BIOFOREVER project – Boosting the next generation biorefining industry in Europe

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Several top companies and research organizations of the bioeconomy landscape in Europe together to demonstrate the feasibility of various new value chains from lignocellulosic feedstocks to chemical building blocks on a commercial scale. It sounds really great. As those are the credentials of the BIOFOREVER project funded by BBI JU and whose beginning was announced on September 1st (see press release). The blog will follow with interest the advances of the project reporting future news. In the meantime, this post presents a summary of the key information and a short interview with Anton Robek (my thanks for your kindness and cooperation) from Bio Refinery Development.

Figure 1. Logo of the BIOFOREVER project

Key information

Title
BIOFOREVER (BIO-based products from FORestry via Economically Viable European Routes).
Web page
www.bioforever.org 
General objective
BIOFOREVER intends to demonstrate the conversion of woody biomass into value adding chemical building blocks (butanol, ethanol, 2,5–furandicarboxylic acid) on an industrial scale.
A number of pre-treatment and subsequent conversion technologies will be demonstrated, including delivering commercialisation routes for the most promising value chains.
Budget
€16.2 million with a €9.9 million contribution from BBI JU.
Duration
It starts in September 2016 and will run for 3 years.
Partners
API Europe (Greece)
Avantium Chemicals BV (Netherlands)      
Bioprocess Pilot Facility BV (Netherlands)
Borregaard AS (Norway)
Bio Refinery Development BV (Netherlands)
DSM (Netherlands)
Elkem Carbon AS (Norway)
Green Biologics Ltd (UK)
MetGen Oy (Finland)
Nova Institute (Germany)
Novasep Process SAS (France)
Phytowelt, Green Technologies GmbH (Germany)
Port of Rotterdam (Netherlands)
SUEZ Groupe (France)

Interview with Anton Robek from Bio Refinery Development

1. [BioRefineries Blog] The consortium of the BIOFOREVER project brings together several leading companies of the bioeconomy in Europe. What are the main reasons that make this project attractive for them?
[Anton Robek] Every company has its specific interest to participate in this consortium; however there are also some common interests/reasons: full value chains will be demonstrated from biomass to chemical building blocks, and as mentioned it is not about only one value chain, but multiple ones underpinning the concept of a true bio-refinery. Another one is the maturity of the various technologies; they have already been demonstrated on substantial scale and the fact that 4 pre-treatment technologies will be demonstrated in the BIOFOREVER project increases the chance for success that at least one value chain can be scaled-up to commercial scale. Last but not least, the participating companies have quite some experience and know how in the field.

2. [BRB] In terms of feedstocks, woody biomass is the target of the project. What are the specific lignocellulosic feedstocks that will be taken into account?
[AR] The three feedstocks used for demonstration are hard wood, soft wood and wood waste. However we will also look into opportunities like crop residues and energy crops. I have for example discussions about the potential for energy or sugar cane in Spain with Alkol.

3. [BRB] Forest industry is a sector with a significant impact in Europe. BIOFOREVER will be focused on creating competitive advantage through existing mill infrastructure or on developing completely new value chains?
[AR] Both options will be part of the feasibility study. The base case is a greenfield bio-refinery in the Port of Rotterdam, but also other sites will be studied in other to come to the best economics.

4. [BRB] It is expected to build any pilot or demonstration plant during the project? If so, are location and capacity already decided?
[AR] No, the technology providers have already demonstration plants up and running; Avantium and BPF in The Netherlands, Borregaard in Norway and API Europe in the USA.

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