Bio-Insight

Saxlund will be supplying the Biomass Reception and screening system, the Bulk Storage and Discharge with several Saxlund rotary TubeFeeders and the elevating chain conveying system to the combustion plant. Work will start immediately, with deliveries starting in 2011 and commissioning in March 2013.

The new biomass energy plant will be the largest of its kind so far in Scotland and will reduce Tullis Russels's annual carbon emissions by some 250,000 tonnes. A reduction equal to the CO2 footprint of 40 000 Swedes.

"We are very happy to have been awarded this further contract with Aker Solutions. The award will allow us to demonstrate the quality of our engineering and project management competence and ability to be cost effective in a competitive market", says Frank Boyles, Managing Director, Saxlund International Ltd.

"The UK market and our presence there is an important part in our aim to grow internationally within bioenergy and waste heat recovery", says Per Hedebäck, Executive Vice President, Renewable Energy, Opcon AB.

"Aker Solutions has extensive engineering and construction capability in power generation facilities, particularly in the UK and the US. We are looking forward to working together with all our key partners on this important biomass renewable energy project", says Johan Cnossen, Senior Vice President, Europe, Middle East & Africa region, Aker Solutions' Process and Construction business area.

Saxlund International Ltd is part of Opcon Bioenergy and Opcon's expanding Renewable Energy business area and its Waste to Value initiative with a special focus on Waste Heat Recovery and bioenergy. Within the bioenergy sector, Opcon Bioenergy offers everything from design of entire CHP-plants to handling systems under the Saxlund brand and flue gas condensors and biomass dryers under the SRE Renergi brand. The Opcon Group also offers Opcon Powerbox for production of green electricity from hot water or saturated steam.

"The implementation of the Quinnesec Renewable Energy Project is in alignment with Verso's three-pronged energy strategy, which is to reduce overall energy consumption, generate more green energy from renewable biomass and reduce our carbon footprint, all while reducing costs," said Mike Jackson, Verso's President and Chief Executive Officer.

"Expanding the capacity to generate electricity from biomass is one of the ways in which the State of Michigan is increasing our leadership in clean energy technology," said Governor Jennifer Granholm. "Clean energy projects supported by the state are leading America's drive to energy independence with bold initiatives to develop energy technologies and new fuels from renewable resources."

"Verso is fortunate to have active partners in the Michigan Governor's Office, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Dickinson County and Breitung Township, who are working diligently to help make our Renewable Energy Project a reality," said Mike Sussman, Quinnesec Mill Manager. A direct result of the state-wide partnership is the designation of a Forest Products Processing Renaissance Zone, which allows a company within the zone to operate free of virtually all state and local taxes over the life of the designation.

The Project scope includes design upgrades to the Quinnesec Mill's existing combination boiler, which burns biomass from waste wood sources, the addition of a new biomass handling system, and the installation of a new turbine generator supplied by Siemens. Verso is partnering with AMEC Engineering to begin detailed design for the Project, which is estimated to start up by December 2011.

In celebration of the Project kickoff, Verso is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 28, where key stakeholders involved in project planning and execution will be invited to tour the site.

About Verso

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Verso Paper Corp. is a leading North American producer of coated papers, including coated groundwood and coated freesheet, and supercalendered and specialty products. Verso's paper products are used primarily in media and marketing applications, including magazines, catalogs and commercial printing applications such as high-end advertising brochures, annual reports and direct-mail advertising. Additional information about Verso is available on the company's web site atwww.versopaper.com. References to "Verso" or the "company" mean Verso Paper Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

The document entitled "Good practice guidance on the sustainable mobilisation of wood in Europe" refers to good practice examples of successful and sustainable removal of wood from Europe's forests, to assist policy-makers and practitioners alike in taking and supporting similar measures.

The publication comes timely for three reasons:

• The target of reaching a 20% share of renewable energy of the total energy consumption can only be fulfilled with a massive additional supply of biomass, especially wood, as CEPI already warned in 2007 on the basis of the findings of a shortage of 260 million m3 of wood by McKinsey.
• The Member States of the EU are to spell out their renewable energy action plans by the end of June 2010. These plans should include provisions for biomass mobilisation.
• Wood is a crucial raw material for the European paper industry and access to it needs to remain cost effective and competitive to ensure the global competitiveness of the industry.

Teresa Presas, CEPI Managing Director: "We thank the European Commission and DG AGRI as well as UNECE-FAO and Forest Europe for having assembled these good practices and for sharing them with all stakeholders. We urge the Member States of the EU to make good use of these practices when elaborating on their national renewable energy action plans."

The guidance helps decision-makers from administrations and industry, as well as forestry practitioners, make sound choices and implement appropriate actions with respect to all aspects of sustainable wood supply, whilst ensuring sustainable forest management (SFM).