The Bio-FlexCLC project aims to develop and demonstrate a full-chain technology that utilizes biogenic residues and wastes for flexible CHP production with the possibility of cost-effective CO2 capture.
The goal of Bio-FlexCLC is to establish an efficient, and scalable process to convert low-value biogenic residues and organic waste to heat and power with negative or zero emission through CLC-CFB coupled with gas cleaning and CO2 liquefaction.
The idea is to combine the break-through chemical-looping combustion (CLC) technology with conventional circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers, a technology widely used in Scandinavia and Europe for combined heat and power production. Bio-FlexCLC concept operating in CLC mode enables CHP production with negative emissions at low-cost while the concept is flexible to switch to CFB boiler mode to produce CHP with net-zero emissions.
The concept has the main features of
Low cost and energy for CO2 capture, as there is no gas separation equipment needed,
100% CO2 capture possible while having low emissions of NOx, SOx and other harmful components,
low corrosion with improved steam data for improved electrical efficiency,
flexible system with respect to the heat/power ratio and
flexibility to operate the system as a normal circulating fluidized bed without CO2 capture if conditions are not amiable for this. With such a flexible system we believe that end-users would be more willing to invest in CHP systems with BECCS even without current policy instruments in place.
Investing in CHP technologies utilizing biogenic and waste fuels, as developed in the Bio-FlexCLC project, offers a range of enduring advantages:
A fuel combustion facility which can achieve negative emissions with CO2 capture.
Facilitating the utilization of challenging-to-exploit or low-value bio resources like organic wastes.
Creating new employment opportunities, particularly in biomass or residue-rich regions, such as rural areas.
Reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating the need for oil imports.
Enhancing local and regional production autonomy and supply security.
RISE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF SWEDEN
AICHERNIG ENGINEERING
GÖTAVERKEN MILJÖ AB
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT DARMSTADT
CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA
SPANISH NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
NATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
1CUBE B.V.
FORTUM POWER AND HEAT POLSKA
VÄXJÖ ENERGI AB
The textile value chain involves a diverse range of materials, end users, and complex applications. Although there is a shift towards greater sustainability, progress is slow and requires more innovative technologies to address issues like low recycling rates, substitution of hazardous substances, and chemical pollutants.
The project “Towards Safe and Sustainable Biobased Textiles” (BioSusTex) aims to demonstrate the rapid development of key technologies that will significantly impact the textile value chain. This need has been highlighted by key industrial partners within the consortium. BioSusTex focuses on cotton and cellulosic textiles, targeting increased recycling rates and the substitution of harmful compounds by:
Delivering an optimized cellulosic fiber recycling process for dope-dyed man-made cellulosics.
Developing efficient and sustainable pre-processing techniques for removing elastane, dyes, and impurities from post-consumer blended cellulosic textiles, while avoiding potential toxic degradation products during processing.
Creating a biobased, PFAS-free water-repellent coating using an innovative methodology with temporary surfactants.
Significant improvements in these key technologies, in line with the Safe and Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) framework, are expected to notably enhance the sustainability of the textile value chain. Additionally, BioSusTex will provide technical solutions and address industry needs for rapid assessment methods by:
Further developing analytical methods and prediction tools related to toxicity evaluation.
Building a novel Decision Support software tool that implements the SSbD methodology.
Creating a database compiling all the data generated in the project.
With this in mind, BioSusTex aims to pioneer key technologies to enhance the sustainability of the textile value chain. These efforts include optimising recycling of cellulosic fibres, developing sustainable pre-processing techniques, creating bio-based water-repellent coatings, and providing analytical methods and prediction tools for toxicity assessment.
These initiatives are in line with the Safe and Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) framework, designed to promote sustainable innovation within the textile industry.
The next generation oil company. That's how Votion Biorefineries in Sundsvall describes itself. The company has developed a method for converting waste products into biofuels and biochemicals. The process has now been thoroughly tested and it is time to scale up operations.
Anders Edling Hultgren
What is the most effective way to make the transition to a more sustainable society? To do it without anyone noticing. That means introducing new solutions and developing new products that cost no more and have no worse properties than the previous ones - but are simply "greener".
Anders Edling Hultgren understands this, and it is with this in mind that he founded Votion Biorefineries in early 2022.
The company produces biofuels, sustainable aviation fuel and biochemicals. Either in its own biorefineries or in collaboration with other players in the industry.
“I previously worked at SCA for ten years, and that's where I got the idea of using the well-established pulp production process - but tweaking it a bit - to create other high-value bioproducts instead,” he says.
Made from everything from coconut shells to sawdust and straw
The raw materials they use are residual products from the forestry, agricultural and food industries, among others. These include sawdust, bark, nutshells and straw from different parts of the world - but the range of products they can use to make bio-oils is enormous, says Anders Edling Hultgren.
"I'm in contact with a manufacturer of coconut products who has a lot of coconut shells left over. This is something that could be of interest to us. Also rice husks for that matter, we have tested that in India and it works well. At the moment we are testing with raw materials from olive oil production."
The contact with RISE in Örnsköldsvik was absolutely essential for the establishment of Votion Biorefineries, says Anders Edling Hultgren.
“We began our collaboration early in 2022. Thanks to their services, I was able to get started without having my own lab, while at the same time being able to be in the lab when the tests were carried out. It has been very worthwhile.”
Being there gave him ideas that he wouldn't have had if he only had access to the final results.
"I was also able to discuss the process with the good chemists, for example what happens if you change the temperature or add other chemicals. This is something that saves a lot of time and, ultimately, money."
We will always need additional lab services, and I will certainly turn to them again
New plant quickly up and running
Now it's time for Votion Biorefineries to take the next step by establishing its own pilot plant.
"It's a big step, not least financially; it's a costly investment. In any case, I feel confident that we will be able to get the plant up and running quickly once it is in place, by bringing in staff from RISE in the initial phase. They obviously know our business and have full control of our processes."
He also expects the close co-operation with RISE to continue, even when Votion Biorefineries has its own plant.
"We'll always need supplementary lab services, so it's a given that I'll turn to them again. In addition, they are a very good sounding board; we find it easy to find ways forward together," says Anders Edling Hultgren.
Infrastructure park creates opportunities
David Blomberg Saitton, business developer at RISE, agrees that their close dialogue has been very rewarding - for both parties.
-"Anders is a highly qualified client, with long and solid experience. He comes up with questions and ideas that give rise to discussions about solutions that often feel innovative. It's challenging, and it's really exciting and always provides good momentum," he says.
It has been good to be able to call in different competences during the work with Votion Biorefineries, says David Blomberg Saitton.
"Because we are an interdisciplinary organisation, we have been able to answer different types of questions that Anders has had along the way. In addition, our well-developed infrastructure park has been very valuable. The opportunities that open up there are very difficult for a start-up company or other smaller companies to access otherwise."
In the Bio-MeGaFuel project, we proposes a novel route that converts low-value biomass to methanol via an intensified process with a minimum carbon footprint comparable to conventional methods. The process bases on chemical looping gasification to produce biomass-derived syngas which is further converted in membrane reactors to produce methanol.
The goal of Bio-MeGaFuel is to establish a novel efficient, and scalable process to convert low-value biogenic residues and organic waste to biomethanol through chemical looping gasification coupled with membrane reactors.
Besides being an important chemical commodity, methanol is a multipurpose fuel that can be used directly in internal combustion engines, blended with other fuels or for producing fuel additives, which improves engine performance. Methanol has great potential to be one of the selected low-carbon fuels for heavy road and transportation, and marine freight. Technologies that are using methanol as fuel are gaining more momentum and attention globally. However, several challenges may hinder the wider adoption of methanol in energy systems as a fuel:
its current production is primarily reliant on fossil resources,
the high cost of producing methanol from renewable sources (such as e-methanol or biomethanol), driven by low process efficiency and the high expense of renewable inputs, and
strong global demand for methanol in the chemical industry, limiting its availability for the energy sector.
The Bio-MeGaFuel project aims to address the above-mentioned challenges by enhancing production capacity and reducing the cost of biomethanol. Bio-MeGaFuel is underpinned by technologies that are being developed to TRL 5 by an expert consortium. In addition, the project is backed by a strong reference group including the business leaders and market players in biomass supply, whole methanol production value chain, potential end users, and potential future players in the production, management, and distribution of biomethanol.
Project full name: Bio Methanol Production via Chemical Looping Gasification Coupled with Membrane Reactors
Project acronym: Bio-MeGaFuel
Call: HORIZON-CL5-2023-D3-02
“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”
GIDARA Energy
The Technical University of Darmstadt
Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)
The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute
Perpetual Next
1Cube
Blue World Technologies
The EU just passed a new law on more sustainable and circular batteries to support the EU’s energy transition. It is vital that biobased feedstocks be identified and tested for their potential to contribute to battery materials. Spent coffee grounds are an abundant (over 18 million tons per year) source of carbon-containing waste materials.
Graphite and hard carbon demand for use in batteries is expected to increase dramatically to about 4.5 million tons by 2050, from today’s 907 thousand tons. The Green Deal is looking to make the EU’s batteries more sustainable and circular, in addition to increasing resilience in battery production. On the other hand, spent coffee grounds are being produced in large volumes worldwide and are a potentially untapped source of biomass for battery production. With Selecta as coordinator, this project hypothesizes that spent coffee grounds can be used as a biobased feedstock to produce anodes in Lithium ion and Sodium ion batteries (LiBs and SiBs).
To test this hypothesis, the project needs to characterize coffee grounds of different types, assess ease of processing during carbonization steps, prepare anodes and assemble coin cell batteries to characterize and benchmark their performance. Granode Materials, a commercial anode manufacturer for LiB batteries, will assist in testing the new feedstock in the next generation batteries and RISE will provide expertise and specialized labs for carbonization, slurry formulations, and SiB cell assembly and testing.
This project tackles Sustainable Development Goals of affordable, reliable and sustainable energy by contributing to increasing the share of renewable energy (target 7.2, long-term target 7a). Scientific research is the basis for this innovation aimed at making the battery industry more sustainable and resource-use efficient (target 9.4). This project also contributes to environmentally sound management of waste (target 12.4).
Why is the project important?
The EU just passed a new law on more sustainable and circular batteries to support the EU’s energy transition. It is vital that biobased feedstocks be identified and tested for their potential to contribute to battery materials, and that optimization be done so as not to compromise performance when industry moves from fossil-based to biobased materials. Volumes needed are substantial, 4,5 million tons by 2050. Spent coffee grounds are an abundant (over 18 million tons per year) source of carbon-containing waste materials needing valorization.
CESTAP (Competence cEntre in Sustainable Turbine fuels for Aviation and Power) is a centre of competence with academic and industrial partners promoting production and use of sustainable fuels for stationary gas turbines and aviation jet engines.
CESTAP is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency, with contributions from about 28 industrial partners and the three academic partners Lund University (coordinating partner), Luleå University of Technology and RISE. The vision of CESTAP is to transform the aviation and power generation sectors to run continuous combustion engines on 100% sustainable turbine fuels. CESTAP aims to establish a leading centre for research related to sustainable turbine fuels in Europe, with a specific focus on the Swedish prerequisites in terms of feedstock for future fuels.
Sustainable future energy use rely on a shift away from fossil fuels, which in some sectors can be done with new non-combustion technologies like batteries or fuel-cells. Still, in some sectors like aviation, maritime transport, and peak-load and back-up power generation, combustion will be difficult to replace. These sectors rely relatively heavy on continuous combustion engines like gas turbines and jet engines, and they together currently contribute with close to 10% of the global anthropogenic CO2 release.
To meet the needs of aviation and power production industries, the aim of the competence centre is to develop knowledge and technologies to produces efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective turbine fuels that ultimately can be used as true mono-fuels – completely replacing fossil fuels.
The most efficient use of resources requires a focus on sustainable turbine fuels, that can be used as mono-fuels. Compared to the present efforts spent on drop-in fuels this will be a comparatively large, but necessary, undertaking. To achieve success the development must include the full range of activities from feedstock characterization and chemical conversion process development, via fuel development and production, to engine modifications to facilitate the use of fuels with wider specifications. In this respect it is important to have a holistic techno-economic framework to evaluate concepts against. All these aspects are included in the scope of CESTAP.
The next big breakthrough in the bioeconomy is just around the corner. By participating in our international Bioeconomy Research Programme, your company can help drive developments. This programme brings together leading researchers and innovative companies to co-create the sustainable solutions of tomorrow.
Innovation that creates value and sustainability
Collaboration between industry and RISE creates competitiveness with sustainability at its heart. We work strategically to:
Maximise resource efficiency through innovative processes
Transforming raw materials and materials into high value products
Turn waste into valuable assets
Experience shows that collaborative research is more than the sum of its parts. When companies join forces in research projects, both knowledge and resources grow. Collaboration creates a platform for further development in tailor-made projects.
Bioeconomy Research Programme 2025
The new programme builds on the experience and results of the 2021–2024 programme, which focused on areas such as pulp and cellulose, wood and biorefinery, and packaging materials. The established collaborations and networks from the first programme period provide a solid basis for further development.
Based on in-depth dialogue with industry and analysis of future trends, we have identified strategic research areas for the programme that started in January 2025.
Vision and objectives
The research programme will provide companies with the tools to:
Ensure competitiveness in 5–10 years
Develop sustainable solutions to meet future needs
Build strong research collaborations
Benefits of research collaboration
When companies choose to do research with us, they get:
Access to world-leading expertise
Enhanced expertise in strategic areas
An international network
Cost-effective research through shared funding
Faster time to results and market
Possibility of tailor-made projects
Secure management of intellectual property
Patents and rights that create value
Each participant contributes their expertise and gains access to new knowledge to implement in their business. Together we tackle both long-term research challenges and short-term process improvements.
Focus on sustainability
All projects are evaluated on their contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and a sustainable society. Our work is driven by the ambition to create solutions that have a positive impact on society, now and in the future.
Ongoing projects within the Bioeconomy Research Programme
Barriers
Objective: Biobased alternative barrier materials to replace fossil-based laminates. Concept development from lab to pilot scale.
Consortium manager: Astrid Glasenapp
Corrugated board packaging
Objective: Improve the performance and reliability of corrugated board and packaging through improved properties and relevant measurement methods as well as prediction of performance from properties.
Consortium manager: Astrid Glasenapp
Fiber and additive design
Objective: Improve the performance of papermaking additives by tailoring complexes of additives to the fibre surfaces. Explore the possibilities to improve the unit operations by adjusting bleaching parameters.
Consortium manager: Anna Sjöstedt
Lignin production
Objective: To optimise lignin production, focusing on lowering production cost, CAPEX and OPEX and improving quality by implementing new in-process measurement techniques and post-treatment methods
Consortium manager: Mattias Wennerstål
Paperboard packaging
Objective: To improve packaging performance, including how it behaves mechanically, how it looks when printed and how efficiently it can be converted.
Consortium manager: Ida Östlund
Pulping and bleaching
Objective: To improve the pulping process by applying synergistic implementation of impregnation techniques, oxygen delignification and high defibration point to increase overall yield.
Consortium manager: Oskar Westin
Recovery cycle and water management
Objective: To optimise pulp mill processes with a focus on improving runnability and energy savings, decreased water footprint, and improved wastewater management and valorisation.
Consortium manager: Mattias Wennerstål
Recycled fibres
Objective: To improve recycling processes for difficult to recycle materials and understand how fibre and process water quality is affected by different process conditions.
Consortium manager: Pernilla Karlsson
Tissue
Objective: To investigate how alternative fibres, enzymatic treatment, extended oxygen delignification and different embossing patterns influence tissue properties and/or sustainability of tissue paper.
Name of service (page headline, shown in promos – maximum of 70 characters incl. spaces):Compounding, injection molding and extrusion of plasticsLead (include SEO-words and the main benefits for your target groups. Stick to one paragraph, maximum 2-3 sentences):
We have process equipment for compounding, injection molding and extrusion. We perform testing of new material compositions, vary process parameters and prepare samples for evaluation. We offer equipment in the range from lab to pilotscale, providing possibilities for product development and solving problems.
Purpose/Benefit:
Material and product development of plastics require process equipment in lab and pilotscale in order to test new ideas without disturbing a production or requiring too much material. Through our broad experience and close cooperation with our partners we contribute to development in order to reach new goals and targets.
Tests and experiments in small scale means advantages regarding time to develop a material or a process, or when working with optimization. We can easily vary the materials composition and parameters.
Method (what/which methods are used to perform the service):
In our microcompounder in Borås, small batches can be mixed efficiently when there is a need for small-scale trials. We also have lab extruders of the Brabender Plasti-Corder®Labstation type with great flexibility and great opportunities for smaller batches, for example. from 100 to 5000 g/h. In connection, there is the possibility of injection molding of test specimens.
Our compounder in Mölndal is a double screw extruder of the type Coperion ZSK 26 with 255 mm screws and L/D 40. It is equipped with side feeder and vauum pump. The output capacity is in the range 0,5-25 kg/h and the compound is air or water cooled before pelletizing. We have various feeders in order to add and test different additives and for preparation of composites
Our injection molding machine, also in Möldanl is of the type ES 200/110 HV-L by Engel. We have tools for injection molding of test bars (dog bones) for evaluation of mechanical properties and tools for plates in order to evaluate impact by falling object or evaluation of transparency. We have a spiral tool used for measuring flow length that will measure how the material behaves during molding at a specific temperature and varying pressure. Melt flow index (MFI) is often measured for injection molding materials and we evaluated according to the standard ISO 1133. Injection molding of test bars follow the standrd ISO 294 but for each plastic material there are standards that we follow which specify the temperature and pressure that is recommended for that material.
We can extrude film and foil that is up to 300mm wide and with a thickness in the range 0,1-1mm. The equipment has 3 extruders making it possible to create foils with 3 different layers.
Delivery (what does the client get after performed service – e.g. a report, certificate etc.):
We always have a dialogue with our customers and partners what is to be included in the deliveries. It can range from achieving an optimized recipe based on a certain specification of properties to that we, with you as a visiting customer on site, make joint decisions upon alternatives for the next set of process parameters to be tested. It is important for us that you know what you can expect from us.
Area: Material transition PlasticsContact person (Enter one name per field. Activated personal contact pages will appear automatically):Christian Carlsson, Enhetschef
TechUPGRADE is an ambitious initiative aimed at creating a groundbreaking advanced thermochemical technology for waste heat recovery. Our solution efficiently recovers waste heat from industrial processes and upgrades it to temperatures ranging from 150-250°C.
The ambition of TechUPGRADE is to develop and demonstrate (to TRL 5) this radically new idea by the development and operation of two separate first-of-its-kind and compact heat upgrade systems integrated with industrial waste heat and solar thermal collectors (also district heating as an add-on) under relevant environmental conditions. These systems will be capable of performing simultaneously the following two functions:
Upgrading the low-temperature heat to higher temperatures (150-250 oC) by tuning the partial pressure of water vapor consuming a small amount of electricity. It will provide a radically new way of upgrading the heat in comparison to conventional heat pump (VCHP Variable Capacity Heat Pump or Thermo Acoustic Heat Pumpt TAHP), which are mainly driven by electricity.
It will provide inherent heat storage capability within the system (if needed), thus providing flexibility in the supply of process heat when integrated with other sources such as solar thermal and/or district heating systems.
RISE lead the work package of sustainability assessment, conducting life cycle assessment and develop guidelines on optimizing the environmental performance and benefits of upgrading waste heat from industry.
University of Twente
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt
TU Wien
COWI
Institute of Entrepreneurship Development
Greenlab Skive A/S
Quanterall Ltd
Thermal & Material Engineering Center
MG Sustainable Engineering
Absolicon Solar Collector
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Klaipėdos universitetas
National Technical University of Athens
Project end date:
Offer-pages:
Bioeconomy Arena: test and scale up bio-based solutions with RISE
Power production
Sekundär områdes navigation:
Project end date:
Textiles
Sekundär områdes navigation:
Funders without URL:
European Union
Project end date:
Fossil-free fuels
Sekundär områdes navigation:
Project end date:
Fossil-free fuels
Sekundär områdes navigation:
Project end date:
Sekundär områdes navigation: