In Sweden, biomass torrefaction technology developers Bioendev AB has announced that it has decided to notify the closure of "black pellet" production at its torrefaction test- and industrial demonstration plant in Holmsund, Umeå. At the same time, the company is also considering the closure of its development operations.
Commissioned in 2015, the focus of the industrial development unit (IDU) has been to test and then demonstrate biomass torrefaction production methods for customers and stakeholders. Although the plant suffered a dryer fire in February 2017, a new dryer was installed and operations resumed. The plant has an annual nameplate capacity of 16 000 tonnes of black pellets.
The business has been focused on testing, quality-assuring and developing the production method of black pellets and finding financiers and stakeholders who want to develop a full-scale production. Our goal is still to find one or more stakeholders who want to use the technology on a large scale and take it to a commercial product, said Mårten Henriksson, Chairman of the Board of Bioendev in a statement on February 6, 2020.
All Bioendev personnel have been notified of employment termination. In total, about 11 people are affected. Trade union negotiations are now underway.
