Metso and UPM develop biomass-based bio-oil production

   Moscow. Jun 08, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Metso and UPM have developed a new concept for the production of biomass-based bio-oil to replace fossil fuels in heating and power generation. Test production will begin at Metso's test plant in Tampere, Finland, in June 2009, reports UPM.

Bio-oil can be manufactured by UPM's renewable energy power plants which are equipped with a suitable boiler and functional raw material management. The raw material of the bio-oil is wood biomass – harvesting residues and sawdust, which is a by-product of the forest industry. Combining bio-oil production to an existing biomass-based power plant creates significant cost and efficiency advantages as well as new business.

Metso and UPM have developed the bio-oil production concept in cooperation with the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) and with funding of the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes). The technology used in combined bio-oil and renewable energy production is patented. It can be seen as continuation of the combined heat and power production concept developed in Finland.

The advantage of the CO2 neutral bio-oil produced from renewable raw material is its remarkable impact on the reduction of greenhouse emissions. Currently several parties around the world are researching possibilities to further process bio-oil into traffic fuel.

"UPM actively investigates new business opportunities within the 2nd generation biofuels based on non-food raw materials. Development of the production technology for forest energy based biodiesel is proceeding. We are currently investigating which of our mills in Finland or in other countries would be a suitable location for a biorefinery planned for biodiesel production. The environmental impact assessment of a biorefinery is ongoing in Kuusankoski and Rauma in Finland," says UPM's Director for Biofuels Petri Kukkonen.

"In addition, we are testing an ethanol and energy production concept utilising fibre based commercial and industrial waste. Bio-oil fits well in UPM's biofuel portfolio. This project is a good example of the cooperation of the Finnish forest industry cluster," Kukkonen adds.

Biodiesel, bioethanol and bio-oil are biofuels produced with various methods from renewable raw materials. Currently biodiesel and bioethanol are generally used in traffic fuels whereas bio-oil is used in heating and power generation.

Additional information: Metso Paper, UPM-Kymmene Forest