Cluster Biofuels Denmark (CBD) |
- tomorrow’s bio-refining is being developed in Kalundborg
Cluster Biofuels Denmark is a cluster initiative within bio-refining from 2008, initially funded by the Danish Enterprise and Construction Authority and EU’s Regional Fund. The purpose of CBD is to establish partnerships and to attract investments in pilot and demonstration plants for the exploitation of residual products from agriculture and waste and to convert these into new, high and low value products. The initiative originates from the continued refining of residual products of Inbicon's 2nd generation bioethanol.
The Danish transport sector is one of the massive contributors to CO2 emissions, and the addition of ethanol to the petrol is one of the methods designed to reduce emissions within this sector. The Danish Climate Minister is therefore ready to propose a bill to the effect that 5.75% of the petrol used in cars must be bioethanol. Biofuels are the future – and the future is alive and kicking in Kalundborg!
2nd generation biofuelsCluster Biofuels Denmark (CBD) is a regional centre of technology for bio-refining. It is a partnership between DONG Energy, Inbicon, Kalundborg Municipality and Roskilde University designed to establish new partnerships and to accumulate new knowledge for the development of 2nd generation biofuels.
Focus on bioethanolCBD is primarily focusing its efforts on producing bioethanol: In 2009, Inbicon commissioned the world’s biggest demonstration plant for 2nd generation ligno cellulose-based bioethanol produced on wheat straw. CBD is accumulating international experience on bioethanol and bio-refining of residual products from bioethanol. Rice straw and waste”There is a lot of action worldwide involving biofuels right now. In Chine, for example, tests are being conducted to extract bioethanol from rice straw – something that will have enormous potential in a rice-producing country the size of China. In our region, it is one of our ambitions to establish a testing plant designed to transform household waste into bioethanol,” explains Niels Larsen, Manager of CBD.
Promising regional perspective”In our region, the development of new technologies for the production of biofuels is a fascinating perspective, because our next-door neighbour is none other than Novozymes, the world’s leading producer of enzymes: In order to produce ethanol on e.g. straw, it is necessary to extract the sugars from the straw – and for that purpose, enzymes are needed. In the same way, the proximity of Asnæs Power Station (DONG), Denmark’s largest power plant, certainly has its advantages, Niels Larsen underlines. In that way, we can obtain a series of synergies by having different industries located near each other, as is the case in Kalundborg’s world-famous Industrial Symbiosis.
Competence and Cluster Centre within Bio RefiningFor CBD, the focus is less on the production of bioethanol than on creating a testing and demonstration centre within bio-refining for the benefit of small and medium-sized companies and market leaders. The Cluster Centre must take its outset in e.g. Inbicon’s residual products. CBD’s role is therefore to facilitate – in close cooperation with market leading industries and cutting-edge researchers - that companies and researchers may approach an actual commercialisation through a factual demonstration. The focus is e.g. set on developing new high-value products to replace oil-based chemical and pharmaceutical products. Precisely as a modern oil refinery – except for involving residual products from e.g. agriculture instead of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. Thanks to a close collaboration between industry, research and CBD, a series of partnership projects have already been launched. Several of these also include investments in pilot and demonstration plants. In addition, CBD has become a part of the National Innovation Network for Biomass, in charge of bio-refining. |
Fakta |
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Contact: Niels Larsen Manager Cluster Biofuels Denmark DK-4400 Kalundborg
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