Joensuu Biocoal Oy's Plant Project Advances - Key Equipment Ordered

The torrefied biomass manufacturing plant to be built in Joensuu's Iiksenvaara will order the key technology and the most important equipment from Austria.

Joensuu Biocoal Oy's plant produces torrefied biomass from sustainably procured bark and first thinnings, as well as other wood fractions as needed. The plant produces dense briquetted torrefied biomass, which is almost coal-like material in terms of energy content, as well as uncompacted loose carbonized wood chips, which are suitable for soil improvement or water filtration, for example.

Torrefied biomass is produced by roasting raw materials in a hot, low-oxygen environment, whereby the fresh biomass turns into briquettes that replace coal. The energy density of briquettes is significantly higher than the biomass used as raw material, i.e. wood, so transporting it is more economical. The higher energy density also enables the use of biomass-based material in processes where untreated biomass cannot be used, such as steel and cement production.

The plant will be built in the area of Savon Voima's Iiksenvaara district heating power plant. The facility works in close cooperation with Savon Voima and uses the services of the Iiksenvaara area.

Andritz and Polytechnik GmbH have been selected as key technology suppliers for the facility. Andritz builds the reactor used in production with auxiliary equipment based on NextFuel AB's patents. Polytechnik GmbH supplies the combustion chamber and boiler for the utilization of the low calorific value gases released in the reactor.

The construction of the plant will begin in the summer of 2023, and the goal is to start production in the fall of 2024. The maximum production of the plant will be 60,000 tons of torrefied biomass, which can replace an almost equivalent amount of coal in various industrial processes, the reduction of CO2 emissions of which would otherwise be difficult or impossible.

The financing of the Joensuu bioindustry has been arranged by Taaleri Bioteollisuus Oy, which also manages the implementation of the project. The facility has received support from the EU Regional Development Fund and a loan from the Climate Fund. In addition, the use of the facility's final product has been studied and supported by, among others, the University of Eastern Finland, Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Luonnonvarakeskus (LUKE) and Business Joensuu.

Torrefaction Technology by ANDRITZ, based on NextFuel Technology and POLYTECHNIK. — *3D models of the plant's key equipment, i.e. the carbonisation reactor supplied by Andritz and the gas combustion technology supplied by Polytechnik. Copyright: ANDRITZ AG*

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Contact information:
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