German decor and speciality paper manufacturer Felix Schoeller is planning to build a biomass power plant at its Osnabrück-Lüstringen site to supply steam and electricity for its paper production operations. The plant will use waste wood as fuel and is expected to generate around 30 MW.
The project is part of the family-owned company's strategy to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and move towards its stated goal of climate-neutral paper production by 2045.
Osnabrück is the company's founding site and home to what Felix Schoeller describes as Europe's most capable decor paper machine, which recently received a 9 million euro upgrade to raise output by around 20%.
Paper manufacturing is highly energy-intensive, requiring large volumes of steam for drying and process heat. The Osnabrück site currently generates its own energy, having achieved self-sufficiency after installing a gas turbine, but remains reliant on natural gas. The planned biomass plant would shift a substantial portion of that energy supply to waste wood sourced from within a 100-kilometre radius.
The city of Osnabrück is working with the company on the planning framework for the project, which falls under development plan number 683. A rough building plan has been completed, and the city's committee for urban development and environment initiated the formal planning procedure in April 2025. Early public participation has taken place, with the city hosting an information event for residents of the surrounding Darum, Gretesch and Lüstringen districts.
The plant would occupy roughly 10,000 square metres on the western part of the company's site on Gerhard-Schoeller-Strasse. Waste wood deliveries would be routed through the adjacent industrial area, with haulage limited to weekdays and daytime hours. The planning process is expected to include traffic, noise and environmental impact studies, and could take up to two years before a permit is granted under Germany's Federal Immission Control Act.
The project has received political backing from Osnabrück's CDU council group, which described it as an important step for both climate protection and the city as an economic location.
Felix Schoeller, founded in 1895, produces decor papers for furniture and wood-based panels, photographic and digital printing papers, release liners, sublimation papers and flexible paper composites for packaging. The company is led by chief executive Hans-Christoph Gallenkamp.
