Sumitomo SHI FW (SFW) and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have signed a license agreement to advance the production of clean syngas from non-recyclable biowaste for sustainable fuels. The agreement gives SFW exclusive rights to use VTT’s syngas reformer technology.

The technology will be used in SFW’s gasification plants for sustainable fuels and chemicals across the globe. It enables the production of clean syngas from non-recyclable biowastes, such as woody and agricultural residues and municipal biowaste. Syngas is a key raw material for sustainable fuels and chemicals, needed for decarbonizing transportation, including shipping and aviation and in hard-to-abate sectors.

The combination of SFW’s gasification and VTT’s reformer technologies allows conversion of residual biowaste streams into drop-in liquid fuels, such as green methanol and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), that can be used in existing engines, turbines and infrastructure without significant modifications.

“With this agreement, our long cooperation with VTT continues a very positive path. Our joint work on renewable transportation fuels began more than 15 years ago with a liquid fuel demonstration project. The technology is now ready for commercial use for SAF, carbon neutral maritime fuels and other sustainable fuels and chemicals," says Tomas Harju-Jeanty, CEO of SFW.

VTT began developing syngas reforming technology in the 1990s. SFW delivered its first biomass gasifiers in the 1980s. The industrial-scale liquid fuel plant in Finland has proven their technical performance using a wide range of biowaste streams, including forest industry by-products and residues.

“This agreement shows how VTT works with industry to bring decarbonization technologies to market. Through this license, our combined experience becomes available to SFW’s customers for commercial sustainable fuel projects," says Kalle Härkki, CEO of VTT.

Under the license agreement, SFW and VTT have also agreed to a program of common work, development and testing together, with the goal of further improving gasification performance and syngas yields. This will support the production of low-carbon fuels and chemicals needed to reduce emissions.