Sustainability report 2019

45 In western Africa, the shea tree produces a fruit which FRQWDLQ RLO ULFK NHUQHOV )RU PDQ\ \HDUV $$. KDV imported shea kernels from West Africa to Denmark where the high-quality oil is extracted. The AAK vision $ E\ SURGXFW RI VKHD RLO H[WUDFWLRQ LV D VROLG ¿EHU PDWH - rial called shea meal that has no nutritional value. The AAK site in Aarhus, Denmark has long held aspirations to burn shea meal as a single fuel source used to power WKH SURFHVVLQJ DQG UH¿QLQJ RI VKHD RLO +RZHYHU FHUWDLQ SURSHUWLHV RI VKHD PHDO KDYH PDGH LW GLI¿FXOW WR DFKLHYH this vision in the past. Tests and trials Many European power plants have purchased our shea meal and attempted to burn it as a single fuel source, but none have succeeded, in part because the ash and WKH ÀXH JDV HPLVVLRQV IURP WKH VKHD PHDO DUH YHU\ different from wood and other solid fuels. Therefore, shea meal is generally mixed with wood pellets, straw and coal to be burned for fuel. In 2012, we became aware that a supplier had SURJUHVVHG RQ WKH FRPEXVWLRQ RI GLI¿FXOW IXHO VRXUFHV Together with this supplier, we conducted extensive tests using a small 500 kW combustion chamber in which shea meal was burned. These experiments indicated that shea meal could be XVHG DV D VLQJOH IXHO VRXUFH LQ DQ HIIHFWLYH DQG HI¿FLHQW PDQQHU %DVHG RQ WKHVH ¿QGLQJV ZH GHFLGHG WR DSSO\ the technology at an industrial scale. In 2015, a 5 MW steam boiler was ordered and a joint development project was initiated with the supplier. Results from 2019 After several trials and rebuilds, the 5 MW boiler has been connected to our steam supply system, and production in Aarhus is now partially powered by energy produced from shea meal. During 2019, this initiative has led to a 7 percent reduction of GHG emissions compared to 2018 – a great achievement based on the efforts of our dedicated employees in Aarhus. “As the largest processor of shea kernels globally, AAK Denmark has full focus on sustainable production. By applying the best available technology to increase WKH HI¿FLHQF\ UHF\FOLQJ DQG ELR FRQYHUVLRQ RI RXU energy, we can stay at the forefront of sustainable production”, says Palle Jensen, Site Manager AAK Denmark As we gain experience in burning shea meal as a single fuel source and seek to optimize the boiler’s energy output, we will continue to evaluate if this technology and the materials we have chosen are viable in the long-term perspective. AAK Denmark )XHOLQJ VXVWDLQDELOLW\ ZLWK ELRPDVV ERLOHU DW VLWH LQ 'HQPDUN Contributes to: