Sweden is going to be the home of a new advanced biofuel pilot plant that will use lignin as the feedstock. RenFuel and Nordic Paper are citing the facility in Bäckhammar in Värmland, and the project has been granted 71 million kronor by the Swedish Energy Agency. Using lignin from the pulp industry RenFuel has developed a method to convert the renewable residual black liquor to Lignol, or lignin oil. From there, it can be used as raw material in the production of advanced biofuels replacing both gas and diesel fuels. In addition, the project aims to assist the pulp industry with a new revenue source: waste black liquor feedstock.

RenFuel CEO Sven Lignol showcases Lignol.

“Our product Lignol is key to achieving the goal of a fossil-free vehicle fleet by 2030. It is very gratifying to finally be able to test the product on a large scale thanks to the cooperation with Nordic Paper and the funding from the Energy Agency,” said Sven Löchen, president of RenFuel.

The pilot plant, to be built at the Nordic Paper’s pulp mill in Bäckhammar, is expected to be online in early 2017. The two partners hope that Lignol will provide a significant source of bioenergy to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and help the country meet its goal’s of a fossil-free vehicle fleet by 2030.

Per Bjurbom, CEO of Nordic Paper, added, “The pulp and paper industry is an important link in the bio-economy. Through such cooperation, we can concretely contribute to the growing fossil-free future. It feels extremely positive.”