The global push toward lower carbon emissions is encouraging energy companies to explore new technologies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining reliable energy production. In an important development for the waste-to-energy sector, Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) was awarded a contract to conduct a full-scale feasibility study of its SolveBright™ carbon capture technology at a waste-to-energy facility operated by Mälarenergi AB in Västerås, Sweden. The announcement was made on November 11, 2024.
The project is significant because it combines waste management, energy recovery, district heating and carbon capture in a single initiative. It could also provide valuable insight into how existing waste-to-energy plants can be adapted to support ambitious climate targets.
The Västerås Waste-to-Energy Plant
The project involves Mälarenergi’s waste-to-energy plant in Västerås, a facility that plays an important role in the local energy system. According to B&W, the plant supplies around 50% of Västerås’ district heating. This means the facility is not simply disposing of waste; it is also recovering energy and supplying useful heat to the surrounding community.
Waste-to-energy plants can provide an alternative to sending combustible waste to landfill by using it to generate heat and electricity. However, the combustion process also produces carbon dioxide. Capturing those emissions could therefore become an important step in reducing the overall carbon footprint of such facilities.
Babcock & Wilcox’s New Contract
Under the contract, B&W will conduct a full-scale feasibility study to determine how its SolveBright carbon capture technology could be integrated with the Västerås waste-to-energy facility.
The study is not simply about installing carbon capture equipment. Engineers will need to understand how the capture system interacts with the existing plant, including its energy production and district heating operations.
The evaluation will examine several important areas, including integration with the waste-to-energy plant and district heating system, identification and management of usable heat, optimization of plant operations and selection of the most appropriate technical configuration.
How SolveBright Carbon Capture Technology Works
SolveBright is a post-combustion carbon capture technology. Rather than changing the fundamental process by which the waste is burned, the system is designed to capture carbon dioxide from flue gas after combustion.
The technology uses an absorber containing a regenerable solvent. The solvent captures CO₂ from the flue gas, after which the carbon dioxide can be separated from the solvent and handled for storage or other applications.
This type of technology can be particularly interesting for existing industrial facilities because it is designed to work with emissions produced by an established combustion process.
B&W describes SolveBright as part of its broader ClimateBright™ portfolio of clean-energy and decarbonization technologies.
Target of 400,000 Tonnes of CO₂ Capture
One of the most ambitious aspects of the project is Mälarenergi’s carbon reduction goal. The company aims to capture approximately 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, permanently store the captured carbon dioxide and achieve carbon neutrality by 2035.
Achieving this goal would require more than simply adding a capture unit. The carbon capture process itself requires energy, equipment and careful integration with the existing plant. That is why the feasibility study is an important stage before a potential large-scale implementation.
Why Heat Management Matters
A major focus of the feasibility study will be identifying and managing usable heat. This is particularly important because the Västerås facility already supplies district heating.
Carbon capture systems can alter the energy balance of an industrial facility. Steam or heat that previously served another purpose may be required for the capture process. Engineers therefore need to find a configuration that captures carbon efficiently without unnecessarily reducing the plant’s useful energy output.
B&W said the study will examine how the facility can be optimized and rebalanced while maintaining operational efficiency.
B&W’s Experience in Waste-to-Energy
The Swedish project also builds on B&W’s long-standing involvement in waste-to-energy technology. The company has supplied waste-to-energy and biomass units internationally, including several facilities in Europe.
For example, B&W’s technology has been used at waste-to-energy facilities in Sweden, including plants in Landskrona and Helsingborg. Its Filbornaverket facility in Helsingborg processes approximately 200,000 tonnes of waste annually and supplies district heating and electricity.
This experience could be valuable when evaluating the practical challenges of integrating carbon capture into an operating waste-to-energy facility.
Importance for Sweden’s Energy Transition
Sweden has developed a strong reputation for energy recovery and district heating, making waste-to-energy an important component of local energy infrastructure. Adding carbon capture could potentially make these facilities even more relevant to long-term decarbonization strategies.
The Västerås project demonstrates how existing infrastructure could potentially be adapted rather than replaced entirely. Capturing emissions from a facility that already provides useful heat could allow communities to continue benefiting from energy recovery while addressing its carbon emissions.
What Happens Next?
The immediate objective is to complete the feasibility assessment and determine the most effective technical configuration for the carbon capture system. The study will help establish how SolveBright can be integrated with the existing waste-to-energy and district heating systems while maintaining efficient operations.
B&W’s 2025 sustainability reporting also lists the SolveBright feasibility study for a Swedish plant among its energy-transition developments, indicating that the project remains part of the company’s broader clean-energy portfolio.
A Potential Model for Future Waste-to-Energy Plants
The Västerås project could have significance beyond Sweden. Waste-to-energy facilities operate in many countries, and operators face the challenge of reducing emissions while continuing to provide essential waste treatment and energy services.
If carbon capture can be integrated effectively without undermining energy efficiency or reliability, similar approaches could potentially be considered at other facilities.
Ultimately, the Babcock & Wilcox and Mälarenergi collaboration represents an important exploration of how carbon capture can be combined with waste-to-energy and district heating. With a target of capturing 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year and achieving carbon neutrality by 2035, the Västerås initiative highlights the growing role that carbon capture technology could play in the future of sustainable energy infrastructure.