Norske Skog Boyer Mill Heat Recovery Project

The Norske Skog Boyer Mill Heat Recovery Project is an industrial energy efficiency initiative located at the Boyer Paper Mill, approximately 35 kilometers northwest of Hobart in the Derwent Valley, Tasmania. Registered in June 2016, the project operates within the historic Boyer Mill site, which sits on the banks of the River Derwent near the town of New Norfolk. The facility, originally established in 1941, is Australia’s only remaining manufacturer of newsprint and publication-grade paper, playing a critical role in the regional forestry and industrial landscape.

This project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Industrial Electricity and Fuel Efficiency) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology credits projects that reduce emissions intensity by improving the energy efficiency of existing equipment. Specifically, this project focuses on "process heat" and "waste heat capture and re-use." Corporate reports indicate that significant efficiency opportunities at the mill included the installation of a waste steam recovery re-boiler attached to the thermo-mechanical pulping (TMP) plant. This system captures waste heat to generate steam, thereby reducing the load on the site's coal-fired boilers and lowering overall fuel consumption.

The surrounding Derwent Valley region is characterized by a cool temperate climate. While the mill itself is an industrial zone, the broader area supports forestry (radiata pine plantations), grazing, and agriculture. Rainfall in the valley is moderate, with onsite monitors recording approximately 360mm in dry years, though the wider New Norfolk area typically receives closer to 550mm annually. The location features riverine topography with alluvial soils along the river flats, transitioning to podzolic soils on the surrounding slopes.

An interesting recent development for this project is the change in ownership of the facility. In early 2025, Norske Skog sold the Boyer Mill to the Boyer Corporation, a move that transitioned the proponent role to Boyer Paper Mill Limited. Despite this change, the mill continues to face pressure to decarbonize, having historically relied on coal for thermal energy. The heat recovery project represents a key step in this long-term transition by maximizing the utility of energy already generated on-site.