In Finland, biorefinery developer NordFuel Oy has announced that it has selected a technology provider for its next generation biorefinery in Haapavesi. Concurrently, NordFuel has initiated a financing round to ensure the completion of this state-of-the-art facility.
NordFuel has selected compatriot biorefining technology developer Chempolis Oy as the process technology partner. This decision accelerates the project towards the planned 2028 production start.
According to a statement, the collaboration with Chempolis positions NordFuel’s facility to revolutionize the conversion of forest industry’s sidestreams into sustainable biofuels and bioproducts such as bioethanol, biomethane (aka renewable natural gas – RNG), and lignin.
Chempolis is a renowned provider of groundbreaking biorefining technologies for the energy, biofuel, oil, paper, and chemical industries.
We warmly thank NordFuel, that, based on thorough investigations, has chosen Finnish Chempolis as the technology supplier. In our flexible process, raw materials are efficiently refined into high-value products for rapidly growing markets. We look forward to continuing the excellent cooperation with the NordFuel team. Together we have started a journey where we act as pioneers in the transition from a fossil-based linear economy towards a bio- and circular economy, said Heli Antila, CEO of Chempolis.
The products play a pivotal role in significantly lowering transportation emissions and replacing fossil-based materials, aligning perfectly with the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) and contributing to the achievement of increasingly stringent climate targets in the markets they serve.
The majority of the biorefinery’s planned output is intended to cater to the European demand for sustainable solutions.
Setting new industry standards
With innovation and sustainability at the forefront, NordFuel is poised to make a significant impact on the global bioeconomy landscape.
NordFuel’s commitment to Haapavesi marks a substantial bioeconomy investment, employing advanced technology for the efficient transformation of the forest industry’s side streams into valuable biofuels and bioproducts.
According to NordFuel, leveraging meticulously selected technology, the Haapavesi biorefinery sets a new standard for operational reliability in the biofuel industry.
It exemplifies a groundbreaking approach to mitigating the inherent risks associated with advanced biofuel technology, ensuring a steadfast production process.
Chempolis’ license covers the bioethanol production technology, which is based on the so-called organosolv -process. In addition to bioethanol, the process produces high-quality, pure lignin, biogas, and biochemicals, said Matti Asikainen, the CEO of NordFuel.
Facts
About NordFuel Haapavesi biorefinery
The NordFuel biorefinery is being developed in Haapavesi, in conjunction with the decommissioned Kanteleen Voima peat power plant. The peat power plant will be converted into the biorefinery’s renewable energy center, where the heat and cooling energy required by the biorefinery will be produced. The existing infrastructure of the power plant area can be utilized, including the fuel terminal, the plant area’s cooling water network, repair, office, and control room facilities, as well as electrical grid connections.
The annual feedstock requirement is about 340,000 tonnes (dry weight) sourced from up to 150 km from Haapavesi and comprises forest industry residuals including sawdust, logging residues, and pre-commercial thinnings from forest management.
On an annual basis at full design capacity the NordFuel Haapavesi biorefinery will produce 70,000 tonnes of cellulosic ethanol for transportation, 70 GWh of liquefied biomethane (bioLNG), approximately 95,000 tonnes of pure lignin and about 45,000 tonnes of lignin cake, around 160,000 tonnes of technical grade biogenic carbon dioxide (bioCO2), along with furfural and acetic acid.
Surging demand for sustainable materials
The demand for biofuels and bioproducts is surging globally, fueled by strict environmental and climate directives that will further tighten in 2030.
The market for bioethanol, European biogas, lignin, and other biomaterials is experiencing robust growth, with forecasts indicating continued expansion.
NordFuel’s production capabilities will support the replacement of fossil-based substances across industries and aid in the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from road transport.
The production process also generates biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) and essential chemicals like furfural and acetic acid, further contributing to environmental sustainability.
The establishment of our bioproduct factor significantly furthers the achievement of climate targets in our target markets. As we enhance resource efficiency, we concurrently diminish dependence on fossil fuels and cut carbon emissions. The reductions in emissions are particularly impactful within the transportation sector, yet the production of lignin and biogas also introduces significant emissions reductions across other sectors, said Matti Asikainen.
Strategic location
Strategically situated in Haapavesi, within an emerging clean energy cluster in Finland, NordFuel’s biorefinery leverages proximity to significant wind power capacity and potential developed by Puhuri and a planned electro-fuel (e-Fuel) production plant by Liquid Wind.
This location, close to Finland’s principal export harbors and industrial facilities, guarantees operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
