INDUSTRY NEWS
INDUSTRY NEWS
World’s first lignin plant for biofuels
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n collaboration with Rottneros, Preem and RenFuel are assessing the construction of the world’s first lignin plant for biofuels at the pulp mill in Vallvik, Söderhamn, Sweden. The plant is expected to produce an annual volume of 25,000-30,000 tonnes of lignin and will be completed in 2021.
The collaboration between the companies means that Preem will be the first fuel manufacturer in the country to use lignin in its pro- duction. Via the company Lignol- produktion AB, which is jointly owned by Preem and RenFuel, the aim is to reach a total annual production capacity of 300,000- 500,000 tonnes of lignin, based on the assumption that more plants similar to that in Vallvik are estab- lished in the future.
“Lignin can be refined to create both renewable diesel and renewable petrol, and used in all vehicles. Lignin, like tall oil, will help us phase out fossil
fuels to an even greater extent. It is a valuable raw material in our renewable fuel efforts and is based on by-products from the Swedish forestry industry. It is also available in large volumes,” explained Petter Holland, President and CEO of Preem. “RenFuel’s lignin oil, Lignol, has considerable climate benefits and is a key factor in achieving Sweden’s goal of the transport sector reducing its fossil emissions by 70% between 2010 and 2030. Lignol makes today’s petrol and diesel cars clean vehicles. All current vehicles can run on this type of fuel,” added Sven Löchen, CEO of RenFuel, who also considers there are major export opportunities for this innovation to countries that, like Sweden, have good access to well- established forestry production. Deliveries of lignin samples from the Rottneros pulp mill in Vallvik are already being made to Renfuel’s pilot facility, which was
Dick Carrick (left), CEO of RenFuel, and Petter Holland
of Preem (picture courtesy of Fredrik Kron).
established for the production of Lignol with the assistance of the Swedish Energy Agency. The Lignol oil is then taken to Preem’s refineries, where the raw material is processed to make biofuels. “Rottneros is keen to contribute to strengthening Sweden’s bioeconomy, in which the pulp industry is already a key element. In addition to contributing to the transport sector’s shift to become fossil- free, the extraction of lignin also gives us the opportunity to increase our pulp production. This ensures that all parties benefit from the collaboration,” declared Ragnar Lundberg, Vice-President Technology at Rottneros.
US-Estonian biorefinery agreement
New York-based biotechnology company, Sweetwater Energy, and Europe’s largest wood pellet producer, Granuul Invest of Estonia, have agreed to build a commercial-scale integrated biorefinery that will produce clean cellulosic sugars and highly pure lignin from 50,000 tons of local hardwood each year. In addition, the plant will allow the two companies to work with corporate partners to create and optimise innovative new products from sugar and lignin.
The success of this project is expected to have a tremendous impact on the biomaterials marketplace. The plant will be the first to incorporate Sweetwater’s Sunburst pretreatment technology, which is said to split biomass into its constituent parts faster and more effectively
2 Summer 2018 2
How to double
RHI income
As industry’s drive towards greener fuel sources continues, it has been revealed that biomass users could gain up to double their Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) income by adding steam to their processes.
Angelo Giambrone, Business Development Manager for Spirax Sarco in the UK, believes many remain unaware of the potential to double their RHI payments, while also reaping the benefits of co-generation.
“Industries that implement biomass have a fantastic opportunity to increase the RHI that they receive, while generating a small amount of power for their plant,” said Angelo.
“Generating steam instead of hot water in a biomass system allows the latest technology in electrical power generation to be used. This production of electricity from a ‘renewable’ fuel then allows users to claim as much as double the RHI benefit. Once the power is generated, the steam can then produce the hot water the site needs.”
While the UK Government’s introduction of RHI to encourage investment in biomass was relatively well- publicised, the versatility and efficiency of steam remains largely understated. Today, steam plays a vital part in industry worldwide, from pharmaceuticals to clothing, food production and healthcare. Angelo continued,
Granuul Invest of Estonia owns 11 large-scale wood pellet production plants in the Baltics.
than any commercial process available today. The result is lower greenhouse gas emissions, lower usage of water and chemicals while for the first time deriving significant value from all components of wood.
The agreement grants Graanul,
which owns 11 large-scale wood pellet production plants in the Baltics an exclusive territorial license to incorporate the Sunburst technology into its existing plants, as well as into future plants throughout the Baltic States.
“Combustion advances and government initiatives have now brought the hi-tech world of steam to a whole new group of users, who stand to benefit in a big way. The beauty is that any industry can benefit. Opting for a steam biomass system is effectively a greener way of turning a good opportunity into an unmissable one”.
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