St1 is planning to construct a new Cellunolix® ethanol plant in Norway

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The Nordic energy company St1 is a pioneer in advanced biofuel production in northern Europe. It has already four plants producing ethanol from food industry residues in Finland and it is building a cellulosic ethanol plant in Kajaani. The facility, based on its Cellunolix® technology, will begin production this year and will use sawdust as feedstock (read more).

Currently, St1 is seeking locations for new Cellunolix® plants in all of its operating countries (Finland, Sweden and Norway) and one of the potential projects is progressing well. In fact, Smart Fuel AS (St1 Nordic Oy’s Norwegian subsidiary) has just signed a letter of intent with Viken Skog SA and its subsidiary Treklyngen Holding AS to construct a Cellunolix® ethanol plant in Norway (press release).

Figure 1. Follum paper mill before shutting down in March 2012 (extracted from Norske Skog web page)

The cellulosic ethanol biorefinery will be located in the industrial area of Follum in Hønefoss (one hour from Oslo). Follum is a former paper mill site with strong industrial infrastructure, power and heat supply, and significant land space, where Treklyngen is planning several projects for realization within 2–5 years. The expected production capacity of the plant is 50 million liters of cellulosic ethanol for transportation, using local forest industry residues as feedstock. It is estimated that the project will reach the investment decision stage in 2018 and the plant will be in operation by 2021.

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