With increasing demand for green chemicals, Sekab sees an opportunity to contribute to climate change adaptation by commercialising its technology.
Now the conditions for building a production plant that makes green chemicals from residual products from the forest will be investigated.
Today, Sekab is one of Europe’s leading biochemical companies. Every year, biofuels and chemical products are delivered to customers in both Sweden and abroad. For several years, Sekab has developed pioneering technology for producing renewable raw materials from the forest.
– The climate goals are strict and distinct and our whole society must increase the pace of transition. The forest has the potential to contribute significantly more to a sustainable society. Most things that are made today from fossil raw materials such as coal, oil and gas can just as easily be made out of products from the forest. This is where our new technology comes in, says Monica Normark, Chief Technology Officer at Sekab.
The technology is called CelluAPP and had been developed in the lab in Domsjö. It takes residual products from the forest, such as sawdust, and processes them into green raw materials such as wood sugar, ethanol and lignin. In turn, they can become products that contribute to climate change adaptation: from biofuels to asphalt and medicines. The technology has been developed and tested in Sekab’s demonstration plant and is now ready for large scale use.
Sekab is therefore starting a feasibility study today with the aim of investigating the conditions for building a production facility in which its own technology will be used to create green chemicals from the forest.
– The time is right now. Demand for green products is increasing, there is a great willingness to invest in technological advances that contribute to climate change adaptation and we are ready to take the lead. If a large-scale production facility becomes a reality, it will help solve the challenges society is facing and at the same time strengthen our position as a leading player, says Monica Normark.
The feasibility study will carefully and thoroughly investigate the conditions for the building of a production facility. Partners, financing and location are issues that must be processed. As a first step, Sekab is currently seeking investment support from the European Innovation Fund. The feasibility study will be completed in the autumn of 2022.