A Vyncke energy plant for a Turkish WBP client


better interest rate, longer repayment period and an extended non-payment during the construction of the plant, so they only had to repay the loan after the plant was operational. “It’s interesting because for an OEM like us it means that technology is not always the key to unlocking projects any more. Bringing financing solutions, assisting your customers in smart conditions that help them to run their business becomes equally important. “We spent a lot of effort in helping them


to secure the best financial structure with the best terms and conditions for this project.” Vyncke has had other experiences like this, mainly in Brazil when it has worked with main panel plant contractors. “An increasing number of customers are asking us to look at these solutions. Financing is really now an important factor, together with the other ecosystem of subsides and grants, as to whether people can invest and get projects over the line.” Another Vyncke project was for a Swiss Krono OSB mill in Sully-sur-Loire, France in 2024. In this case, the panels manufacturer chose the energy contracting market route – a more unusual move in the WBP industry because the majority of WBP manufacturers tend to want to own their energy assets. Swiss Krono joined forces with Dalkia, a specialist in energy performance for low- carbon industry, and Meridiam, a global investor specialized in developing, financing and managing long-term public infrastructure projects, to decarbonise its plant.


The €120m Green Energy Sully project


involved installation of energy-efficient belt dryers (IMAL) – replacing high temperature drum dryers – powered by a Vyncke 65 MW biomass unit and a smoke condenser, to improve productivity. The energy plant is equipped with a water-cooled stepgrate and combustion chamber and a flue gas condenser, resulting in high-efficiency energy production. The biomass waste burned in the fuel flexible boiler consists of bark, wood waste, sander dust and other wood residues from the factory.


The energy plant supplies 55 MW hot


water to power the dryers, and 18 MW thermal oil, which is used for the presses. Swiss Krono says 35,000t of fossil CO2


is avoided per year thanks to the biomass unit, with 5% to 10% reduction in energy requirements thanks to the low temperature dryers. Between 80% and 95% of the gas consumed by the site is replaced by biomass. “So, there are two different models – the


latter one can be useful as the investment is essentially done by someone else and you buy the energy,” said Mr Vandewalle. “You have predictability, as it is wood so you are not exposed to global energy dynamics. For WBP manufacturers, this route is a change of mindset.”


MARKETS Vyncke is still seeing a lot of traction in its core markets, such as Spain where its


reference list includes five energy plants with Finsa. It reports conversations with panels clients in that region and in Poland, where it expects some CHP projects to be finalised in 2026.


The Latin American and Asian markets are currently quiet. “In Asian markets, a lot of production lines came online but now some of them cannot supply to the Middle East so they are running at low capacity utilisation rates,” commented Mr Vandewalle. “In European markets we see a number of new projects to revamp - investments in plants where they used to have a permit for biomass to energy, but where their wood is becoming increasingly hard to source.” Vynckle is seeing interest from European clients using older energy plants who want higher efficiency and more fuel flexibility. “That’s a trend with companies in general, not just WBP manufacturers. They really want to run the most economical form of energy at any given time.” French sawmiller and engineered wood products manufacturer Piveteaubois, is an example of this flexible approach. The company’s Sainte-Florence site bought a Vyncke CHP which uses non-recyclable fuel coming from commercial and industry waste. The RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) is supplied to Piveteaubois after sorting and treatment, before use in the waste to co-generation energy plant, generating 5MW of electricity combined with another 15MW heat.


www.wbpionline.com | Summer 2026 | WBPI


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