Forest Refine

2012-2014

How can raw material from the forest be part of the transition towards renewable fuels and new products?

The need for energy is continuously increasing and the fossil oil based energy system in place today is not sustainable. Sweden and Finland have replaced most of the oil for heating but more than 90 % of the transports still rely on oil. The use of forest biomass in biorefineries is expected to increase rapidly. The raw material quality demands from future biorefineries will differ from traditional forest industries and energy plants and this will have an influence on the raw material supply chains.

It was the fourth cross border project between partners in Sweden and Finland. The borders crossed are between the two countries and the research disciplines; Forestry and Chemistry.

The overall objective was to acquire knowledge of ways to optimize biomass supplies for refineries in the Botnia-Atlantica Region from existing, planned or potential procurements areas. All the results are compiled into a final paper, ”Synthesis report: Forest Refine, 2012-2014”. The project has been unique in its aim and scope, and the results presented plays an important role for developing the coming biobased markets in the BA region.