European Commission has authorised a Swedish grant of SEK 90 million to development of a LignoBoost demonstration plant at a Swedish pulp mill. LignoBoost will enable the mill to replace the fossil fuel in the lime kiln with lignin, reducing oil dependence and carbon emissions. The Commission estimates that the investment would also generate important external benefits, contributing in particular to knowledge spill-overs and environmental protection.
“ It is with great pleasure that we can notice that the EU understands the importance of an industrial demonstration plant that can demonstrate a crucial piece of the vision to transform modern kraft pulp mills into biorefineries. The fact that the financial support from the Swedish Energy Agency has been approved by the EU is a good driving force for the LignoBoost process to become a reality. The Commission decision will hopefully, eventually, relieve the pulp mills of their dependence on fossil oil and give them a new product to use as a high-grade biofuel or bio-based raw material for chemicals and materials,” says Per Tomani, Innventia.
The LignoBoost process is based on a research collaboration between Innventia and Chalmers, who developed a process for extracting high quality lignin from sulphate pulp mills. Research work on the process and the use of lignin as fuel has been run for years by Innventia under predominantly the Swedish Energy Agency, Södra Cell, Stora Enso, Metso, Nordic Paper and Fortum Värme. The process provides opportunities for increased capacity at lower cost than expansion of a limited recovery boiler. Profitability improved further if the lignin can be used as a substitute for fossil fuel oil, for example, pulp mill lime kilns or as raw material for production of even more valuable products such as carbon fibre. In May 2008, Innventia sold LignoBoost to the international technology company Metso and thereby increased the potential for further commercialisation and realisation of industrial plants.
In July 2010, the Swedish Energy Agency granted support to a demonstration plant at Södra Cell pulp mill in Mörrum. The European Commission has now ruled that the project complies with EU guidelines on state aid for research, development and innovation.
Joaquín Almunia, Vice-President of the Commission in charge of competition policy, declared:
“The project will pave the way to transform a pulp mill into a real bio-refinery without unduly distorting competition. Fossil fuel will be replaced by a novel source of renewable energy, contributing to Europe's 2020 objectives concerning R&D, climate change and energy.”
For more information on LignoBoost:
Per Tomani, Innventia AB
tel. +46 8 676 7281, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
INNVENTIA AB is a world leader in research and development relating to pulp, paper, graphic media, packaging and biorefining. Our unique ability to translate research into innovative products and processes generates enhanced value for our industry partners. We call our approach boosting business with science. Innventia employs 270 people, based in Stockholm, Bäckhammar, Trondheim and London.