Test facility
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has launched a new test bed for companies developing second generation transport biofuels.
The gasification plant will be able to exploit any carbon-based raw-materials, for example, forest industry residues, bark, biomass from fields and peat. In Finland, the main focus at the moment is on exploiting forest industry residues and by-products without risking the supply of raw-materials to the forest industry.
The test equipment, located in Otaniemi, Espoo, represents what VTT describes as the most advanced technology in Europe, allowing VTT and industrial partners to conduct joint research on completely new production technology.
The test plant in Otaniemi is one of the largest energy projects financed by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, Tekes, with an overall budget of €4 million. Apart from VTT, the project involves the Helsinki University of Technology, Neste Oil, Foster Wheeler Energy, Andritz, Vapo, Pohjolan Voima and the large forest industry companies UPM, StoraEnso, M-Real and MetsäBotnia.
Finland is committed to increasing its use of biofuels by 2010 in accordance with EU requirements and is actively promoting their development. The working group for transport biofuels, established by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, proposed the setting up of a national programme to develop new production technologies for second-generation biofuels, and to introduce new biofuels onto the market by 2015.
Contact
Kai Sipilä
Research Director, VTT
Tel: +358 40 500 9778
Esa Kurkela
Development Manager, VTT
Tel: +358 40 502 6231
Receive the Funding Newswire each Tuesday, our Policy Bulletin each Thursday, and news about bridging Europe’s east-west innovation gap twice a month in The Widening. 
A unique international forum for public research organisations and companies to connect their external engagement with strategic interests around their R&D system.
