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Liquid biofuels
Enabling efficient
conversion
Biomass to next generation fuels
VTT has developed deep expertise in the cost-efficient
conversion of biomass to biofuels. Our focus is on
sustainable non-food materials like wood chips, forest
residue, straw and other lignocellulosic raw materials. Our
proven technologies include both thermal and biotechnical
conversion routes to next generation biofuels for the energy
sector. Our latest development is a solid torrefied woodderived biofuel to replace coal in pulverized coal boilers.
VTT offers cost-effective, tested plug-and-play biomass conversion technologies ready to be tailored to your specific
needs. We bring fresh, unbiased thinking and years of experience to your development and implementation process.
The VTT Offering:
Lignocellulosic bioethanol
Biodiesel
• Affordable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass
• Metabolic engineering
• Bioprocess development
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Methanol and methane based fuels
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Metabolic engineering
Bioprocess development
Gasification
Gas cleaning
Affordable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass
Metabolic engineering
Bioprocess development
Gasification
Fast pyrolysis
Gas cleaning
Pyrolysis oil quality improvement
Biobased jet fuel
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Affordable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass
Metabolic engineering
Bioprocess development
Fast pyrolysis
Pyrolysis oil quality improvement
Case study 1: NSE Biofuels Oy
NSE Biofuels Oy develops advanced second generation Biomass-to-Liquid (BtL) technology at the commercial level.
The company is a joint venture of Neste Oil Oyj, a global transportation fuels refiner and marketer, and Stora Enso Oyj, a
global leader in paper, biomaterials, wood products and packaging.
In the BtL demonstration project our role was to carry out R&D activities in the areas of gasification, gas filtration and
the reforming of tars and hydrocarbon gases. We also brought our significant expertise in gasification and gas cleaning
to bear.
Our extensive experience and knowhow based on decades of intensive R&D in the field of gasification and gas
conditioning offered an excellent platform for further development and demonstration of the oxygen blown gasificationbased BtL process.
The partnership with VTT enabled NSE Biofuels Oy a fast track from laboratory R&D to successful demonstration of
BtL processes based on biomass-derived synthesis gas and Fisher-Tropsch synthesis.
“Collaboration with VTT in the development and demonstration of the BtL process has been very successful. It has
added significant value to the overall process concept.”
- Lars-Peter Lindfors, Senior Vice President, Technology and Strategy, Neste Oil Oyj
Case study 2: Fortum Power and Heat Oy
VTT is helping Fortum Power and Heat Oy to develop the world’s first integrated (pyrolysis) bio oil production plant. The
bio oil produced will be used to replace fossil fuels in building heat generation.
VTT’s unique competence, combined with industrial partners’ know-how, resulted in strong processes and business
development abilities.
Our industrial partners were able to succesfully develop the process from the research stage to demonstration scale.
“VTT’s role in our research consortium has been crucial. Their long experience and world class competence in fast
pyrolysis has enabled a fast track from research to demonstration.”
- Jukka Heiskanen, Head of R&D, Heat Division, Fortum Power and Heat Oy
Case study 3: Mascoma Corporation
Mascoma Corporation is a U.S.-based renewable fuels company. Over three years, VTT helped them to develop a novel
production host for more cost-efficient lignocellulosic ethanol production.
VTT engineered a yeast strain capable of consolidated bioprocessing (CBP). With this approach, the fermentation
host also produces hydrolytic enzymes.
The CBP yeast strain significantly reduces the need for external enzymes, improving the economics of production.
Additional information
Thermal conversion
Key Account Manager
Marko Nokkala
Tel. +358 20 722 6512
marko.nokkala@vtt.fi
Biotechnical conversion
Key Account Manager
Jouni Ahtinen
Tel. +358 20 722 4384
jouni.ahtinen@vtt.fi
VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLAND
www.vtt.fi
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