Forest residues into sustainable fuel – the FOR-BLEND project seeks to enhance sustainability
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The University of Vaasa, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, and Åbo Akademi University have received funding from the EU-Interreg Aurora Programme to develop a solution for managing forest residues and producing sustainable fuel. The project aims to develop a process that produces a blending component for fuels for internal combustion engines.
Businesses and industries rely on forests. Forest residues, such as bark and sawdust from sawmills, is typically burned. Refining these residues into fuel for machinery can help meet the European Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII) requirement of 5.5% for advanced biofuels.
The FOR-BLEND project seeks to develop a process for managing forest-based residue locally and producing a sustainable fuel blend component.
The University of Vaasa, Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) and Åbo Akademi University will collaborate closely in the project. RISE will use its pilot plants to develop fuel components. The University of Vaasa will analyse the biofuel's properties and find a blend share that will fulfil the current fuel standards. Åbo Akademi University will study process integration and evaluate the product's supply chain.
– The northern parts of Finland and Sweden face similar challenges in energy production and supply. In FOR-BLEND, we are working on regional solutions, and it is important to collaborate across borders to enhance sustainability. It is our goal to develop a carbon-neutral fuel component that could be produced locally, says Carolin Nuortila, Senior Researcher from the University of Vaasa.
RISE is an independent research institute that works with industry and the public sector to develop sustainable solutions.
– This project lets us work with new partners and build new collaborations in business and society to make the transition to sustainability. RISE will share its knowledge with feedstock holders and fuel producers demonstrating how residual lignocellulosic streams can be used to produce fuel components, says Elena Wikberg, Research and Development Engineer from RISE.
Åbo Akademi University will analyse the data from the experimental research.
– Previous research and new data from RISE will be used to investigate process feasibility and perform process simulations at Åbo Akademi University, says Cataldo de Blasio, Senior University Lecturer from Åbo Akademi University.
The project is supported by independent regional research actor Future Eco North Sweden AB and industry partners, Meriaura Ltd, and Kuhmo Ltd, who will share their expertise.
The FOR-BLEND - Carbon-neutral low-processed fuel blending component for existing infrastructure project is funded by the EU-Interreg Aurora Programme, the Regional Council of Lapland, Region Norrbotten and the project partners. The project started in October 2024 and will run for three years.
Further information
Carolin Nuortila
Project leader of FOR-BLEND, University of Vaasa
carolin.nuortila@uwasa.fi, +358 29 4498 244
Elena Wikberg
Contact person of RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
elena.wikberg@ri.se, +46 70 312 63 89
Cataldo De Blasio
Contact person of Åbo Akademi University
cdeblasi@abo.fi, +358 40 8180 981
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