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Chemical Technology • April 2016
V
TT’s new piloting centre, Bioruukki, provides a
unique collaboration platform for developing
products for the bioeconomy and for creating
new competitive edge. It is also an innovation and
demonstration platform for bio- and circular economy
businesses. The centre is one of VTT’s most significant
investments this decade, and the largest bioeconomy-
related research environment in the Nordic countries.
Bioruukki enables studying and assessing both the
technological and economic feasibility of biotechnological
development concepts and ideas. This applies particularly
to the development of production methods for biofuels and
valuable chemicals. At the same time, Bioruukki provides
companies with an opportunity to speed up the launching
of innovations onto the global markets.
As mentioned earlier, the pilot centre promotes commer-
cialisation and production of solutions based on the bio- and
circular economy. The entire value chain from rawmaterials
to final products can be piloted in the same environment,
which combines biomass processing, thermochemistry and
chemical synthesis.
The markets are already there
The global goals of sustainable development and associated
regulatory frameworks within the EU and elsewhere created
a need for products developed in Bioruukki. There is now
no other choice but to look for alternative power sources to
replace fossil fuels. Markets for biofuels and other products
based on bioeconomy-enabling technologies have already
been established, according to Principal Scientist from VTT,
Yrjö Solantausta.
“This environment will open up new possibilities,
because we now have more space. We have assembled
gasification and pyrolysis research equipment here, which
can be easily modified to accommodate any customer
needs. Previously, space constraints restricted potential
technological solutions, however, the new premises are
flexible, including a development environment for our cus-
tomers where they can demonstrate solutions to their own
customers. Smaller companies can even use the premises
for production purposes,” says Solantausta.
Tangible tool for promoting bioeconomy
Apart from symbolising faith in the future, the Bioruukki
piloting environment is also tangible proof of the efforts
to create new business activities and opportunities on the
basis of bio-based and circular economies.
Bioeconomy based on sustainable use of renewable
natural resources is a global trend. Finland is in a good
position to benefit from such growth, so that one of
Bioruukki’s missions is to develop new technologies which
enable bioeconomy based on forest biomass and to speed
VTT opened its research and new pilot plant,
Bioruukki, in Espoo, Finland, a year ago.
The first stage comprised gasification and
pyrolysis research activities. At the moment
the biomass centre is under construction
and will be opened this year. The Green
Chemistry Centre of Bioruukki will follow in
2017-2019 and the Solar Centre in
2018-2019.
VTT Technical
Research Centre
of Finland
Research and piloting centre, Bioruukki