EVRY, France and STOCKHOLM, Sweden and ORNSKOLDSVIK, Sweden, Sept. 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GLOBAL BIOENERGIES (Alternext paris: ALGBE), PREEM, SEKAB and SVEASKOG announce having joined forces to develop a high-performance fuel entirely based on forest resources. The consortium has signed a collaboration agreement to carry out a conceptual scope study for a first plant in Sweden. This work will be carried out as part of the "Bio-Based Gasoline Project" with support from the Swedish Energy Agency.
In April this year, Preem, Sekab and Sveaskog had announced having entered into a collaboration to develop a gasoline fuel based entirely on forest resources with support from the Swedish Energy Agency. The consortium has selected the Isobutene process developed by the French industrial biotech Global Bioenergies for the conversion of wood derived sugars into high performance gasoline.
With close to 30 million hectares of forest land (14% of which being owned and managed by Sveaskog), Sweden positions itself as a leader in the sustainable supply of resources for the energy transition. To reduce the country's dependence on fossil transport fuels and maximize regional impact, state-of-the-art technological solutions must be implemented to convert this natural wealth in ready-to-use, easy to ship high performance sustainable fuels.
Over the coming months, the consortium will study various plant scenarios to profitably convert forestry products and residues into bio-isooctane, a 100-octane rating, high-performance bio-based gasoline derived from bio-isobutene. The value chain will rely on Sveaskog's foresty activities, Sekab's CelluAPP ® biomass to sugar conversion process, Global Bioenergies wood-sugars to Isobutene process and Preem's gasoline production processes, blending and retailing activities.
Ann-Britt Edfast, R&D Manager at Sveaskog says: "Sveaskog's priority is to develop new uses for forest biomass. Our assessment is that forest resources will play a crucial role in the green transition to a fossil-free society. The value chain developed here is of particular interest for Sveaskog since it can use a range of forestry derived by-products and targets a drop-in molecule."
Thore Lindgren, Vice President of Sekab E-Technology AB adds: "The Bio-Based Gasoline Project will enable the large scale commercial deployment of our CelluAPP ® wood-conversion technology and will demonstrate how it can open the forestry sector to the vast new array of markets and in the first instance to high performance bio-based gasoline".
Marc Delcourt, CEO of Global Bioenergies further adds: "The diversification of feedstock has always been central to the development of our Isobutene technology as it opens new territories and markets to our process. Following a first plant project in France based on sugar-beet we are delighted to now work at its deployment downstream of the Swedish forestry industry".
Stefan Nystrom, Business Development Engineer at Preem concludes: "The ability to produce drop-in, high performance bio-based gasoline in Sweden from residuals of the Swedish forestry is a central brick in our strategy and commitment to the environment. This partnership offers an entirely new technical solution to produce well known, high performance molecules such as isooctane and to establish a new bridge between our country's forest and our consumers need for sustainable energy sources".
The cooperative project is partly financed by the Swedish Energy Agency and will run during the year 2016/17.
About GLOBAL BIOENERGIES
Global Bioenergies is one of the few companies worldwide, and the only one in Europe, that is developing a process to convert renewable resources into hydrocarbons through fermentation. The Company initially focused its efforts on the production of isobutene, one of the most important petrochemical building blocks that can be converted into fuels, plastics, organic glass and elastomers. Global Bioenergies continues to improve the performances of its process, operates its industrial pilot, has begun the construction of its demo plant in Germany, and prepares the first full-scale plant through a Joint-Venture with Cristal Union, named IBN-One. The company also replicated its achievement to propylene and butadiene, two members of the gaseous olefins family, key molecules at the heart of petrochemical industry. Global Bioenergies is listed on Alternext, Euronext Paris (FR0011052257 - ALGBE).
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About Preem
Preem is Sweden's largest fuel company. We refine and sell gasoline, diesel, renewable fuels and heating oils to companies and consumers in Sweden. Preem's two refineries are considered to be among Europe's most modern and environmentally efficient, with an annual refining capacity of more than 18 million metric tons of crude oil. Just over two-thirds of this production is exported, which makes Preem Sweden's third largest export company. Preem has a nationwide service network with some 570 fuel stations for private and commercial traffic. The company has over 1,300 employees, of whom 900 work at the refineries in Gothenburg and Lysekil. Preem had a turnover of SEK 66 billion in 2015.
About Sekab
Sekab is a Swedish chemical and ethanol-based company and a leader in Europe. We want to help reduce dependence on fossil raw materials and fuels. Sekab has developed the biomass conversion technology platform CelluAPP ® and conducts research to produce commercial bio-based platforms and products, primarily from forest residues, and refines ethanol renewable fuels and green chemicals. Known for the development of ED95 launched already 30 years ago, and the market development of E85 in Sweden.
About Sveaskog
Sveaskog is Sweden's leading forestry companies. We sell timber, pulpwood and biofuel. We also work with land transactions and develop the forest as a place for fishing, hunting and other outdoor experiences. The forest is the core for us and we take great responsibility to drive development in forestry, but also of new uses for forest biomass, wood products and forest land. In everything we do, we are committed to sustainable development. We have a turnover of SEK 6 billion (EUR 650 million) and approximately 690 employees. We are owned by the Swedish state.
Contact
GLOBAL BIOENERGIES Frédéric PÂQUES Chief Operations Officer Phone: +33 (0)1 64 98 20 50 Email: invest@global-bioenergies.com
Preem Stefan Nystrom Business Development Phone: +46 (0)10 450 41 93 Email: stefan.nystrom@preem.se
SEKAB Thore LINDGREN Vice President of Sekab E-Technology AB Email: thore.lindgren@sekab.com
SVEASKOG Ann-Britt EDFAST Manager of Research and Development Phone: +46 70 277 00 84 Email: ann-britt.edfast@sveaskog.se
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