INTEGRATED BIOREFINERIES MISSION

NEWS AND UPDATES 

  • [December 7, 2023] Securing financing for biorefinery projects is a key aspect for speeding up technology implementation. In order to provide insights in the MI countries several investors were interviewed. The results are presented in this paper.
  • [August, 2023] During the CEM-14/IM-8 in Goa, India, Integrated Biorefineries Mission organised several events together with Biofuture Platform. All events were set up to give a broader outreach to the missions of Integrated Biorefineries Mission and Biofuture Platform. Read more about the events here: CEM14/MI-8 Minister – CEO Biofuels Roundtable – BioFuturePlatform ; New Technologies and Policies for a Net-Zero Biofuture – BioFuturePlatform ; Mobilizing Sustainable Biomass Feedstocks for Future Fuels and Chemicals – BioFuturePlatform
  • [July 13, 2023] The Canadian Forest Service (CFS) at Natural Resource Canada (NRCan) hosted a workshop in the context of Canada participation to Mission Innovation Integrated Biorefineries Mission The workshop focus was on Action 3 of the roadmap defined as “Energy & Conversion Process Efficiency Program to reduce production cost.” After this webinar, a questionnaire was conducted and several stakeholder were engaged to get feedback on the priorities for Action 3. You can find the report here.
  • [July, 2023] Workshop on Energy & Conversion Process Efficiency Programme: Integrated Biorefineries Mission held another webinar for its stakeholders. This time, the webinar was in a workshop format about energy and conversion process efficiency. Presentations from Mission members Brazil, Canada and the Netherlands guided the audience in the discussions on the topic. With the workshop, the Integrated Biorefineries Mission wanted to gain a better insight in what energy and conversion process efficiency means for biorefineries. Read more in the section below.
  • [July, 2023] The Integrated Biorefineries Mission announced plans to launch joint funding programs. Read more in the section below.
  • [June 1, 2023] The Integrated Biorefineries Mission held its first webinar, where member countries discussed the priorities of the Mission with industries, researchers, and policymakers. Watch the webinar here.
  • [September 23, 2022] Launch of the Integrated Biorefineries Mission Innovation Roadmap (see below)
  • [April 4 , 2022] The Integrated Biorefineries Mission was launched. Read our joint mission statement for more information.
  • [April 4, 2022] Integrated Biorefineries Mission press release announcement.

Find out more about the Integrated Biorefineries Mission.

Workshop on Energy & Conversion Process Efficiency Programme

On 13 July 2023,  MI Integrated Biorefined Mission organised a workshop around Action 3 of the Mission’s roadmap “Energy & Conversion Process Efficiency Programme to reduce production cost” that falls under the “Pilots and Demonstrations” pillar. The aim of the workshop was to improve the understanding of various aspects of energy and conversion process efficiency at biorefineries.

Four presentations were given:

What are the key factors to increase production and cost efficiency? The participants in the workshop identified three categories:

  • Efficiency through integration: Stakeholders iterated the importance of process integration, for instance by adopting the right technologies for a certain feedstock type, in such a way that it can be adapted to existing national and regional policies. Process integration typically involves the recovery of energy and by-products, either for internal use or to sell externally. It can also be achieved through other aspects such as putting a larger part of the supply chain under the umbrella of the same project; pre-treatment of complex feedstock types to integrate them in existing processes; and supporting smaller projects located closer to feedstocks as opposed to achieving efficiency through scale.
  • Efficiency through increased value add: Efficiency can be achieved through value-adding elements such as optimising the product mix by increasing the ratio between high value and low value products or reducing the cost and use of certain inputs. Technologies can be scaled up to handle multiple feedstocks and enabling access to a larger pool of feedstock. Finally, adding a new line of products, or retrofitting existing facilities can also help reduce initial CAPEX costs and increase value add when improved conversion process efficiencies aren’t possible.
  • Efficiency through better control over inputs and supply chains: Since biorefineries have limited control over the input provided by third parties, a better solution to increase input and supply chain efficiency is more on-site production (for example – recycling of heat, self-production of hydrogen, use of residues). Another option would be to develop a larger network of partners and collaborators or work with clusters to be more influential in value chains in which biorefineries participate.

The workshop concluded with stakeholders highlighting the need for increased collaboration on broader aspects of efficiency (other than just energy) such as material flows, yield of conversion processes, and having a more integrated approach through technology-feedstock matching, and potential technology transfer.

The Integrated Biorefineries Mission Announces Plans to Launch Joint Funding Programs

The Integrated Biorefineries Mission (IBM) will realize joint programs to support the development of new bio-based fuels, chemicals, and materials as well as the development of more efficient biorefinery processes, also through joint programming with industry aiming at public-private funding for projects. The joint programs and funding build on the priorities and actions identified in the Mission’s Innovation Roadmap and Action Plan released in 2022, as well as the Mission’s first webinar with industry, researchers, and policymakers in June 2023.

One program is a collaboration between India and the European Union. India has decided to co-fund the Horizon Europe call on “the development of smart concepts of integrated energy driven bio-refineries for co-production of advanced biofuels, bio-chemicals, and bio-materials.” The call opens on May 7, 2024, with a deadline of September 5, 2024. The call details can be found on the Horizon Europe webpage.

Other funding calls are expected to open in 2024. More information will be available here, on the IBM webpage.

 

INNOVATION ROADMAP AND ACTION PLAN

Replacing fossil fuel-based fuels, chemicals and materials with sustainable bio-based alternatives from residues and wastes could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, providing a renewable alternative for hard-to-abate sectors and support rural jobs. To realize this potential and to make sustainable bio-based alternatives from residues and wastes cost-competitive, Mission members are collaborating through the Integrated Biorefineries Mission.

In September 2022, the Integrated Biorefineries Mission launched a roadmap in which the gaps and challenges in current biorefining value chains have been identified and key actions to support the Mission have been prioritized. The roadmap and its annexes can be found here:

 

MEMBERS

 

Co-leads: India  Netherlands

  • India (Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt of India)
  • Netherlands (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy)

 

Core Mission Members:

  • Brazil
  • Canada

 

Mission Support Group:

  • European Commission
  • United Kingdom

 


“Mission Biorefineries offers an integrated and holistic zero-waste biorefinery  approach to scaling up clean energy innovation for a low carbon sustainable future through a global collaborative alliance. India and Netherlands are leading this mission to address the current challenges with active engagement of MI Members, partners and industries.”

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Indian Minister of State for the Ministry of Science and Technology & Earth Sciences

 

“Cost reduction & high performance of sustainable and advanced biofuels is important for low carbon hard to abate transport sectors. The integrated Biorefinery Mission will address the innovations gaps to develop and demonstrate commercially viable bio based fuels with coproduction of chemicals and materials leading to low carbon economy. India and Netherlands will develop innovation roadmap with Brazil, Canada, EC, UK and other collaborative members and  partners for successful implementation of  Integrated Biorefineries Mission”

Dr. Sangita M. Kasture, Coordinator MI India

 

“Participation in Mission Innovation 2.0 is of great importance to the Netherlands. Therefore, we are proud to be able to co-lead the soon to be launched Integrated Biorefineries Mission. Countries, knowledge institutes, industry, all are welcome to join this mission and help us set up and promote RD&D, realize pilot-scale demonstrations and boost public-private partnerships. Together we can achieve more.”

Rob Jetten, Dutch Minister for Climate and Energy Policy