring Koehler even closer to its objective of company-wide decarbonization. The plan is to reduce scope 1 direct greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2030 in comparison to the levels from the base year 2003.
The Koehler Paper site in Greiz has already made a start towards this with its pilot system. And there are also concrete plans for converting the existing black-coal-fired power plant at the Oberkirch site to biomass by 2024, with the project to cost Koehler over 70 million euros.
Growth of Greiz paper site
The conversion of the power plant is the first step toward increasing sustainability at the Greiz site. Koehler plans to continue investing in the plant in the future, and thereby make a contribution toward sustainable development in Thuringia.
Kai Furler, CEO of the Koehler Group, emphasized: “By converting our power plant in Greiz to biomass, we have clearly demonstrated that we have long-term plans for our location in Thuringia. Now, we need support from politicians to continue pushing ahead with our sustainable approach.” In order for us to keep the Koehler Promise 2030, we also need more facilities for generating sustainable energy at the company’s site. “We need designated areas for turbines and photovoltaic parks to generate energy for our production facility,” continues Furler.
Politicians are enthusiastic about Koehler’s sustainable company policy and climate strategy. On his last visit to the Koehler Paper plant in Greiz during the fall of 2021, Thuringian Premier Bodo Ramelow said the following: “We need companies like Koehler that are committed and courageous. I’m pleased that Koehler has helped to boost Thuringia’s status as a sustainable business location.”
