The Bio4Fuels project is structured in 5 sub-projects (SPs), each containing 3 or 4 work packages (WPs), as illustrated below:
Within this organizational structure, Bio4Fuels focuses on and coordinates the activities along the value chains, addressing specific challenges and bottlenecks needed to go from resources to products using the most relevant technological approaches for biofuels production. In the following details about the research in each SP is presented.
SP1: Bio-resource, Environment and Climate
SP leader:
- Francesco Cherubini, NTNU
Key features:
- Resource use and availability in Norway
- Climate change impacts and mitigation
- Economic policies for sustainable biofuel economy
Work packages:
- WP1.1 Land, Resources and Ecosystem Processes (Rasmus Astrup, NIBIO)
- WP1.2 Climate and Environment (Francesco Cherubini, NTNU)
- WP1.3 Energy, Fuels and Economics (Torjus Bolkesjø, NMBU)
SP2: Liquefaction Processes
SP leader:
- Judit Sandquist, SINTEF
Key features:
- Develop novel technologies for direct conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks to transport biofuels – through pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction
- Increase the robustness of the liquefaction and catalytic processes throughout the whole value chain
- Increase energy efficiency through the whole value chain
Work packages:
- WP2.1 Pyrolysis (Kai Toven, RISE PFI)
- WP2.2 Hydrothermal Liquefaction (Judit Sandquist, SINTEF ER)
- WP2.3 Thermochemical Upgrading (Roman Tschentscher, SINTEF Industry)
- WP2.4 Chemo-catalytic conversion (De Chen, NTNU)
SP3: Biochemical Processes
SP leader:
- Anikó Várnai, NMBU
Key features:
- Biotechnology-based approaches to convert relevant biomass to biofuels and value-added chemicals
- Establish economically viable conversion of Norway spruce
Work packages:
- WP3.1 Pretreatment and Fractionation (Mihaela Tanase-Opedal, RISE PFI)
- WP3.2 Enzymatic Saccharification (Anikó Várnai, NMBU)
- WP3.3 Fermentation (Alexander Wentzel, SINTEF Industry)
- WP3.4 Anaerobic digestion and gas upgrading (Michal Sposob, NIBIO)
SP4: Gasification Processes
SP leader:
- Morten Seljeskog, SINTEF
Key features:
- Thermochemical processes where carbonaceous fuels are converted into combustible gases
- Biomass gasification and subsequent fuel and chemicals synthesis – allowing a seamless transition from fossil raw materials to a renewable economy
Work packages:
- WP4.1 Gasification (Morten Seljeskog, SINTEF Energy)
- WP4.2 Gas Conditioning (Edd Blekken, NTNU)
- WP4.3 Preparing for Piloting and Up-scaling (Klaus Jens, USN)
SP5: Process design and End Use
SP leader:
- Bernd Wittgens, SINTEF
Key features:
- Identify the most promising process configurations
- Efficient and clean end-use
Work packages:
- WP5.1 Modelling Tool for Biorefineries (Heinz Preisig, NTNU)
- WP5.2 Techno-Economic Evalulation / Scale of Economy (Bernd Wittgens, SINTEF Industry)
- WP5.3 Product quality and End Use (Terese Løvås, NTNU)