BioRefineries Blog

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Octarine Bio and Ginkgo Bioworks have announced a multi-stage partnership focused on compounds in the tryptophan pathway, with the objective of engineering a strain for producing violacein and its derivatives, a naturally occurring bis-indole pigment with potent bioactive properties including anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, and UV protective properties. Although initially focused on violacein, the collaboration has the potential to expand to other tryptophan-derived compounds, each with their own unique applications. Press release: " Octarine Bio and Ginkgo Bioworks Announce Partnership to Produce Natural Colors ", 09/05/2023. The vast majority of textiles are still produced with synthetic colors and dyes derived from fossil fuels, a practice that has been linked to negative effects to human health and the environment. According to the United National Environmental Program and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, fabric dyeing and treatment produces abo...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Origin Materials  and Indorama Ventures  have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding to explore initiatives related to the rapid commercialization of low-carbon, biobased materials. Initiatives include evaluating the use of existing Indorama Ventures’ units in the United States with some modification to commercially produce biobased materials. Under this arrangement, Indorama Ventures would convert derivatives of Origin Materials’ platform chemical CMF (chloromethylfurfural) into various sustainable chemicals and biobased plastics. Press release: " Origin Materials and Indorama Ventures Announce a Strategic Partnership to Accelerate the Mass Production of Bio-Based Materials ",  09/05/2023. Under the MOU, the companies will also study the potential to use production samples of biobased materials in limited-volume product launches in partnership with high-profile brands. The materials could potentially be used in packaging, textiles, fi...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Technip Energies announces the award of a contract for the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) phase of LanzaTech’s DRAGON Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Project based on LanzaJet Alcohol to Jet (ATJ) Technology, on track to be one of the first commercial SAF facilities in the UK. Press release: " Technip Energies Wins Contract from LanzaTech UK Ltd, for a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Facility ", 12/04/2023. LanzaTech UK’s DRAGON SAF Project has been awarded supplemental funding through The UK Department for Transport’s Advanced Fuel Fund to help decarbonise aviation fuel in the UK. The flagship facility, to be located in Port Talbot, Wales, will uniquely use feedstock (ethanol) derived from local waste sources, bringing circularity to the project’s green credentials. The development, which is expected to produce 79 KTA (thousand Tonnes per Annum) (ca.100million litres/year) of SAF will deploy LanzaJet’s proprietary ATJ technology. T.EN’s proprieta...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Lummus Technology and Citroniq Chemicals have signed a letter of intent for the development of Citroniq’s green polypropylene (PP) projects in North America. These projects will use Lummus’ VerdeneTM PP technology suite. Press release: " Lummus and Citroniq Sign Letter of Intent for Green Polypropylene Projects ", 25/04/2023. Citroniq and Lummus are creating the first world-scale sustainable bio-polypropylene production process in North America. The first plant will sequester about 1.2 MM tons of CO2 annually as solid polypropylene pellets, providing customers an impactful solution for reducing their carbon footprint and meeting their ESG goals.  With a projected investment of over US $5 billion and a combined PP annual capacity of over 3.5 billion pounds, Citroniq is prepared to execute a rapid expansion plan of its E2O process, to meet the market’s growing need for sustainable, carbon negative polypropylene at a competitive price.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Gevo and LG Chem have entered into a joint development agreement to develop bio-propylene for renewable chemicals using Gevo’s Ethanol-to-Olefins (ETO) technology. Press release: " GEVO ENTERS JOINT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH LG CHEM TO DEVELOP BIO-PROPYLENE ", 12/04/2023. Gevo’s proprietary ETO technology can target carbon neutral or carbon negative drop-in replacements for traditional petroleum-based building blocks called olefins, including bio-propylene, that can be used for renewable chemicals or fuels including sustainable aviation fuel. These plant-based, renewable olefins would be derived from atmospheric CO2 captured through photosynthesis and are expected to deliver the same performance in final products on the market today. Under the terms of the Agreement, Gevo will provide the core enabling technology it has developed for renewable olefins to be produced from low-carbon ethanol and together the parties will collaborate to accelerate t...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Based on significant advancements over the past 5 years, Fibenol is now starting up its first lignocellulosic biorefinery in Imavere. The recalcitrant lignocellulosic structures are effectively opened with a combination of Sunburst™ pre-treatment technology and tailored enzymatic cocktails from Novozymes. This combination provides more than 90% conversion of birch wood processing residues into high-quality cellulosic sugars and co-products, including high-purity lignin. Press release: " Novozymes & Fibenol have entered a commercial partnership to demonstrate lignocellulosic biorefining on an industrial scale ", 02/04/2023.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. NovoNutrients general carbon capture process upcycles approximately two tons of carbon dioxide for every ton of protein-rich ingredient. By utilizing carbon dioxide and renewable energy through gas fermentation, this biomanufacturing platform offers advantages of cost savings, scalability, and sustainability over conventional production, contributing to a greener future enriched by the vibrant hues of carotenoids. It enables the sale of natural carotenoids at synthetic price levels. Press release: " NovoNutrients to Reshape $2.3B Carotenoids Market with Innovative Carbon Capture Technology ", 27/03/2023 . Carotenoids function as antioxidants and are natural pigments found primarily in plants and marine organisms, creating bright colors, like the orange in carrots or the red in tomatoes. Specific carotenoids offer additional palatability and other benefits to humans, dogs, cats, and fish, contributing to good vision, immune system function, and ove...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Groupe Berkem has announced the completion of the acquisition of Biopress, a French producer of 100% natural vegetable oils and proteins.  With this acquisition, Groupe Berkem is consolidating its offering in the "Health, Beauty & Nutrition" area of expertise and more specifically in the cosmetics market thanks to the virtues of its oils and the nutraceutical market because of the benefits provided by plant proteins. Press release: " Strategic acquisition by Groupe Berkem of Biopress, a French producer of 100% vegetable oils and proteins ", 03/04/2023.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Ampol Limited (Ampol) and ENEOS have  announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the production of advanced biofuels at the Lytton refinery in Brisbane, Australia. Press release: " Ampol and ENEOS Partner to Explore Advanced Biofuels Production in Queensland ", 23/03/2023. The parties have also executed a separate MoU with the Queensland Government and will continue to engage with the state as work progresses to discuss investment and project development as part of the Queensland Biofutures 10-Year Roadmap. Ampol and ENEOS will jointly explore the feasibility of delivering an advanced biofuels manufacturing facility with the capacity to generate up to 500 million litres of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel annually. Initial work will consider the use of agricultural, animal and other waste feedstocks prevalent in the Queensland market and seek to leverage the use of existing refinery manufacturing an...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Stora Enso and Kolon Industries have signed a Joint Development Agreement to develop and industrialise bio-based polyesters and their applications, as well as renewable binder resin formulations. Application areas can cover, for example, packaging, car tire reinforcements, and films for high value-added products such as electronics, panels and displays. The development work will combine FuraCore® by Stora Enso – a proprietary process for converting fructose into FDCA (Furandicarboxylic acid) via HMF (5-hydroxymethylfurfural) – and Stora Enso’s expertise in the packaging industry with Kolon Industries’ leading expertise in polyester and phenolic resin development as well as manufacturing for a range ofm applications.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. I EA Bioenergy Task 39 (transport biofuels) commissioned India to lead a study on “Feedstock-to-biofuels”, especially a biomass supply chain assessment for the production of 2nd Generation (2G) ethanol, to help understand the developments in India and other groups/member countries. The study mainly focussed on biomass availability, prevalent biomass supply chain approaches, and different process schemes, including the type of pretreatment technologies used by 2G ethanol technology developers. Furthermore, the study included life cycle analysis and environmental impact assessment to identify the GHG emissions and energy consumption hotspots during the lignocellulosic bioethanol production process. Study: " Feedstock to Biofuels: Opportunities for advanced biofuels - Supply chain analysis and reduction in CAPEX/OPEX ". Press release: " Feedstock to Biofuels Opportunities for advanced biofuel ".

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. L'Oréal  has announced a new investment in a venture led by Geno  to create sustainable alternatives to key ingredients in beauty products. L'Oréal will be a founding member of the venture alongside Unilever and Kao. Press release: " BIOTECHNOLOGY VENTURE TO SCALE DEVELOPMENT OF PLANT-BASED INGREDIENTS FOR SUSTAINABLE BEAUTY ", 21/03/2023. The investment, made through L'Oréal's corporate venture fund, BOLD, will support the creation of new, sustainable ingredients derived from living organisms. Through Geno’s biotechnology expertise, L’Oréal will replace traditional ingredients with bio-based alternatives, such as those made from plant-based sugars. These new ingredients will be used across various L’Oréal products, making a significant leap towards the company’s goal of 100% eco-designed formulas and ingredients that are 95%-derived from renewable or abundant sources.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. IKEA is switching from fossil-based to bio-based glues. Today, 5% of the climate footprint of the total IKEA value chain is connected to the use of glue in board materials. With this change, the goal is to reduce fossil-based glue use by 40% and greenhouse gas emissions from glue by 30% by FY30. Press release: " IKEA to use bio-based glue for reduced climate footprint ", 01/03/2023. Finding new glue solutions is one of the main approaches to reducing the IKEA climate footprint, and most glue consumption is used in board production. As a result of innovation and several years of trials, IKEA is now switching to bio-based alternatives to reduce fossil-based glue usage by 40% and the climate footprint from glue by 30%. Switching from fossil-based to bio-based glue solutions will be a stepwise approach, and the goal is to have most board-producing factories in the IKEA supply chain using glues that have lower climate footprints by FY30. In Kazlu Ruda,...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Accelera by Cummins, will supply a 90-megawatt (MW) proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer system for Varennes Carbon Recycling’s (VCR) plant in Quebec, Canada. Press release: " Varennes Carbon Recycling selects Accelera by Cummins to manufacture, supply 90MW electrolyzer system in Quebec ", 20/03/2023. VCR is a consortium between Shell, Suncor and Proman, with the support of the Canadian and Quebec governments. The biorefinery will be powered by the exclusive waste-to-methanol technology platform developed by Enerkem. This electrolyzer system will be comprised of four HyLYZER®-5000s (Accelera’s largest electrolyzer product). Each HyLYZER-5000 utilizes 25 MW of electricity and can produce up to 10 tons of hydrogen per day. This first-of-its-kind installation will provide the capacity needed to generate clean, renewable hydrogen and oxygen for VCR’s conversion of waste material to low-carbon-intensity fuels and circular chemicals. The facility...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Viridos  has raised a 25 M $  Series A equity investment. The Series A was led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) and joined by Chevron U.S.A. Inc . and United Airlines Ventures . The funding will be used for R&D to further increase algae oil productivity to reach commercially deployable levels. Press release: " Breakthrough Energy Ventures Leads $25M Series A for Viridos’ Revolutionary and Sustainable Algae Biofuels ", 13/03/2023. Globally, diesel and jet fuel account for over a third of the liquid fossil fuel used. The heavy transportation sector comprising aviation, shipping, and long-distance trucking relies on these fuels with demand expected to continue to grow for decades, creating major decarbonization challenges. Viridos aims to solve this challenge by leading the bioengineering of microalgae and has already achieved seven times the oil productivity compared to wild algae. This sets the stage for the scalable and sustainable produ...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Cepsa will build a new second-generation (2G) biofuel plant in Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, which will involve an investment of up to 1,000 million euros. This new plant, which will be located in the 'La Rábida' Energy Park, will produce both renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel and will mean the creation of up to 1,600 jobs, direct and indirect, during its construction phase.  2G biofuels will be made from organic waste, such as used cooking oil or agricultural waste, among others. Press release: " PLANTA DE BIOCOMBUSTIBLES DE SEGUNDA GENERACIÓN EN HUELVA CON UNA INVERSIÓN DE HASTA 1000 MILLONES DE EUROS ", 08/03/2023.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. BASF has begun production of its first biobased polyol, Sovermol®, in Mangalore, India. This product serves the fast-growing demand of eco-friendly products for applications in New Energy Vehicles (NEV), windmills, flooring and protective industrial coatings in Asia Pacific. Utilizing the existing facilities at BASF’s Mangalore site, the Sovermol production facility is now operational after comprehensive planning and construction. Sourced from renewable materials, Sovermol contains zero volatile organic compounds (VOC). Sovermol products are used to produce sustainable coatings and adhesives for various industries, enabling customers to reduce their carbon footprint and to save resources. Press release: " BASF starts Sovermol® production in Mangalore, India ", 09/03/2023.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. OQ Chemicals has launched “OxBalance Isononanoic Acid”, the world’s first commercially available isononanoic acid that is produced from both bio-based and circular feedstocks, and is ISCC PLUS certified.  The new product has a bio-based content of over 70 percent, providing manufacturers with a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional isononanoic acid. To meet the growing demand for carboxylic acids, OQ Chemicals has recently invested in a capacity expansion project in Germany. Isononanoic acid is widely used in the production of various industrial and consumer goods, such as energy-efficient lubricants, plasticizers, and surfactants. The new OxBalance product line uses the mass balance concept to trace renewable feedstocks in chemical production processes and allocate them to products. Press release: " OQ Chemicals Launches World’s First Bio-Based ISCC PLUS Certified Isononanoic Acid ", 07/03/2023.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. KBR has launched Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) technology in alliance with Swedish Biofuels AB. The alliance extends KBR's decarbonization and energy transition portfolio into the aviation sector with a differentiated SAF offering. In addition to processing ethanol, this technology can also convert carbon dioxide and synthesis gas to SAF, thereby expanding opportunities for KBR's clients to utilize captured carbon toward a cleaner, greener future. Validation of this advanced technology was performed in conjunction with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Press release: " KBR Launches Sustainable Aviation Fuel Technology in Alliance with Swedish Biofuels ", 10/02/2023.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. PILI has  announced today 15.8 M $  in Series A funding to accelerate its industrialization by  producing the first tons of high-performance bio-based indigo. Bpifrance led this round  through the fund Ecotechnologies 2, with participation from Famille C Participations and  existing investors, such as Elaia Partners. Press release:" PILI, a French biotech and green chemistry company, raises $15.8M to accelerate  its industrial scale-up and the decarbonization of the color industry . ", 28/02/2023. Related posts: " PILI to industrialize biobased high-performance pigment production ", 12/03/2023. Since its creation in 2015, PILI's mission has been to develop and produce biobased dyes and  pigments to reduce the environmental footprint of the color industry. Thanks to its hybrid  technology combining industrial fermentation and green chemistry, the company offers an  ecological and competitive alternative to petroche...

  Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Zeon Corporation, through its Corporate Venturing subsidiary Zeon Ventures, has invested in Visolis, a US startup, developing an innovative biomanufacturing platform. Zeon will partner closely with Visolis to help accelerate development of the company’s sustainable biomanufacturing processes. Visolis is developing a biomanufacturing platform combining artificial intelligence, synthetic biology and traditional chemical catalysis to efficiently produce a portfolio of carbon negative chemicals. Visolis’s proprietary process transforms sustainable raw materials, including waste biomass, into bio-based chemicals with diverse applications ranging from active ingredients for personal care to drop-in replacements for commodity petrochemicals. To accelerate the transition to a sustainable society, Zeon will work together with Visolis in enabling cost-competitive, bio-based chemicals for a range of applications from cosmetics to cars. Press release: " Zeon Cor...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Irish  Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine  has announced a €3 million investment in an integrated anaerobic digestion and green biorefining demonstration initiative. Press release: " Ministers McConalogue and Heydon announce €3 million for integrated anaerobic digestion and green biorefining demonstration initiative ", 14/02/2023. The funding has been jointly awarded to University College Dublin (UCD) and Munster Technological University (MTU) for the further development of climate neutral farming as part of the Farm Zero Carbon research project currently being undertaken on the Shinagh Estates Demonstration Farm in West Cork. The Farm Zero C project which will oversee the initiative was the winner of the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Zero Emissions Challenge in 2021. The project co-led by BiOrbic, Ireland's national bioeconomy research centre, and the Carbery Group, a cooperative based in West Cork, aims to create an economical...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Eni Sustainable Mobility and PBF Energy have announced they have entered into definitive agreements to partner in a 50-50 joint venture, St. Bernard Renewables LLC (SBR), for the biorefinery currently under construction co-located with PBF’s Chalmette Refinery in Louisiana (US). Upon consummation of the transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, Eni Sustainable Mobility will contribute capital totaling $835 million plus up to additional $50 million that is subject to the achievement of eventual project milestones and will provide expertise in biorefining operations, supply and marketing. PBF brings its strong industrial know-how in the United States and, as the contributor of the biorefinery, will continue to manage project execution and serve as the operator once construction is complete. The St. Bernard Renewables biorefinery startup is scheduled in the first half of 2023 and the facility is currently ta...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. LanzaTech and the Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company ("Tadweer”, entity responsible for the development of waste management services in Abu Dhabi and a main key player that supports the adoption of the Emirate’s circular economy) have announced a collaboration to explore business opportunities to develop a large-scale conversion plant for transforming MSW into renewable fuel. Press release: " LanzaTech and Tadweer to explore collaboration on conversion of waste to alternative fuels ", 16/02/2023.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Avantium and Origin Materials have announced a partnership to accelerate the mass production of FDCA and PEF for use in advanced chemicals and plastics.  Press release: " Avantium and Origin Materials to Accelerate the Mass Production of FDCA and PEF for Advanced Chemicals and Plastics ", 21/02/2023. Related posts: - " Green light to the construction of the first FDCA plant of Avantium ", 13/12/2021. - " Origin Materials announces mechanical completion of its first commercial manufacturing plant ", 10/02/2023. The partnership aims to bring the technology platforms of both companies together in order to produce FDCA from sustainable wood residues on an industrial scale. FDCA (furandicarboxylic acid) is the key building block for the biopolymer PEF (polyethylene furanoate) – a 100% plant-based, fully recyclable plastic material, with superior functionality and a significantly reduced carbon footprint compared to conventional pla...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Celanese has announced the availability of more sustainable versions of multiple Acetyl Chain materials with mass balance bio-content. These offerings will be designated as ECO-B, consistent with the innovative biobased offerings introduced for Engineered Materials customers in previous years.  Press release: " Celanese Expanding Portfolio of Sustainable Products Across Acetyl Chain ", 08/02/2023. Celanese will also offer ECO-B versions of other acetyl chain intermediate chemicals including acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomer, amines, acetate esters and anhydrides, all designed to help support customers in developing more sustainable product offerings for their downstream markets. Celanese chemicals are essential to the end production of a wide range of products, with applications like pharmaceutical solvents, crop protection, photovoltaics, cleaning products, inks, lubricants, and engineered foams potentially seeing the most immediate benefit from...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Croda has agreed to acquire Solus, a company specialized in biotechnology-derived beauty actives, from Solus Advanced Materials . Press release: " Acquisition of Solus Biotech expands fast growth Beauty Actives business in Asia ", 06/02/2023. The acquisition provides access to Solus’ existing biotech-derived ceramide and phospholipid technologies, and its emerging capabilities in natural retinol. This acquisition will significantly strengthen Croda’s Beauty Actives portfolio and increases its exposure to targeted prestige segments. Located in South Korea, Solus expands Croda’s Asian manufacturing capability and will create a new biotechnology R&D hub in the region. Solus is a leading supplier of naturally derived powder ceramides, a high-growth global market with further potential to extend into formulated ceramides. The number of new personal care products containing ceramides has doubled over the last five years, principally for skin care b...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Bioweg and Ginkgo Bioworks have  announced a collaboration to optimize the production of bacterial cellulose and to produce novel variants of cellulose with improved performance to serve a variety of end markets. Press release: " Bioweg and Ginkgo Bioworks Announce Partnership to Develop Cost Effective and Efficacious Bio-Based Materials to Reduce the Use of Microplastic Pollutants ", 06/02/2023. Bioweg's current products based on biodegradable bacterial cellulose have already been tested and implemented by companies as an effective substitute for widely used synthetic polymers such as acrylates, polyethylene, and polystyrene. Synthetic polymers often appear as microbeads (micropowders) and texturants (Rheology modifiers) in products throughout the cosmetics, homecare, personal care, agricultural coatings and other industries, which contribute to microplastic pollution in surface waters worldwide. It is estimated that an average person could b...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. United Airlines, Tallgrass and Green Plains have announced a new joint venture (Blue Blade Energy) to develop and then commercialize a novel SAF technology that uses ethanol as its feedstock. If the technology is successful, Blue Blade is expected to proceed with the construction of a pilot facility in 2024, followed by a full-scale facility that could begin commercial operations by 2028. Press release: " United, Tallgrass, and Green Plains Form Joint Venture to Develop New Sustainable Aviation Fuel Technology Using Ethanol ", 31/01/2023. Figure 1. United Airlines, Tallgrass and Green Plains to develop and commercialize SAF technology that uses ethanol as its feedstock (taken from the press release) Blue Blade's new SAF technology was developed by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), a leading center for technological innovation in sustainable energy. SAF, which uses non-petroleum fe...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. TotalEnergies and Intraplás are collaborating to bring sustainable solutions to the packaging market, without compromising on performance and food safety. Intraplás is launching commercial products using TotalEnergies RE:newable polymer (a range of the RE:clic portfolio) coming from renewable sourcing. Press release: " TotalEnergies and Intraplás celebrate their collaboration on the commercialization of drop-in packaging solutions from renewable sources, using TotalEnergies RE:clic range ", 26/01/2023. Figure 1. Intraplás launches commercial products using TotalEnergies RE:newable polymer (taken from the press release) TotalEnergies’ world-class biorefinery in La Mède (France) allows to leverage a direct access to renewable feedstock for its drop-in RE:newable polymer range. The resulting polymer is warranted under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS) scheme, which uses a mass balance approach. As a result, the RE:...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Velocys has announced the execution of a master relationship agreement (“MRA”) with Bechtel. The MRA sets out a route map for the parties to collaborate with each other with the objective of developing an EPC execution model for the Company’s sustainable fuels projects. Press release: " Velocys and Bechtel collaborate on SAF project delivery solution for global markets ", 25/01/2023. This collaboration will initially focus on Velocys’ two main reference projects (Altalto Project in Immingham, UK and Bayou Fuels Project in the US) and the recently announced e-Alto power-to-liquids project in the UK, all subject to the terms of future contracts. However, the MRA also covers other third-party projects that may be introduced by either Bechtel or Velocys. Under a separate continuing technical services agreement, Bechtel is providing front end project engineering and other technical services to support the development of Velocys’ SAF project portfolio. ...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Origin Materials  has announced the mechanical completion of Origin 1, its first commercial manufacturing plant, in-line with the previously disclosed timeline. Commissioning is expected to be completed by the end of Q1 2023 with start-up beginning shortly thereafter. Press release: " Origin Materials Announces Mechanical Completion of Origin 1 Manufacturing Plant ", 27/01/2023. As part of mechanical completion, the plant's critical mechanical systems have been successfully installed and commissioning has begun. Work onsite will continue, including electrical work, adding new equipment, and further refining technology. Work at the plant continues following this key achievement, with plant commissioning to support start-up anticipated to be complete around the end of Q1 2023 and start-up beginning shortly thereafter. Origin 1 is expected to start to address growing customer demand for its renewable materials and allow customers to qualify produ...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. U PM Biochemicals and HAERTOL Chemie GmbH  have announced a development partnership that will accelerate the introduction of renewable, sustainable forest-sourced materials into the automotive market and reduce fossil resource consumption.  Both companies have agreed to form a strategic partnership to produce a new range of carbon neutral engine and battery coolants that will help automotive manufacturers reduce their CO2 footprint. Press release: " UPM Biochemicals and HAERTOL Chemie GmbH announce strategic partnership to develop new sustainable coolants ", 09,02/2023. Figure 1. UPM Biochemicals and HAERTOL will jointly launch a new range of carbon-neutral engine and battery coolants that will help automakers reduce their carbon footprint (taken from the press release) UPM is investing 750 M€ to build the world’s first industry scale biorefinery in Leuna (Germany) to convert sustainably sourced, certified woody biomass into next generation bioch...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. The first CBE JU call invited project proposals across 12 different topics, with the objective to advance competitive circular bio-based industries in Europe, as well as develop new circular and sustainable products and solutions for the market.  125 proposals were submitted to this call, requesting more than 600 M€ in funding. Based on the evaluation results and available CBE JU budget, 21 of them have been selected for funding: two innovation actions - flagships, eight innovation actions, ten research & innovation actions and one coordination & support action.  The successful applicants and the CBE JU Programme Office will now start preparing grant agreements to be signed by the end of May 2023 for a total amount of nearly 120  M€ . Press relase: " First 21 CBE JU projects selected for funding ", 16/01/2023.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Steeper Energy and Topsoe sign a global licensing agreement for Steeper’s Hydrofaction® technology, enabling Topsoe to offer a complete waste-to-fuel solution. Press release: " Steeper Energy Enters Agreement with Topsoe to Introduce Complete Waste-to-Biofuel Solution ", 26/01/2023 . The agreement grants Topsoe the right to sublicense Steeper’s Hydrofaction® technology, used for converting biomass to renewable biocrude oil.  The agreement accelerates the deployment of advanced biofuels produced from waste biomass such as residues from forestry and agriculture. This is a strong pathway to renewable fuels for the transportation sector including road, aviation and shipping. The agreement combines Topsoe’s unique technologies in renewable fuels and hydrogen production as well as decades of experience in engineering with Steeper’s proprietary Hydrofaction® technology and industry know-how.  With the agreement, Topsoe will be able to provide a complete ...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Henkel and Shell Chemical LP have agreed to a five-year collaboration to replace up to 200,000 tons of fossil feedstocks used in the manufacture of surfactants with feedstocks that are based on renewable raw materials. The renewable-based surfactants will be used in Henkel’s laundry product brands, including many varieties of Persil®, Purex® and all® brands. Surfactants are an ingredient in cleaning products that help lather and lift dirt. Press release: " Henkel signs agreement with Shell on renewable-based ingredients for Persil®, Purex® and all® brands ", 17/01/2023. Figure 1. Shell Chemical to manufacture renewable surfactants for Henkel Shell estimates that replacing up to 200,000 tons of fossil feedstocks with renewable feedstocks has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 120,000 tons of CO2eq over the length of the five-year agreement.  Starting in 2023, up to 200,000 tons of renewable feedstocks will be used by Shell du...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Montinutra has been granted a Circular Economy Investment Subsidy by Business Finland to build a first-of-a-kind plant to upcycle forest industry side streams. Press release: " 7 M€ funding decision from Business Finland for a plant implementation ", 18/01/2023. Figure 1.  Plant 3D draft / Feasibility study 2022 (taken from the press release) The company  develop new ingredients for future bioeconomy from  hemicellulose and lignin. Its  first ingredients will be launched under the brand Boreal Bioproducts® in personal care consumer products early 2023. This is possible with the production from our current pilot plant in Turku. Montinutra’s business model focuses on using side streams such as sawdust, wood processing residues or bark as feedstock. The production process is based on pressurized hot water extraction without the use of chemical solvents. This enables robust and cost-effective production of natural products with minimal enviro...

Type of post: NEWS. Braskem has announced a project to evaluate an investment in producing carbon negative bio-based polypropylene (PP) in USA. The project would utilize Braskem's proven, proprietary technology to convert bioethanol into physically segregated bio-based polypropylene. Braskem is exploring partnership opportunities for this project with several clients, brand owners, and suppliers. Press release: " Braskem Announces Project to Evaluate Production of Bio-Based Polypropylene ", 17/01/2023. The US is home to the largest ethanol industry production in the world and consists of ample technology, infrastructure, and supply availability for a project in the polymers' value chain. Braskem's bio-based PP would be a drop-in solution that has the same technical properties and recyclability found today in Braskem's current PP portfolio, with the additional benefit of a negative carbon footprint. As the largest PP producer in the Americas and utilizing its p...

Type of post: NEWS. Vertex is continuing to advance construction activities on its renewable diesel conversion project, which is designed to convert the Mobile, Alabama refinery’s existing hydrocracking unit to produce renewable diesel fuel on a standalone basis. Press release: " Vertex Energy Provides Operational Update for Q4 2022 ", 17/01/2023. On January 6, 2023, the Company safely completed shutdown procedures on the hydrocracker unit for the next stage of construction activities, as planned. The unit is scheduled to remain offline for a total of approximately 70 days while the project is finalized, with ultimate mechanical completion expected to occur during the final week of March, 2023. Upon completion of the project, the refinery is expected to commence production of renewable diesel in 2Q 2023. Initial volumes are planned to ramp to approximately 8 – 10 thousand barrels per day (Mbpd), with production volumes anticipated to subsequently ramp up to approximately 14 M...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Circa Group AS and OQEMA AG have signed a supply and capacity reservation agreement for the sale of Cyrene™ into Europe. The agreement is for the market development and supply of several thousand tonnes of Cyrene™ per annum. This brings reservation commitments for Cyrene™ volumes to over 5,000 tonnes per annum, which will be supplied by Circa’s ReSolute™ plant, and the following FC6 plant, now at planning stage. Press release: " Circa and Oqema partner for multi-year distribution of Cyrene " , 17/01/2023. Related posts: - “ ReSolute project - New BBI JU flagship biorefinery will produce green solvent from wood biomass ”, 05/10/2020. - “ Circa successfully completes 56 M€ IPO that will be used to build its green solvent biorefinery ”, 03/03/2021.

Type of post: NEWS. LanzaJet petitioned the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to approve a pathway for the generation of biomass-based diesel (D-code 4) renewable identification numbers (RINs) for renewable diesel and jet fuel produced at its facility near Soperton (Georgia, USA).  Based on the EPA evaluation, the fuels produced through the LanzaJet Soperton Process are eligible for biomass-based diesel (D-code 4) RINs.  The renewable jet fuel and renewable diesel is produced from undenatured ethanol through a process of dehydration, oligomerization, and hydrotreating using grid electricity, natural gas, and hydrogen as process inputs (the “LanzaJet Soperton Process”). The undenatured ethanol is produced from sugarcane. Press release: " EPA letter to LanzaJet, Inc. approving a pathway for the generation of biomass-based diesel (D-code 4) renewable identification numbers (RINs) for renewable diesel and jet fuel produced at the Soperton, Georgia facility under the RFS Pro...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Smart Resilin  (company producing resilin protein through genetic engineering) is joining forces with Acies Bio  (leading European biotechnology company) to found a joint company. The joint venture will see Smart Resilin's state-of-the-art technology paired with Acies Bio's advanced abilities in genetic, microbiological, and scale-up development to bring to market resilin as an environmentally beneficial game changer across industries. Press release: " Smart Resilin and Acies Bio Join Forces To Commercialize Resilin ", 09/01/2023. Recombinant structural proteins, such as resilin, are promising alternatives to conventional synthetic plastics due to their thermal and mechanical properties and potential for biodegradability. Most recombinant proteins produced for industries today are silk-based, which has a significantly lower return of energy than resilin, making it considerably less resilient: resilin has ~92% resilience, whereas silk has ...

Type of post: NEWS. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company unveiled a demonstration tire comprised of 90% sustainable materials. This demonstration tire has passed all applicable regulatory testing as well as Goodyear’s internal testing.  This demonstration tire also tested to have lower rolling resistance when compared to the reference tire, made with traditional materials. Lower rolling resistance means this demonstration tire has the potential to offer better fuel savings and carbon footprint reduction. Press release: " GOODYEAR UNVEILS 90% SUSTAINABLE-MATERIAL DEMONSTRATION TIRE, APPROVED FOR ROAD USE ", 04/01/2023. Figure 1. 90% Sustainable-material Demonstration Tire - 17 Ingredients Across 12 Different Tire Components In addition, after announcing the capability to demonstrate a 70% sustainable-material tire in January 2022, Goodyear, working with its supply base, plans to sell a tire with up to 70% sustainable-material content in 2023. Consumers interested in purchasi...