INTEGRATED BIOREFINERIES MISSION

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NEWS AND UPDATES 

  • [October 24, 2024] From 22-24 October, the BBEST & IEA Bioenergy Conference 2024 took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Our Mission Director Kees Kwant and Brazilian representative Eduardo Couto (CNPEM) participated. Kees introduced the Integrated Biorefineries Mission and Eduardo presented the preliminary study on “Standardizing Biorefinery Evaluation Models for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Development”, one of the mission’s deliverables for 2024. 
  • [October 4] The Mission attended the 15th Clean Energy Ministerial and 9th Mission Innovation in Brazil hosting three side events:
    • Carbon Accounting of Bio-based Fuels and Chemicals.
    • Biomanufacturing and Biobased Materials and Chemicals for Green Growth.
    • Bioresources for Fuels, Chemicals and Carbon Removal.
  • [October 3] The Integrated Biorefineries Mission is pleased to announce that it is partnering with Horizon Europe on the new call for ‘development of smart concepts of integrated energy-driven bio-refineries for co-production of advanced biofuels, bio-chemicals, and biomaterials. A total budget of 7 million euros is available for international R&D collaboration on integrated biorefineries from the HE programme, with additional budget from some non-EU Mission members.
  • [October 3] To move the mark on the Integrated Biorefineries Mission’s aim to replace fossil-based fuels, chemicals, and materials with bio-based alternatives, research laboratories across Mission member countries are collaborating to release an assessment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) pathways. This work will evaluate value chains and make recommendations for optimising the simultaneous production of bio-based SAF and chemicals
  • [September 27, 2024] The most recent webinar from Mission Innovation: Integrated Biorefineries took place on 23 September 2024.  A recording of the webinar is currently available to review: Mission Innovation: Integrated Biorefineries Webinar 2 – Innovate UK Business Connect (ktn-uk.org).
  • [August 2024] The Integrated Biorefineries Mission recently launched their Community Network using B2Match. It is online community that will continue to further support the Mission’s efforts in fostering international collaboration in biorefining research and innovation through sharing information on the Mission, upcoming events and activities, as well as providing networking opportunities between researchers, project developers, investors, and thought leaders. The Network will allow members to create a profile about themselves, the work they do, and the areas of work they are interested in collaborating on. It will also feature a ‘marketplace’ where members can advertise potential collaboration and funding opportunities, solicit expression of interest for new partners on projects, share information, and more. 
  • [July 2024] We are very pleased to announce that Switzerland joined our Integrated Biorefineries Mission! Johanna Tudeau will be joining the mission, coming from the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. We are very excited that Switserland decided to join as a pilot country in order to work together with the other Mission members and member states on developing and accelerating innovative solutions for integrated biorefineries. Together we will work towards our goal of replacing fossil-based fuels, chemicals end materials with bio-based alternatives. Stay in touch with our page for more interesting news about our mission!
  • [March 2024] The Integrated Biorefineries Mission held its third webinar in January 2024, hosted by Innovate UK KTN. 156 participants representing business and governments from 21 nations exchanged strategies to increase the economic sustainability of biorefineries by generating higher value products, with a focus on disseminating MI activities and international collaboration. To learn more about outcomes and next steps, read the report and watch the recording.
  • [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
  • Switzerland

 

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