by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) Finland-based UPM recently announced plans to develop a biorefinery in Lappeenranta, Finland, to convert crude tall oil into renewable drop-in diesel biofuel. Construction on the 100,000 metric ton (30 million gallon) per year plant is scheduled to begin this summer, with startup anticipated in 2014. UPM said it will investment approximately €150 million ($197 million) in the project.
…The feedstock is produced in the sulphate pulping process, which means that the forestry company already has access to significant quantities of it on hand. “We will be able to use the crude tall oil from our own pulp mills instead of burning or selling it,” he said. “UPM’s wood sourcing for the pulp mills is based on the principles of sustainable forest management, chain of custody and forest certification. Refining of crude tall oil increases the value added to pulp wood without increasing logging.” READ MORE