Power Bio

In order to achieve the goal of the green transition, the role and function of biomass must be exercised more than is the case today. We must see all types of biomass as valuable raw materials and learn to utilise them in the best possible way with care for both the environment and climate and in relation to the functioning of the energy system, where biogas is an asset in balancing the system. The fight for biomass will be strengthened in the future. Therefore, we cannot afford that the biomass is lying and rotting in roadsides and on beaches or being deposited or burned. Instead, we must use biomass for both renewable energy production and for the production of high-value products. Thus, biomass contributes both to the transformation of the energy sector, as well as to other sectors that rely on fossil raw materials or very energy-heavy processes, such as oil for plastics, aviation fuel and stone wool for insulation. Power Bio aims to increase the supply of biomass for green energy production and high value products through efficient uses of unused residual biomass and straw. Biomass is used in cascades, i.e. a step-by-step utilisation of the biomass. This increases the biomass to as high a value as possible and the value chain is extended. This can make the collection meaningful and profitable for both municipalities and biomass purchasers, which is not the case today. The project shows the way to best practice in order to use each biomass optimally and for multiple purposes; energy, high-value products and CO2 storage. Through collaboration across municipalities, companies and practical research, the project will support the implementation of concrete initiatives within collection and application. The project’s many municipal partners provide a unique basis for achieving larger amounts of biomass for energy and high value purposes. This requires dialogue between collectors, biomass owners and businesses so that biomass can actually be, and is used, used. Based on experience from the Interreg project Greater Bio, it was made clear, among other things, that scaling and knowledge sharing are essential for the relevance of residual biomass in the green transition. This is precisely why the border regional focus of the project is crucial in order to be able to build up the necessary quantities and competences, which in the long term can lead to a genuine biomass cluster for the benefit of business development in the region. The focus is on the creation of concrete solutions, which has resulted in a large partner connection, and enables the necessary scaling to a degree that has not been seen before in Denmark and Sweden. It removes a barrier and enables concrete solutions to overcome barriers to use, e.g. by cleaning waste from road grass and sand from beach flushing so that use for biogas is possible. Biogas and pyrolysis play a key role in the green transition, as they are applications that can deliver large volumes and do not require the same quality as many high-value applications. The good solutions require an interaction between municipalities and companies. Therefore, we work on market innovation in a cross-cutting work package, where municipalities, in interaction with potential biomass purchasers, can clarify needs and where companies can come up with solutions within both collection technologies and the use of residual biomass for energy solutions and new products. A number of knowledge institutions will support businesses and provide access to data, testing facilities and material. One of the keys to assessing and prioritising the use of residual biomass is the further development and roll-out of a biomass assessment tool from the Greater Bio project. The tool maps biomass potentials in terms of quantities, quality and climate footprint in different applications, as well as weights bioga potential versus high-value product potential for the benefit of tomorrow’s bio-based solutions. Very short; Power Bio creates volume in the green transition through cross-regional, geographically broad cooperation with a focus on grass, seaweed and straw for the benefit of security of supply, environment and economy.