Capturing and permanently storing carbon dioxide (CCS) or using carbon dioxide primarily of biogenic origin (CCU), are key technologies for achieving national, EU-level, and global climate goals. With its large emissions of biogenic carbon dioxide, Sweden has the potential to become a significant player in this field. 

A wide range of services 

At RISE, we work with everything from development of new processes for more energy- and cost-efficient carbon dioxide capturing to design of efficient policies to realize the potential for negative emissions. We offer support in CCS and CCU to actors in both the private sector and public sector through efforts such as knowledge overviews, technology comparisons, economic evaluations, sustainability assessments, as well as the opportunity to demonstrate carbon capture, processing, and conversion using our pilot plants. 

Without access to the right testing environments and expertise, promising innovations risk remaining in the development stage. The green transition is happening now, and companies that cannot scale up quickly risk losing their technological edge. 

With Bioeconomy Arena, RISE offers access to facilities, researchers and methods, from laboratory scale to pilot plant. This means an idea can be tested, verified and scaled up within the same network without the company needing to build its own infrastructure. 

This is what Bioeconomy Arena offers

A wide range of technical infrastructure

Bioeconomy Arena offers a wide range of technical infrastructure and RISE’s state-of-the-art laboratories and research facilities cover a broad spectrum of disciplines. Whether you are interested in chemicals, food, materials or biofuels, we can offer comprehensive solutions for all types of development needs within the bioeconomy. 

End-to-end support for upscaling 

Through Bioeconomy Arena, RISE is a one-stop shop for transforming new ideas into scalable, effective solutions. We provide the infrastructure and expertise needed to validate and develop new bio-based processes, offering a seamless journey from concept to commercialisation. In addition to our technical expertise, we also offer knowledge in techno-economics and life cycle assessment (LCA). 

Collaborate and scale up with our experts 

Our team of experienced experts are committed to supporting your development journey. You will collaborate with researchers and engineers who will bring solid, industry-relevant knowledge and experience to every stage of the process. Scale up faster through close collaboration and access to our expertise. Together, we can overcome challenges and pave the way for success. 

How does it work? 

A collaboration begins with an initial, free meeting, during which RISE will assess your needs and suggest relevant facilities and experts. We then draw up a project plan with you, setting clear milestones from testing to a scalable solution. 

This project was a continuation of the Swedish Energy Agency–funded pre-study “'Från flis till flygplan i Småland” The project brought together the consortium consisting of Växjö Energi (VEAB), Södra, RISE, KLM, SkyNRG, and the 2030-Sekretariatet to carry out an in-depth feasibility study on the production of forest-based aviation fuels.

The project comprised a techno-economic assessment of a concept based on biomass gasification combined with Fischer–Tropsch synthesis to produce biojet fuel and naphtha. The concept was applied to VEAB’s facility in Växjö through integration with the existing combined heat and power plant and was compared with a similar integration option at the Mörrum pulp mill. A sustainability assessment from forest to wing was carried out to ensure that the produced biojet fuel meets climate and environmental requirements. A business case was developed by analyzing market potential, product value, and production and value-chain costs.

The results show that the concept is technically feasible, with only minor differences between the sites. However, the investment cost for a full-scale plant is high relative to the production volumes. The life-cycle assessment indicates approximately 95% lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to the fossil reference using RED methodology, well above the RED III requirements. No other significant environmental barriers were identified.

Sustainable biomass supply is critical. The project was therefore supported by SkyNRG’s sustainability advisory board, which developed a framework for sustainable harvesting of tops and branches and recommended RSB certification of the feedstock value chain. The carbon payback time is estimated at 10–20 years but could be significantly reduced through improved carbon and energy efficiency, which should be further investigated.

The business analysis shows that the concept is currently not economically viable due to high investment and production costs. At the same time, there is good availability of biomass feedstock and opportunities for cost-effective offtake of biojet fuel and naphtha. Overall, the project confirms the sustainability potential of the concept but highlights high technical risk, limited commercial scale, and the need for further optimization to improve carbon and energy efficiency, as well as long-term policy incentives.

With the help of our expertise in evaluating conversion processes with regard to techno-economic and climate performance, the development of energy, cost and climate efficient processes can be accelerated. Our expertise is applicable both in the early process development stage and for commercial processes.

Typically, production techniques, or combinations thereof, are evaluated with respect to:

• Production cost, including investment and operating costs
• Environmental performance, often measured as greenhouse gas reduction compared to alternative fossil products
• Production potential, for example limited by raw material supply

For new processes, which are under development, issues may, for example, be to prioritize different development paths and control technology development. Among other things, we can identify bottlenecks where further process development work is needed to drastically improve the cost performance of a process. Based on process data or conceptual data, we can evaluate optimal process conditions and process choices through simulations and calculation studies. Our work often takes place in the same project that performs technology development to maximize synergies.

For commercial processes, analyzes of this type can be used to evaluate and compare different available technology alternatives, assess the effect of integration and estimate the profitability of a production facility during planning. In this context, we can contribute everything from early conceptual studies to support during engineering work in preparation for a facility construction.

The projects we work in are of a basic or applied nature, often linked to or on behalf of e.g. the chemical industry, the petroleum industry, the pulp and paper industry, the transport sector and biorefinery companies. Often the raw materials are residual products from the forest industry and agriculture, e.g. branches and tops, bark, sawdust, lignin, straw and sludge. Examples of processes and techniques we have worked with are gasification, pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), steam reforming, hydrotreating, fermentation and digestion.

New, bio-based materials and fuels are often more expensive to produce compared with their fossil-based equivalents, especially if stand-alone plants are considered. The pulp mill offers an excellent platform for integrated biorefinery concepts, especially as utilities such as steam and waste handling are already in place and could be integrated for improved process economy. When considering a new biorefinery concept, a techno-economic evaluation is an excellent help to show possibilities, benefits and technical limits and to further develop the concept in an iterative process. The results can be used as a basis for LCA studies. Full value chains can also be studied, with both cost and carbon footprint evaluated from the forestry outtake to the finished product.

How is it done?

A techno-economic evaluation often starts with a technology review. Mass yields, energy yields and process efficiencies are evaluated and a suitable process layout is constructed, partly by building simple models to determine energy and mass balances. RISE has a good insight in the technical maturity of different technologies and close contact with equipment suppliers which results in accurate estimates of investments, production cost, market volumes and profitability of new biorefinery concepts. RISE can help companies interested in biorefinery with their business development leading to profitable investment decisions.

Exampels of biorefinery concepts

• Lignin extraction
• Pyrolysis of biomass
• Carbon fibre production
• Ethanol and lactic acid production
• Textile fibres
• Speciality chemicals & cellulose
• Xylan extraction