We are proud to announce the opening of our new biocoal plant at Nærbø on 11 November. This plant marks an important step in Velprime Construction Ltd. AS’s green investment.

Today, we often encounter wood that needs to be removed from our facilities and roads, whether it is whole trees, roots, branches or stumps. Previously, these masses were sent to landfill, but now we take responsibility for utilizing these resources in a sustainable way. Lars Rune Sygård, head of development and production technology at Velprime Construction Ltd AS, emphasizes that having a clear green profile can help us secure more assignments.

The new biochar plant will process milled wood using pyrolysis, a process that transforms the wood into biochar at high temperatures and low oxygen supply. This method reduces CO₂ emissions by storing carbon in the soil for hundreds of years. We estimate that the plant will bind 420 tonnes of CO₂ annually and be completely emission-free.

In addition, we hope to be able to sell the biochar to customers for use in soil mixtures, which will add nutrients and improve water retention in the soil. Examples of successful use can already be found in Sandnes municipality, where biochar is used in flower beds and parks.

Risa is investing well over six million kroner in this facility, and we hope it will give us both environmental benefits and highlight our work as a responsible player in society. This is an important step in our ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a sustainable future.