EUROPEAN ADVANCED BIOREFINERIES AT COMMERCIAL SCALE
This section contains a list/map of advanced biorefineries at commercial scale in Europe. It was created in 2015 and has been deeply rearranged and updated in February 2018. If you have any suggestion (missing facility, biorefinery classification…), please contact the BioRefineries Blog through info@biorefinno.com. This is an open and collaborative effort of dissemination, your contribution is welcome.
As a general criteria, a biorefinery is defined as the sustainable processing of biomass into a spectrum of marketable products and energy (IEA definition). This definition is very wide and covers multiple concepts. In this sense, facilities making a traditional use of biomass (conventional biofuels plants and pulp mills) can be considered as simple biorefineries. They are out of the scope of this list, which is focused on advanced biorefineries. For a detailed list of European biorefineries, you can check the map developed by Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) and nova-Institute.
Facilities under construction and planned have been added to the list. The information will be updated in a regular basis. By pressing on each link, you will find a profile summarizing the most relevant information of the plant or news related to them.
The list is divided into three categories according to the main product generated in the facilities:
1. BIOFUEL DRIVEN BIOREFINERIES
Criterion: the main product is an advanced biofuel.
You can check the section ADVANCED BIOFUELS to know more about the definition and the types of biofuels considered.
2. BIOBASED CHEMICAL BUILDING BLOCKS DRIVEN BIOREFINERIES
Criterion: the main product is a biobased chemical platform.
3. BIOMATERIAL DRIVEN BIOREFINERIES
Criteria: multi-product sulphite mills; the new generation of bioproduct mills; nanocellulose biorefineries.
BIOFUEL
DRIVEN BIOREFINERIES
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Location
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Companies
|
Biorefinery
Classification according to IEA Bioenergy Task 42
|
Production
capacity
|
Start
up
|
Status
|
||||
Feedstocks
|
Products
|
Platforms
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Processes
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MAIN PRODUCT: CELLULOSIC
ETHANOL.
PRODUCTO PRINCIPAL:
ETANOL CELULÓSICO.
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Crescentino
(Italy)
|
Beta Renewables
|
Agricultural waste (wheat
straw, rice straw) and energy crops (Arundo donax, miscanthus).
|
Ethanol, animal feed,
power and heat.
|
Sugars, lignin.
|
Hydrolysis,
Fermentation.
|
50 Ml/y
|
2012
|
Shut down (to be confirmed).
|
|
Kajaani
(Finland)
|
St1, SOK (NEB)
|
Woody biomass (sawdust).
|
Ethanol and animal feed.
|
Sugars.
|
Hydrolysis,
Fermentation.
|
10 Ml/y
|
2017
|
Operational.
Expansion planned.
|
|
Strazske
(Slovakia)
|
Energochemica, Beta Renewables
|
Agricultural waste (wheat straw, rapeseed straw,
corn stover) and energy crops (switchgrass).
|
Ethanol and animal feed.
|
Sugars.
|
Hydrolysis,
Fermentation.
|
70 Ml/y
|
2018
|
Under construction (to be
confirmed).
|
|
Leopoldov
(Slovakia)
|
Enviral, Clariant
|
Agricultural waste (wheat straw).
|
Ethanol, fertilizers,
power and heat.
|
Sugars, lignin, biogas.
|
Hydrolysis,
Fermentation.
|
63 Ml/y
|
2019
|
Under
construction.
|
|
Southwestern part of Romania.
|
Clariant
|
Agricultural waste (wheat straw and other cereals).
|
Ethanol, fertilizers,
power and heat.
|
Sugars, lignin, biogas.
|
Hydrolysis,
Fermentation.
|
63 Ml/y
|
2020
|
Construction
due to commence 2018.
|
|
Pietarsaari
(Finland)
|
St1, SOK, NEOT
|
Woody biomass (forest industry residues).
|
Ethanol and animal feed.
|
Sugars.
|
Hydrolysis,
Fermentation.
|
50 Ml/y
|
2020
|
Investment decision in 2018.
|
|
Hønefoss
(Norway)
|
St1, Vikeng Skog SA
|
Woody biomass (forest industry residues).
|
Ethanol and animal feed.
|
Sugars.
|
Hydrolysis,
Fermentation.
|
50 Ml/y
|
2021
|
Investment decision in 2018.
|
|
Holstebr
(Denmark)
|
Maabjerg Energy Center (MEC)
|
Agricultural
waste (straw).
|
Ethanol, fertilizers,
power and heat.
|
Sugars, lignin, biogas.
|
Hydrolysis,
Fermentation.
|
73 Ml/y
|
-
|
Planned.
|
|
MAIN PRODUCT: HIDROTRATED VEGETABLE
OILS (HVO).
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Porvoo
(Finland)
|
Neste
|
Vegetable oils, animal fats, used cooking oils.
|
Renewable
diesel.
|
Oil.
|
Hydrotreatment.
|
2 x 190 ktons
|
2007, 2009
|
Operational.
|
|
Rotterdam (The Netherlands)
|
Neste
|
Vegetable oils, animal fats, used cooking oils.
|
Renewable
diesel, biopropane.
|
Oil.
|
Hydrotreatment.
|
1 Mtons
|
2011
|
Operational.
|
|
Venice
(Italy)
|
Vegetable oils, animal fats, used cooking oils.
|
Renewable
diesel.
|
Oil.
|
Hydrotreatment.
|
500 ktons
|
2014
|
Operational.
|
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Lappeenranta
(Finland)
|
UPM Biofuels
|
Crude talloil.
|
Renewable
diesel.
|
Oil.
|
Hydrotreatment.
|
100 ktons
|
2015
|
Operational.
|
|
La Mède
(France)
|
Total
|
Vegetable oils, animal fats, used cooking oils.
|
Renewable
diesel.
|
Oil.
|
Hydrotreatment.
|
500 ktons
|
2018
|
Under construction.
|
|
Gela
(Italy)
|
eni
|
Vegetable oils, animal fats, used cooking oils.
|
Renewable
diesel.
|
Oil.
|
Hydrotreatment.
|
-
|
2018
|
Under construction.
|
|
MAIN PRODUCT: BIOHYDROCARBONS.
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Joensuu
(Finland)
|
Fortum
|
Forest residues and other wood based biomass.
|
Bio-oil and heat and electricity.
|
Bio-oil.
|
Pyrolysis.
|
50
ktons
|
2013
|
Operational.
|
|
Bogumiłów
(Poland).
|
Ekobenz
|
Bioethanol.
|
Gaseous, liquid and aromatic biohydrocarbons.
|
Ethanol.
|
Catalytic
conversion.
|
22.5
ktons.
|
2017
|
Operational.
|
BIOBASED CHEMICAL BUILDING BLOCK DRIVEN BIOREFINERIES
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Location
|
Companies
|
Biorefinery Classification according to IEA
Bioenergy Task 42
|
Production capacity
|
Start up
|
Status
|
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Feedstocks
|
Products
|
Platforms
|
Processes
|
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MAIN PRODUCT: AZELAIC AND PELARGONIC ACIDS.
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Matrica
(Italy)
|
Matrica
(JV between Novamont and
Versalis)
|
Oil-seed from non-food
autochthonous crops.
|
Monomers, rubber
additives, biolubrificants and bioplastics.
|
Oil.
|
-
|
- Building blocks:
20 ktons.
- Biodegradable
oils: 10 ktons.
- Biopolyesters: 50
ktons.
|
2014
|
Operational.
|
|
MAIN PRODUCT: 1,4-BUTANEDIOL (BDO).
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Bottrighe
(Italy)
|
Novamont.
|
Sugar (glucose syrup
produced by Cargill).
|
BDO
|
Sugars.
|
Fermentation.
|
30
ktons
|
2016
|
Operational.
|
|
MAIN PRODUCT: 2,5-FURANDICARBOXYLIC
ACID (FDCA).
|
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Antwerp
(Belgium)
|
Synvina
(JV between Avantium
and BASF).
|
-
|
FDCA
|
Sugars.
|
Dehydration, oxidation.
|
50
ktons
|
2023
- 2024
|
Planned.
|
|
MAIN PRODUCT: LACTIC ACID.
|
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Ireland.
|
Glanbia Ingredients.
|
25 ktons (100% dry matter)
of whey permeate (WP) and delactosed whey permeate (DLP).
|
l-Lactic acid, polylactic
acid, minerals for human nutrition and biobased fertiliser.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Planned.
|
|
MAIN PRODUCT: LEVULINIC ACID.
|
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Caserta
(Italy)
|
GFBiochemicals
|
Cellulosic biomass.
|
Levulinic acid.
|
Sugars.
|
Acid hydrolysis.
|
10 ktons
|
2015
|
Operational.
|
|
MAIN PRODUCT: METHANOL.
|
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Delfzijl
(Netherlands
)
|
BioMCN
|
Glycerin.
|
Biomethanol.
|
Syngas.
|
Evaporation, reforming.
|
200
ktons.
|
2009
|
Operational.
|
|
Rotterdam
(Netherlands)
|
Air Liquide, AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, Enerkem,
the Port of Rotterdam
|
Non-recyclable
wastes.
|
Biomethanol.
|
Syngas.
|
Gasification, catalytic synthesis.
|
220
ktons.
|
-
|
Investment decision in 2018.
|
|
MAIN PRODUCT: 1,3-PROPANEDIOL (PDO) AND BUTIRIC ACID (BA).
|
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Moselle
(France)
|
METabolic
EXplorer
|
Glycerin.
|
PDO, BA.
|
Sugars.
|
Fermentation.
|
- 1st stage: 5 kton of PDO and 1 kton of BA.
- 2nd stage: 15 kton of PDO and 3 kton of BA).
|
2020 - 2021
|
Construction
due to commence 2018.
|
|
MAIN PRODUCT: SUCCINIC ACID.
|
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Cassano Spinola
(Italy)
|
Reverdia
|
Starch and sugars.
|
Succinic acid.
|
Sugars.
|
Hydrolysis,
Fermentation.
|
10 ktons
|
2012
|
Operational.
|
|
Montmeló
(Spain)
|
Succinity
|
Glycerol, sugars.
|
Succinic acid.
|
Sugars.
|
Hydrolysis,
Fermentation.
|
10 ktons
|
2014
|
Operational.
|
BIOMATERIAL DRIVEN BIOREFINERIES
|
|||||||||
Location
|
Companies
|
Biorefinery Classification according to IEA
Bioenergy Task 42
|
Production capacity
|
Start up
|
Status
|
||||
Feedstocks
|
Products
|
Platforms
|
Processes
|
||||||
MAIN PRODUCT: CELLULOSE.
|
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Sarpsborg
(Noruega)
|
Borregaard
|
Wood.
|
Cellulose, lignin, bioethanol, vanillin, biogas.
|
Cellulose,
sugars, lignin, biogás.
|
Cooking,
fermetantion.
|
160
ktons
|
1889
|
Operational.
|
|
Lenzing
(Austria)
|
Wood.
Madera.
|
Cellulosa,
furfural, acetic acid, sweetener.
|
Sugars, lignin, electricity and heat.
|
Cooking,
extraction.
|
300
ktons
|
1892
|
Operational.
|
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Örnsköldsvik
(Sweden)
|
Wood.
|
Cellulose, lignin, bioethanol,
biogas.
|
Cellulose,
sugars, lignin, biogas.
|
Cooking,
fermetantion.
|
230
ktons
|
1903
|
Operational.
|
||
Äänekoski
(Finland)
|
Wood.
|
Cellulose, tall oil, turpentine, lignin products and
wood fuel. Bioenergy.
|
Pulp, lignin, electricity and heat.
|
Cooking.
|
1.3
Mtons
|
2017
|
Operational.
|
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Kuopio (Finland)
|
Finnpulp
|
Wood.
|
Cellulose
and other bioproducts, such as tall oil and turpentine. Bioenergy.
|
Pulp, lignin, electricity and heat.
|
Cooking.
|
1.2
Mtons
|
2020
|
Under construction.
|
|
Kemijärvi
(Lapland, Finland).
|
Boreal
Bioref Oy
|
Wood.
|
Cellulose,
microcrystalline cellulose, sugars, pine oil, turpentine and soil improvement
substances. Bioenergy.
|
Pulp, lignin, electricity and heat.
|
Cooking.
|
400
ktons
|
2020
|
Planned.
|
|
Paltamo
(Kainuu, Finland).
|
KaiCell
Fibers
|
Wood.
|
Cellulose
and other bioproducts. Bioenergy.
|
Pulp, lignin, electricity and heat.
|
Cooking.
|
400
– 500 ktons
|
2020
|
Planned.
|
|
Potential locations: Tartu or Viljandi County
(Estonia).
|
EST-FOR
|
Wood.
|
Cellulose
and other bioproducts, hemicellulose and lignin. Bioenergy.
|
Pulp, lignin, electricity and heat.
|
Cooking.
|
700 ktons
|
2022
|
Planned.
|
|
MAIN PRODUCT: MICROFIBRILATED
CELLULOSE.
|
|||||||||
Sarspborg
(Norway).
|
Borregaard
|
Wood.
|
Microfibrillated cellulose.
|
Pulp.
|
-
|
10 ktons of 10% paste (1 kton dry).
|
2016.
|
Operational.
|