Neste increases R&D in Finland to decrease use of crude oil
Photo: Neste Corp.
June 18, 2020
BY Neste Corp.
Neste launched a new research project to develop sustainable and globally scalable raw materials and technology solutions for transportation fuels and the production of chemicals and polymers. These new solutions decrease the use of crude oil and tackle climate change. The new technologies will be based on scalable renewable and circular raw materials that have been difficult to utilize so far, such as forestry or agricultural residues, municipal waste, algae, waste plastics and carbon dioxide.
The commercialization of these raw materials requires long-term research and development of novel value chains with partners. Neste is receiving support for the project from Business Finland and is working closely with companies, research institutes and universities.
“Neste’s target is to become a global leader in renewable and circular solutions,” said Lars Peter Lindfors, senior vice president of innovation at Neste. “Innovation is an important enabler to strengthen our ambitious growth strategy. Our innovation activities focus on renewing the existing businesses and developing new raw materials and technology solutions for transportation fuels as well as chemicals and polymers.”
In the next few years, Neste will increase its investments in research and development as well as create new jobs in innovation in Finland to secure the company’s long-term growth targets. Increasing innovation promotes the competitiveness of Finnish research institutes and industry, and it creates opportunities for new startups.
“We are developing waste carbon sources to substitute crude oil with a five-, 10- or 20-year horizon for significant commercial scale,” Lindfors said. “Lignocellulosics could potentially provide a large pool of sustainable feedstock from agricultural and forestry waste and residues. Municipal solid waste and waste plastic are also interesting raw material sources and could be a relatively short-term solution.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
Further down the road are algae-based solutions, renewable hydrogen and “Power-to-X,” which use CO2 and renewable electricity as raw material sources.
The new raw materials have high potential globally and could replace a significant amount of the world’s crude oil use for transportation fuels by 2040.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Related Stories
Avfuel Corp., the leading independent supplier of aviation fuel and services, is expanding its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) footprint with the addition of a new, strategic supply point in Denver, Colorado—the first of its kind in the region.
CVR Energy Inc. on July 30 reported its renewables segment achieved increased throughput during Q2 despite unplanned downtime but reported a net loss of $11 million. The company expects to retroactively claim the 45Z credit for volumes produced.
Total U.S. operable biofuels production capacity expanded in May, with gains for renewable diesel and a small decrease for ethanol, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Feedstock consumption was up.
SAF-producer XCF Global Inc. on July 28 announced it has signed an exclusive, non-binding indication of intent (IOI) with a renewable fuels infrastructure and feedstock solutions company based in the western U.S.
The abrupt closure announcement by Biox Corp. is the latest example of a failure to secure Canada's domestic energy supply, says Unifor. The Canadian energy union is advocating for simply regulatory changes that could help restart the facility.
Upcoming Events
