UPM-Biofore-Magazine-1-2017-ENG

Several laboratory tests have proved that UPMBioVerno renewable diesel can be used in current-technology buses to replace regular fossil diesel fuels without any difficulties. Switching to UPMBioVerno renewable diesel reduces CO 2 emissions by up to 80%, while also significantly cutting hazardous exhaust emissions. During 2016, UPM conducted field tests of its novel wood-based diesel fuel UPMBioVerno in urban buses together with Helsinki Regional Transport (HSL) and VTT. According to the test results, UPMBioVerno performed just as well as the best diesel fuels. A high-quality fuel such as UPMBioVerno ensures that the exhaust cleaning systems operate effectively even after driving significant mileage. Inmodern Euro VI class buses, the diesel particulate filter (DPF) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst reduce emissions to almost zero. “These buses are very clean when they use high-quality fuels in their engines,” confirms Nylund. However, many buses are still using older technology so renewable fuels are an efficient way of reducing local emissions in city traffic. HSL’s strategy aims to run the bus fleet in the Helsinki Region on 100% biofuels by 2020. HSL regards the combination of Euro VI vehicles and renewable fuels to be an excellent solution for both the climate and local air quality.  A shortcut to clean transport Nils-Olof Nylund, Research Professor at the Technical Research Centre (VTT) confirms that drop-in type biofuels are seen as a shortcut to decarbonising bus services.

To fight climate change, the EU Commission presented a new legislative package in November proposing that CO 2 emissions are cut by at least 40%

Riku Huttunen

by the year 2030. In Finland, the focus is on reducing transport sector emissions by increasing the use of biofuels. How do we cut CO 2 emissions?

indicates that the EU transport biofuels policy will continue after 2020. We believe that our national strategy, together with the new EU legislation, will create a solid foundation and excellent investment opportunities for companies.” From waste to fuels The new EU legislation proposal is very much about the circular economy. The aim is to increase the use of side streams, biomass and waste for biofuels and energy. Huttunen estimates that Finland could expand the use of forest biomass for producing biofuels by exploiting forest industry side streams more efficiently. “From the industrial policy point of view, it is important that we extract as much added value as possible from our forest rawmaterial.” Finland’s forests grow faster that they are harvested. “The figure for sustainable roundwood harvesting could be to up to 80million cubic metres annually. During the last ten-year period, the average removal volume has been 60million cubic metres, so harvest levels could increase from current volumes,” he estimates. Renewable energy production in Finland accounts for around 40% of final energy consumption, which is the third highest percentage in Europe. Altogether, the Finnish government aims to increase the figure to at least 50% by 2030. “We are already heading in the right direction. The idea is to cut CO 2 emissions and increase bioenergy production in the most cost-efficient way possible. In the case of the Finnish transport sector, this means increasing the use of biofuels,” he concludes.

our transport CO 2 emissions by half between 2005 and 2030,” he estimates. Currently, Finland produces around 500,000 tonnes of advanced biofuels annually. This total should increase to 1.1 million tonnes by 2030, which will require investments of around EUR 1.5 billion. Huttunen admits that in order to fill the gap there is a need for research and development, new innovations and breakthrough technologies. “In Finland, we already have highly developed processes and world-class products in this sector. Even so, there is a technology and innovation risk in this development work, so we have an investment subsidy scheme that supports the commercialisation of new technologies and demonstration plants within the non-ETS scheme.” According to the National Strategy, the annual sum of support for large investment projects in the energy field would be up to EUR 60million over the next few years starting from 2019. “The recent Commission proposal

consumption in the EU by 2030. The EU legislative process is in the early stages within the EU institutions and it will take around two years before the final directive is enacted.

“The main pathways to decarbonising transport are increasing the efficiency of the transport system, promoting low-emission alternative energy and gradually increasing the use of advanced biofuels,” explained Kyriakos Maniatis from the EUCommission’s Energy Technologies, Innovation & Clean Coal unit within the Directorate General for Energy during his conference presentation. Maniatis says that the EU transport sector accounts for about 25% of the EU’s overall emissions. “The Commission aims to promote advanced biofuels in transport by honouring emission reduction and renewable fuel obligations, but also by increasing the usage of renewables in aviation andmaritime transport.” The EU countries have already agreed on a new binding renewable energy target of at least 27% of overall energy

Aiming high with renewables

“For sectors outside the Emission Trading Scheme, the EU Commission has proposed a binding emission-cutting

target as high as 39% for Finland by the year 2030,” confirms Director General Riku Huttunen from theMinistry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Cutting emissions in the transport sector is the main way to achieve an overall reduction in emissions for Finland. “In transport biofuels, our target is up to 30% of total fuel consumption. By increasing the use of biofuels along­ side other measures, we could cut

Kyriakos Maniatis

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