FP7 MicroFuel Project

The Estonian Private Forest Union (EPFU) participates as a partner in the FP7 project: MircoFuel- Mobile Microwave Pyrolysis Plant turns Biomass into Fuel Locally. The partnership between research institutions (Nottingham University UK; Nor-Tek Norway; CGS), several technical units in Italy, France, Norway and Germany and forest owners representatives (Estonia, Spain, Norway and CEPF) has been built on the initiative of X-Waste and the Norwegian forest owners association. EPFU was invited to join the project because of good contacts with CEPF.
The project focuses on the use of forest residues for biofuel production.
European forest management is threatened by the prospect of increasing labour cost and stable or even falling prices for forest products, partly due to the availability of extremely productive and cheap sources of wood fibre outside Europe. The industry suffers from severe job losses due to continued increases in mechanisation without a corresponding increase in production and only 60% of the annual forest growth is being harvested. At the same time estimates indicate that the EU will fall short by about 46 Mtoe (Mega tonne oil equivalent) of the target for renewable energy in the redefined Biomass Action Plan of 2005. The overall technological aim is the development of a pre-commercial prototype microwave pyrolysis plant which will turn wood chips into biofuel by using a minimum of external energy.
There is great potential in the project, first of all in creating jobs on a declining job market, secondly, in using forest residues for economic purposes which makes unpopular forest activities as thinning and initial management more attractive to small forest owners and thirdly, in meeting the EU CO2 emission goals. EPFU sees a great potential especially for the Estonian forest owners living on islands or owning forests on islands. The necessary electricity to grade up rather low-price wood to seek after product could be produced using wind power.
The three-year project started in January 2009; EPFU has sent 7 samples from the island of Saaremaa including different wood species of various age to Nottingham, to make the first analysis possible. The first results are expected in autumn this year.

Project homepage: http://www.micro-fuel.eu/ 
For more information please contact: Ants Varblane ants.varblane@erametsaliit.ee