By using biorefineries, we are able to utilize bio materials such as wheat and potato juice when producing energy. The project Biorefinery Oresund wanted to create a both economic and environmentally sustainable regional production of raw materials.

A green future
In the future Oresund Region, the use of raw materials in producing chemicals, materials, and energy should be as CO2 neutral as possible. In order to refine oil from plants and using this to produce chemicals, materials, and energy, establishing bio refineries is a necessity. Bio refineries utilize bio materials in producing different kinds of materials; just like oil refineries do on the basis of raw oil.

The project wanted to create a regional, biobased production of raw materials which would be sustainable both economically and environmentally.

Energy from agriculture
In the Oresund Region, the landscape is predominantly agricultural. Thus, the project wanted to study, whether it is possible to produce energy and materials from agricultural materials such as artichokes, wheat and rape. Also, products such as potato juice, which is very low priced, was studied.

The project was able to conclude that producing Mannitol from potato juice has the highest commercial value. However, no cooperation with a business was started in order to launch a product.

Also, the project finished a pilot-scale biorefinary in Sweden and a mobile device in Denmark. These units can now be utilized by businesses to test and work with producing energy and other materials from biofuel.

 
Foto: A photo of the pilot-scale biorefinary. The facility consists of two large tanks of 11.5 cubic meters, one of five cubic meters and a 300 liter and two storage tanks of 3.5 cubic meters. The size of the tank allows it to run processes of an almost industrial scale.