ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS – Emerald Kalama Chemical BV, a business group of Emerald Performance Materials, together with partners Rotterdam-based grid manager Stedin and energy supplier AVR, has completed a key project in the new energy cooperative supporting the Rotterdam Climate Initiative. The construction of a two-km high-pressure steam grid delivers the first part of a steam grid in the Rotterdam Botlek, which has now begun to supply the company with high-pressure steam generated from waste rather than fossil fuel. The steam network is estimated to reduce the CO₂ emissions up to 400,000 tons per year when fully implemented, according to Stedin. Emerald expects to have a reduction of 40,000 tons in CO₂ reduction as a result of joining the steam grid.

The start-up of the energy cooperative was marked by a behind-the-scenes tour with local VIPs. The tour included demonstrations at each part of the process:  the generation of steam from waste by AVR, the design and construction of the steam grid by Stedin, and the benefits from a sustainability and operations standpoint by major consumers, such as Emerald Kalama Chemical. The highlights were featured on a video from NOS, the Dutch Broadcasting Association. An English translation of this behind-the-scenes tour is available at http://www.emeraldmaterials.com/CMS/emerald/STEAM550.MP4.