NEWS

(05/10/2013 / sha)

Pilot plant in Örnsköldsvik becoming Biorefinery Demo Plant

An existing pilot plant in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden is becoming a demo plant for biorefinery technology. For a period of one year, the SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden will evaluate how the extended utilisation capability is received by industry, universities and institutes for advancing new innovations.

 
 

Vinnova and the Swedish Energy Agency have allocated SEK 28 million for execution of research and innovation projects to be performed in the plant that can be applied for by businesses, institutes and universities.

The restructuring entails that SP is taking overall responsibility for sales and contacts with customers, while ownership of the plant remains in its current form. The areas of applications for the demo plant in Örnsköldsvik, which has primarily been utilised for development of cellulose-based ethanol, is being expanded to encompass a wide spectrum of products based on combinations of chemical processes and industrial biotechnology.  It is a matter of utilising biomaterials for new innovations, such as various green chemicals, materials, biofuels and bioenergy. The commitment from SP in the demo plant is a part of a larger initiative within the institutes concerning bioeconomy, in other words, a society that is based on renewable raw materials.