Smart storage and supply of straw for biorefinery

Agriculture has a great potential to contribute to a fossil-free society by supplying raw materials in forms of different residual/side streams, and untapped potential, e.g., by supplying biomass to biorefineries. Cereal straw accounts for a large part of this potential and can be converted into a variety of products such as chemicals, textiles, and fuels.

The overall ambition of the project Smart storage and supply of straw for biorefinery is to increase the availability of straw by harvesting and using straw with an increased water content. Additionally, to examine the pretreatment effect during aerobic storage that can be obtained at an elevated water content by utilizing the straw's natural microorganisms.

The project includes storage experiments of straw in lab and full-scale to investigate relationships between dry matter losses, water content and temperature. The trials will evaluate pretreatment effects during storage and the hygienic quality for biorefinery applications such as substrate for biogas production. Modeling of available straw at different water levels is carried out, and systems and business arrangements are developed. The project is implemented through collaborations with companies that produce bio-based products and straw contractors.

The project contributes to a more efficient utilization of biomass for different biorefinery concepts by combining storage and pre-treatment. Enabling large-scale investments in biorefineries by improving conditions along the value chain and increasing the use of agricultural biomass. In addition to strengthening Sweden's fossil independence and the domestic production of bio-based products and fuels.