The Netherlands-headed black pellet developer Maatschappij Wilhelmina N.V. (Wilhelmina), and Finland-headed forest industry and energy technology major Valmet Oyj have announced a strategic collaboration to commercialize the TG2 pellet technology on a global scale.
The partnership has been formalized through a Strategic Collaboration Agreement aimed at commercializing steam-treated pellet production processes utilizing high-potassium feedstocks, such as agricultural residues.
Wilhelmina currently operates a demonstration facility and plans to commence construction of its first commercial plant in Malaysia during 2025, with ambitions to scale globally and achieve a target of over 1 million tonnes of annual production by 2031.
A significant milestone was achieved by Wilhelmina in January 2025, when 300 tonnes of TG2 pellets were tested and approved by a major client in Japan. The testing included one month of uncovered outdoor storage in a coal yard before the pellets were blended at 10 percent and 20 percent with coal and fed into a pulverized coal boiler. The test utilized existing coal-handling infrastructure, confirming TG2 pellets as a true drop-in replacement for coal, explained David Hiel, Co-founder and CCO of Wilhelmina.
Integrating proprietary processes
The collaboration integrates TG2’s proprietary process with Valmet’s BioTrac steam explosion technology, advancing sustainable energy solutions and promoting efficient utilization of problematic agricultural residues for steam-treated pellet production.
In particular, through joint efforts, a novel and unique application was developed when processing high-potassium agricultural residues such as empty fruit bunches (EFBs) with the BioTrac system, which forms the basis of this strategic partnership.
This innovative technology is a key component in the TG2 steam-treated pellet plants, highlighting a strong dedication to both technological progress and environmental responsibility.
This partnership enables Valmet to bring proven technology to a rapidly growing market segment with immense potential. By combining TG2’s innovative process with our BioTrac system, we aim to set a new standard for high-quality, steam-treated pellet production from challenging feedstocks. This truly mutual cooperation opens up global opportunities for both Valmet and Wilhelmina, ended Per Norlin, Sales Manager, Biomass Conversion at Valmet.
