Leading the way in energy innovation
The Valmet Energy R&D Center – the only one of its kind worldwide – enables energy producers to take circularity and resource efficiency to the next level, and extend their fuel portfolio towards cheaper and more sustainable fuels.
The Valmet Energy R&D Center in Tampere, Finland, is globally recognized for its process development and testing capabilities. Since 1990, several energy and emission control technologies have been developed and piloted, helping customers minimize investment costs and risks, guarantee high-performance, and secure long-term investment.
The center bridges the gap between lab-scale tests and commercial demonstration plants, cooperating closely with universities and research institutes. Technologies and processes are scaled up from ideas to proven industrial solutions through research stages (Technology Readiness Level 1–3), development (TRL 4–6), deployment (TRL 7–9), and step-by-step evaluation.
Valmet’s Energy R&D Center accelerates development, reducing risks associated with scaling up new technologies.
“The center enables energy producers to use renewable residual fuels and meet today’s challenges of resource scarcity and low-quality fuels,” says Marko Palonen, R&D Manager in Valmet’s Energy business. “We also support customers in moving toward higher-value end products – for example, by developing different pyrolysis solutions to convert renewable and circular raw materials into fuels, chemicals, and materials.”
Catalytic pyrolysis
One of the center’s circularity-related R&D projects focuses on biorefining and a new biomass pyrolysis solution for converting local sustainable feedstocks into global renewable transportation fuels and biochemicals. Valmet’s catalytic pyrolysis – Valmet Pyrolyzer – catalyzes the pyrolysis vapors directly without hydrogen.“We’re now bringing catalytic pyrolysis for transportation fuels to the market,” says Jouko Latva-Somppi, Manager, Pyrolysis, at Valmet. “Pyrolysis with catalytic upgrading can produce biocrude for conventional refineries from biomass such as forest residues. With the EU requiring a higher share of biofuels in traffic fuels, it’s essential to add forest industry side streams.”
The center houses the world’s largest catalytic pyrolysis pilot plant. Commissioned in 2023, it is piloting on a small industrial scale (400 kg DS/h). The target is to be ready for 5–20 tDS/h in 2026 and 50–100 tDS/h by 2028.
Identifying optimal fuel mixtures
Energy producers often face uncertainty, with unknown and sometimes quite challenging new fuels like agro residues and their usability in fluidized bed boilers, combustion characteristics, corrosion or fouling potential, emission limits, and ash properties.
“In our facilities, energy producers can test these features, obtain crucial fuel data, and secure their potential investment in advance, reducing technical and economic risks,” says Mikko Varonen, Team Leader at Valmet Energy R&D fuel mix doesn’t generally require piloting, as limits can be determined with a Valmet Boiler Combustibility Study. However, piloting may be necessary for new and exotic additions to the fuel mix.”
The globally recognized Valmet Energy R&D Center in Tampere, Finland.
R&D for carbon capture, too
Bioenergy Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (BECCUS) will play a crucial role in reaching net-zero emissions. “Advanced flue gas pre-treatment is key to the successful implementation of carbon capture plants,” says Lari-Matti Kuvaja, Director, Environmental Systems, Valmet. “More optimized flue gas cleaning solutions are needed not only to ensure compliance with stringent emission standards but also to improve the decarbonization process’s efficiency. BECCUS has the potential to create revenue through carbon dioxide removal and to generate a source of biobased green CO2 for Power-to-X (PtX) processes. Valmet Energy R&D center has enabled us to test and verify various concepts required for carbon capture pre-treatment.”
Text Marjaana Lehtinen
Valmet’s R&D center for energy – one-of-a-kind facilities and equipment
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Lauri Pehu-Lehtonen appointed as VP of Energy business
We are thrilled to announce that Lauri Pehu-Lehtonen has been appointed as the new Vice President of Valmet’s Energy business. With a strong background in the side streams business for pulp mills and extensive experience in commercializing new technologies, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Valmet’s Energy business unit. He holds a master’s degree in biorefining and an EMBA.
“My main motivations have always been enabling the green transformation and promoting a circular economy, both in my previous roles and now at Valmet,” says Pehu-Lehtonen. “With the current Energy portfolio, Valmet has been very successful in its segment. Looking ahead, it’s crucial to be at the forefront of the green transformation to keep our leading position in the market. As the timing of rapid change is uncertain, it is crucial to have the flexibility to introduce new solutions to the market when necessary. The future will be more complex, requiring us to be lean and agile to manage both old and new technologies. Valmet’s ability to handle the entire lifecycle of our technologies positions us well for the transition period and for the green future.”
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