Review of the Finnish BioRefine: New biomass products program

The BioRefine–New Biomass Products Programme of Tekes, Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, for 2007–2012 aims to generate new and unique expertise in the processing of biomass and apply it to the creation of processes, products and services related to biorefineries. A further objective is to promote the development and use of second‐generation production technologies in biofuels for transport. The BioRefine Programme harnesses an extensive network of Finnish research institutes, universities and enterprises. In Finland, the existing know‐how of Finnish forest and energy companies forms the basis for creating new businesses and new products from biomass. Forest industry is expected to be one of the most viable platforms for biorefining in the first stage. Small distributed biorefineries may become important in the next stage. The planned program budget totals EUR 137 million. At mid‐term, the volume of the projects is about EUR 90 million and it is estimated that the total volume of the projects will reach about EUR 200 million. In the program, e.g., technologies for producing biofuels for transport via the synthesis‐gas route and new liquid biofuel concepts based on integrating a fluidized‐bed boiler and fast pyrolysis, are developed and demonstrated. In addition to the production, the use of biofuels is also demonstrated. Greenhouse gas and other environmental impacts are assessed. Activities of the program and the main results achieved in 2007–2009 are presented in the paper.