BIOFOREVER project – Boosting the next generation biorefining industry in Europe
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
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BIOFOREVER
(BIO-based products from FORestry via Economically Viable European Routes).
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Web page
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General
objective
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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.
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Budget
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€16.2
million with a €9.9 million contribution from BBI JU.
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Duration
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It starts
in September 2016 and will run for 3 years.
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Partners
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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)
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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.
