NordFuel Oy selected Finnish Chempolis Oy as the technology supplier in spring 2024. Chempolis bioethanol production technology has now been tested at the state-of-the-art demo plant in Oulu. Pilot trials were started in spring 2024 and the tests are currently in progress.

During the test runs, high-quality lignin is produced from softwood-based sawdust and wood chips. Analyses of lignin have already shown that the so-called organosolv lignin produced by the Chempolis’ process has exceptionally high purity level. In addition, tests carried out by NordFuel’s partners showed that NordFuel’s sulfur-free lignin is suitable for a wide range of applications, from cosmetic products to  variousindustrial applications.

“Initial results of the product testing are very promising, and we are following the progress of the customer projects with interest,” says Johanna Laukkanen, Business Development Manager from NordFuel.

Before completing the pilot trials, the target is to produce so-called biomass cake and process water samples. Composition of these side streams will provide important additional information for both process design and application development. The test runs will also generate other necessary data which will be utilised for the basis of design for the NordFuel’s Haapavesi plant.

NordFuel and Chempolis will continue close cooperation and engineering work as a target to build the bioproduct plant in Haapavesi.

“The cooperation has been smooth, and we have learned a lot from the partnership between our companies,” says Maija Rouhiainen, R&D & LAB Director at Chempolis.

Successful pilot trials, as well as the high-quality bioproducts produced during the test runs, have opened opportunities for versatile off-take negotiations. Additional interest is raised by the news that a full-scale plant equipped with Chempolis technology in Assam, India, will be completed in the coming months. NordFuel’s Haapavesi project is expected to increase confidence that NordFuel, together with Chempolis, will bring Finland to the forefront of the bioeconomy.

Learn more about our partner

Chempolis Oy is a provider of advanced formico® biorefining technologies. The technologies enable the production of high-quality products, such as bioethanol, biochemicals and sulfur-free lignin sustainably out of lignocellulosic feedstocks. Chempolis’ services entail biorefinery project development, technology licensing, product and application development and piloting services.