The Swedish research institute Bio4Energy has shown in pilot-scale experiments that pressurised entrained-flow gasification may be used to transform biomass from forestry residue to a synthesis gas rich in chemical energy. This might facilitate the development of a method for making biofuel with a low environmental footprint and high energy efficiency.
If the process proves to be succesful in a future scale up to commercial levels, it could also be good news for the forestry industry in general, striving to use their residual fibre-based process streams in new products. Moreover, it could make forestry residue competitive with black coal in its use in commercial gasification process for making fuels and chemicals, in terms of cold-gas efficiency.
The new findings result from two years' worth of research and development work by Bio4Energy scientists and technicians at the SP Energy Technology Center at Piteå (SP ETC) and the Luleå University of Technology (LTU), both in northern Sweden and leaders in their field.
"It is a milestone in our research. We are very proud with what we have achieved so far", said Magnus Marklund, CEO at the SP ETC.
"The next step in our applied research will be to optimise the different subsystems in the process, which will render the technology even more viable", Marklund added.
