Biorefinery for the forest based sector

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Biorefinery for the forest based sector
Solander Symposium Marco Mensink Energy
Environment director CEPI Pitea, 28th of March
2007
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Speaking alone but not on my own

• The Forest-based sector Technology Platform (FTP)
  set up a taskforce on biorefinery in June 2006.
• The taskforces aim was to create a network of
  leading forest-based sector experts within this
  subject, focusing on Europe.
• The taskforce comprises a selected group that
  advises the FTP on the issue of biorefinery,
  based on state-of-art experience and knowledge.

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Definitions and vision

• Biorefinery aims to create more value from the
  bio-based raw material provided by the
  forest-based sector.
• These added values can be in the form of current
  products, chemicals and energy.
• Biorefinery is seen as an opportunity for the
  sector, creating more value for the existing
  players in the field.
• Biorefinery was therefore defined as
• "Efficient use of the entire potential of raw
  materials and by-streams of the forest-based
  sector towards a broad range of high added value
  products (by co-operation in and between chains)".

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Meet the team

• Peter Axegard, STFI
• Markku Karlsson, UPM-Kymmene
• Paterson McKeough, VTT
• Annita Westenbroek, KCPK
• Michel Petit-Conil, Afocel/CTP
• Ludger Eltrop, IER University Stuttgart
• Klaus Niemelä, KCL
• Marco Mensink, CEPI

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A good position need to change?

• The EU pulp and paper industry is the biggest
  single producer and consumer of renewable
  bio-energy in Europe and still developing.
  Already 49.5 of total primary energy consumption
  (1.3 million TJ) is based on biomass.
• The larger part of this energy is generated by
  Combined Heat and Power installations. There is a
  strong drive for energy efficiency.
• This total makes up for 25 (!) of the current
  biomass based renewable energy production in the
  EU. Sweden and Finland are of course leading
  countries.
• The EU industry is leading the technology
  developments and a world leader in innovation
  projects in the pulp and paper sector.
• The industry is a central part of the wood and
  paper value chain, has the expertise and proper
  understanding of the carbon cycle.

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Enormous challenges ahead

• The growing global economy will put a tremendous
  strain on the available raw materials in the EU.
  The first signs can already be seen. This will
  affect every sector in the economy and every raw
  and secondary raw material.
• The forest based sector might face even bigger
  changes than others, as the bio-energy
  developments will be huge under the new EU
  targets and the wood today is simply not there!
  Subsidies already distort markets today.
• Future options lie in wood mobilisation, much
  more sophisticated land use (!) and trade policy
  and an even smarter industry.

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But a good basis

• Existing technology in pulp making can already be
  called biorefinery. Besides making pulp,
  different chemical by-products are produced. The
  modern pulp making process makes many
  installations a net supplier of bio-energy.
• A number of specialized companies in the industry
  have even gone further. These companies produce
  fine chemicals and high value-added applications,
  based on the use of the different properties of
  wood.

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To further develop

• New emerging technologies like biorefinery, black
  liquor gasification, lignine production etc. can
  create new and additional value added from the
  fiber source.
• They can also secure the profitability of
  companies and contribute to meeting policy goals
  and targets.
• The paper recycling loop offers various
  opportunities to use by-products and residues as
  well.
• Building on its vast potential, the sector can
  become A bio-solution to climate change.

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And become a carbon solution

• The Forest-based sector is one of the few sectors
  in the world that have the potential to become
  carbon neutral as a whole.
• Looking at the total carbon footprint of the
  sector in terms of production, transport,
  landfill, bio-energy production and carbon
  sequestration and storage, potential for carbon
  neutrality exists.
• But a lot remains to be done before neutrality
  can be reached.
• The sector itself will have to develop more
  efficient technologies, implement new ways of
  working, generate energy more efficiently and use
  biorefineries as one of the concepts that will
  realise the required changes.
• Moreover, the sector will have to develop a new
  model of integration and cooperation with other
  sectors in the bio-based economy.

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The report of the biorefinery taskforce

• An overview of policy areas surrounding
  biorefinery
• An analysis of biorefinery developments and
  projects.
• A mapping of the work of other European
  Technology Platforms.
• A thorough analysis of the key areas to be
  pursued to bring biorefinery developments
  further.
• An advice to the FTP Management and Commission.
• Soon to be approved by the FTP management and
  published.

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Research directions (1)

• Selective efficient separation and conversion
  processes. Research is needed into technologies
  to be further developed in order to promote a
  number of biorefinery concepts for various raw
  materials and chemicals.
• Biorefinery as the source for wood-based solid
  and liquid biofuels. As activities are developing
  in this area as well, pulp industries knowledge
  can bring developments a step further, while on
  the other hand the development of technology and
  markets will create new sources of income for the
  pulp industry.
• Recycled fibre biorefinery. Besides wood-based
  biorefinery, recycled-fibre biorefinery offers a
  chance to optimise fibre cascading in the pulp
  and paper industry chain. Fibre-containing as
  well as non-fibre residues from (recycled) paper
  production offer a huge potential as a new raw
  material. This is also the case for the
  production from different products out of the
  recycled paper producing plants.
• .

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Research directions (2)

• Above sector synergies with the agricultural and
  chemical sector. Added value will really increase
  when true synergies start to develop between the
  agricultural sectors raw materials, wastes,
  processes and energy balance and those of the
  forest-based sector. The same applies to those
  parts of the chemical sector focusing on wood
  based chemicals.
• The socio-economic impact of biorefinery
  development. Developments in the field of
  biorefinery go fast. Systems should be looked
  upon in an integrated way, providing the highest
  value added and employment from raw materials.
  Bio-energy is not a goal in itself and neither is
  biorefinery. Including socio-economic impacts in
  the research agenda is important for obtaining
  the legitimacy to operate in society, as well as
  the market models that will function even after
  the subsidies have ended.

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Lead markets

• The EU will encourage technological leadership
  through identifying a set of so-called Lead
  Markets.
• Research and development, better regulation and
  further prioritisation should enhance these lead
  markets, thus creating a first mover advantage
  for the parties involved. In this way, markets
  will be created where Europe remains competitive.
• There are three other European Technology
  Platforms (TPs) that also focus on biorefinery
  the chemical TP Suschem, the plant-based TP
  Plants for the Future and the Biofuel TP. All
  three platforms show synergies with the work of
  the FTP.
• In line with this, the three platforms already
  work together towards realising the concept of a
  lead market for bio-based products.

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Biorefinery and gasification

• The key issue in the EU is how to organise the
  transition to the low carbon economy while
  keeping the effect on competitiveness of industry
  manageable
• The future lies in leading companies, leading
  markets, leading technologies. Biorefinery and
  gasification are two real opportunities for the
  forest based sector.
• Our industry can be the leading sector in
  bio-based chemicals, second generation cellulosic
  biofuels and pulp making, keeping our fate in our
  own hands and bringing more value to our
  shareholders and the society at large.