When we talk about carbon dioxide emissions from the Filborna Plant in Helsingborg, it’s essential to understand that not all CO₂ is the same. Emissions are divided into fossil CO₂ and biogenic CO₂, and the difference between them is crucial to how we can reduce climate impact and reach the goal of a climate-neutral Helsingborg by 2030.
When we incinerate waste at the Filborna Plant, we produce district heating and electricity. In that process, we emit 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually; 100,000 tonnes are fossil, and the remaining 100,000 are biogenic carbon dioxide.
Fossil CO₂ – New carbon dioxide that remains in the atmosphere
Fossil CO₂ comes from fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas. At the Filborna Plant, this mainly comes from plastic, which is made from oil.
When plastic is burned, it releases carbon dioxide that has been stored underground for millions of years. This CO₂ is added to the atmosphere and directly contributes to the greenhouse effect because it would not have entered the air if the plastic hadn’t been produced and burned.
In other words, fossil carbon dioxide increases the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere and accelerates climate change. So what about biogenic CO₂?
Biogenic CO₂ – Part of nature’s carbon cycle
Biogenic carbon dioxide comes from plant-based materials such as paper, wood, and food waste. Unlike fossil CO₂, it is part of a natural cycle:
- Plants absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere as they grow
- When we burn them to generate energy, the same CO₂ is released again.
This means that biogenic CO₂ does not increase the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere in the long term since it naturally circulates between plants, animals, and the air.
But here’s the important part: If we capture and store biogenic CO₂ before it is released, we can reduce the total amount of CO₂ in the air. This is referred to as negative emissions, as we are actively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
An effective solution to reduce atmospheric CO₂
With CCS at the Filborna Plant, we can actively help reduce CO₂ emissions and contribute to climate improvement. By capturing fossil CO₂, we prevent it from reaching the atmosphere. By storing biogenic CO₂, we remove existing carbon dioxide from the air.
This enables the creation of negative emissions, a climate benefit where we not only reduce emissions but also decrease the overall amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere for real.
Summary – why the difference matters
- Fossil CO₂ (from plastic) increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and drives climate change
- Biogenic CO₂ (from wood and paper) is part of nature’s cycle; when captured and stored, it reduces atmospheric CO₂
- The Filborna Plant emits both fossil and biogenic CO₂ – a total of 200,000 tonnes per year
- CCS enables us to capture both types and generate negative emissions
- This is crucial for Helsingborg and the Filborna Plant to achieve climate neutrality on time
In other words, CCS at the Filborna Plant is not just a way to reduce emissions; it’s an opportunity to remove CO₂ from the air and create a sustainable future.
