Sumitomo SHI and VTT collaborate on clean syngas for alternative fuels

Global decarbonisation technology provider Sumitomo SHI (SFW) and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) have agreed to collaborate on advancing the production of clean syngas from non-recyclable biowaste for use in alternative fuels, with potential applications in hard-to-decarbonise sectors, including shipping.

IMAGE: VTT

Syngas is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced from carbon-based feedstocks and used as a building block for fuels, chemicals and power generation.

Under the agreement, the technology will be deployed in SFW’s gasification plants worldwide to support the production of alternative fuels and chemicals. It enables the conversion of non-recyclable biowaste streams, including woody and agricultural residues as well as municipal biowaste, into clean syngas.

By combining SFW’s gasification technology with VTT’s reformer technology, residual biowaste can be transformed into drop-in liquid fuels, such as green methanol, that are compatible with existing engines, turbines and infrastructure without major modifications.

Reformer technology uses heat and catalysts to convert hydrocarbons or oxygenated feedstocks into hydrogen-rich syngas, mainly hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

“This agreement shows how VTT works with industry to bring decarbonisation technologies to market,” VTT’s chief executive Kalle Härkki said.

By Tuhin Roy

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