Scaling up biorefinery processes – from lab to market
The transition to a fossil-free society requires that every biomolecule be used as efficiently as possible. At the same time, businesses today face major challenges: costly upscaling, complicated processes and the difficulty of commercialising new bio-based products. For small and medium-sized enterprises, investing in their own infrastructure and expertise can involve significant financial risks and be highly complex.
RISE helps you develop and verify new biorefinery solutions throughout the entire chain – from innovation to commercial production. We provide support with test and pilot facilities where you can scale up processes under industrial conditions without having to build your own infrastructure. Through techno-economic analyses, process simulation and green chemistry, we work together to develop sustainable processes that give you a competitive edge in the market.
Technology infrastructures for biorefinery
Test & demo
Biorefinery Simulation
Unique possibility to evaluate biorefinery concepts under development. Offers process simulation models for processes in pulp mills and for a number of biorefinery processes.
Chemical products and processes / Test & demo
Chemical process development
Our testbed provides extensive equipment and expertise for the development of efficient and sustainable chemical processes.
Test & demo
Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL)
With hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), biomass is converted into a liquid oil that in many respects resembles fossil crude oil. Oil is the main product in the HTL process, but smaller amounts of gas and solid phase (carbon) are also formed.
Test & demo
Reactor system for chemical processes
RISE subsidiary RISE Processum in Örnsköldsvik has equipment and pilots of various sizes to scale up chemical biorefinery processes and syntheses. In an ATEX-classified room there is a reactor system with pilots that are used to develop processes and products in a cost-effective manner. The facilit…
Bioeconomy Arena
Bioeconomy Arena brings together RISE infrastructure and capabilities for the development, upscaling and commercialisation of new bio-based products and solutions.
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Expertise in biorefinery
Chemical products and processes / Expertise
Hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC)
Hydrothermal carbonation (HTC) is an energy efficient process, where for example wet sewage sludge can be upgraded to hydrochar and separated from the water after the process. RISE has expertise and equipment around this both in Stockholm (lab scale) and Örnsköldsvik (pilot scale at RISE Processum).
Expertise
Techno-economics of biorefinery concepts
Existing pulp mills have great potential to deliver more products through the integration of biorefinery concepts, and thus become an important part of the future bio-based economy. RISE can help with techno-economic analyzes to show what potentials there are in your particular mill.
Expertise
Online characterisation
Bio-based products have great potential to contribute to the transition to a sustainable and circular economy. But the measurement of critical product properties is required for efficient and quality-driven processes. RISE can help solve the industrial measurement challenges of bio-based processes …
Expertise
Processimulering med Aspen Plus®
Scale-up and evaluation of technical innovations at a commercially viable scale within a simulation environment is crucial for advancing new value chains into practical business concepts. Rise experts can help you with Aspen Plus® simulation tool.
Projects in biorefinery
Project
MainstreamBIO
MainstreamBIO aims to contribute to bringing small-scale bio-based solutions into mainstream practice across rural Europe. To achieve this, the project aims to improve collaboration between key bioeconomy stakeholders, resulting in sustainable business models for bio-based innovations in rural area…
Project
Smart storage and supply of straw
The ambition for a sustainable society free of fossil fuels has increased the demand for bio-based products and consequently, the demand for biomass. Straw is an interesting resource that is not used to its full potential today and has various applications in biorefineries.
Articles on biorefinery
Article
Improving efficiency will make the forest's resources last longer
The transition to fossil-free makes biomass an extremely sought-after raw material, not least in Sweden. But in order for the forest's renewable carbon atoms to go further, more efficient processes are needed in the forest industry, as well as smarter use of residual forestry products. And better p…
Article
Bioeconomy Arena will make Sweden a world leader in bioeconomy
In June 2022, the first sod was cut for what will become a new pilot hall in Örnsköldsvik for future biorefinery facilities. The hall will be a centre for RISE's biorefinery activities. At LignoCity in Bäckhammar outside Kristinehamn, a plant is being built for the production of odourless lignin. N…
Biobased materials / Article
More value from our bio-based raw materials
Bio-based raw materials have tremendous potential in replacing fossil-based products. The problem is that with just one planet, the collected bio-based raw materials are not enough. Johanna Mossberg, head of the biorefinery and energy unit at RISE, explains how smarter, more efficient use can give …
Article
"We have a shared responsibility to drive the transition to green chemicals"
The plastics in our children's toys, the synthetic fibres in our clothes and the ingredients in the salve we use to lubricate our hands. The common denominator? The products contain chemicals of fossil origin that need to be phased out. Green chemicals is the key.
Solutions in biorefinery
Why RISE
01
Scaling up and testing
– from lab to demo scale in flexible facilities such as Bioeconomy Arena, where you share costs and infrastructure with other innovators. 02
Process development and optimisation
– expertise in batch and continuous processes, catalysis, thermochemical upgrading and electrochemical methods. 03
Techno-economic analysis and simulation
– virtual test beds and Aspen Plus models that evaluate biorefinery concepts at an early stage and provide a clear picture of the technology's potential, costs and profitability. 04
Green chemistry and sustainability
– development of environmentally friendly processes with renewable raw materials, reduced energy consumption and safe upscaling. 05
Collaboration and commercialisation
– access to clusters such as the Processum Biorefinery Cluster and support to bridge the ‘valley of death’ to the market.Relevant areas for you
Chemical products and processes
Chemicals are essential for a functioning society, but the choice of substances and processes determines their impact on the environment and health. …
Circular transition
New EU directives and changing customer demands are prompting companies to adopt circular business models, but this transition is complex. Challenges…
Climate adaptation
Torrential rain flooding basements, heat waves creating unhealthy indoor environments, rising sea levels threatening coastal properties – extreme wea…
Chemical and biological analysis
What substances are actually contained in your products? Do you comply with current regulations? As regulations on hazardous substances tighten and c…
Health and life science
The ability of healthcare to cope with an ageing population, increasing chronic diseases and threats such as antibiotic resistance and pandemics will…