Groundbreaking ceremony for Topsoe biofuels project

18-09-2009
H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden was present at the groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the initiation of the construction of a new bio fuel plant in Piteaa, Sweden.
Converting black liquor to DME
The plant will be the world’s first to produce dimethyl ether – DME – from biomass. The plant is constructed as part of the EU project “BioDME”, coordinated by Swedish Volvo.

In cooperation with Swedish Chemrec, Topsoe will design and build the new DME plant, which will produce DME from black liquor – a by-product of paper production which is normally burnt.

”Earlier this year we supplied our engineering package for the project. Now we look forward to see the plant under construction,” says Esben Lauge Sørensen, Research Engineer in Topsoe’s Research and Development Division. Esben Lauge Sørensen represented Topsoe at the ceremony.

DME – the fuel of the future
DME is produced from biomass and presents a sustainable and highly competitive alternative to fossil fuels.

DME has high energy efficiency with minimal environmental impact. The exhaust from cars and trucks running on DME is very clean, partly because the combustion is soot free.

From bio fuel to gas station
”We believe in the project and we are pleased to see the construction is now initiated,” says Claus Hviid Christensen, Project Director in Topsoe’s Research and Development. ”The project is highly innovative, as it will demonstrate the entire technology train from the paper mill supplying black liquor via gas stations for fuelling DME to trucks actually running on DME.”


Contact
Claus Hviid Christensen, Project Director, Research and Development
Tel. +45 4527 2549, mobile +45 2275 4549, e-mail: chc@topsoe.dk

Christina Odgaard, Communication Manager
Tel. +45 4527 2043, mobile +45 2275 4043, e-mail: chod@topsoe.dk
His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden broke ground at the launch of the construction of the world’s first biofuel plant producing DME.
 
The project will demonstrate the whole technology train from production to gas station.