UPM-Biofore-Magazine-2-2017-ENG

The calculation is based on actual emissions,” explains Helin. In Finland, passenger car traffic accounts for about 60% of greenhouse gas emissions, with the rest coming from vans, lorries, buses and motorcycles. In addition to carbon dioxide emissions, the use of UPMBioVerno reduces other harmful exhaust emissions, such as nitrogen oxides and particles. “These emissions directly affect the air quality in cities, so UPM’s fuel is one solution for cutting down exhaust emissions,” says Helin. Already this year, UPMBioVerno fuels have reduced carbon dioxide emissions from road traffic by over 170million kg. The production capacity of UPMBioVerno diesel is sufficient to tackle annual carbon dioxide emissions from cars in a city roughly the size of Turku. Last year, UPM tested its wood- based renewable UPMBioVerno diesel on buses in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The tests showed that UPM BioVerno performed as well as the highest-grade diesel in heavy duty city traffic. Renewable diesel offers the greatest potential reduction in emissions in older vehicles, as they are not equipped with diesel particulate filters (DPF) or selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst. Refining the biorefinery UPMproduces UPMBioVerno at its biorefinery in Lappeenranta, Finland, which has been operational for almost three years. Efforts to optimise processes at the UPMLappeenranta Biorefinery are yielding excellent results. Producing one tank of renewable fuel currently consumes up to 25% less energy than last year. “Optimizing the production processes takes time in new facilities. We have now stabilised our production processes at the biorefinery, and

The more UPM BioVerno in fossil diesel, the less exhaust emissions*

10%

20%

50%

100%

0

–5

–10

–15

–20

–25

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Hydrocarbon (HC)

*) The percentages represent the amount of UPM BioVerno diesel within fossil diesel (100% represents pure UPM BioVerno). Source: Study by the University of Vaasa, 2015

long and short term. The use of renewable diesel doesn’t require any changes in the distribution network, and the fuel is suitable for all diesel engines as is,” says Helin. Within the European

Advanced biofuels are essential to achieving our long-term climate goals,” says Helin. Finland strives to focus on reducing the effects of fossil fuels by increasing the usage of renewable fuels. The goal is to increase the proportion of renewable fuels

Maiju Helin

Union, traffic emissions have increased significantly, and traffic is one of the major sources of greenhouse gases. Road traffic emissions account for over 70% of the emissions within the EU. The EU aims to achieve at least a 30% reduction in emissions from the 2005 level in sectors that are not included in the scope of emissions trading, such as farming, heating and traffic. The EU has divided the burden into country-specific reduction targets, with the Commission proposing a target of 39% for Finland by 2030. “Cutting traffic emissions is an important factor in the effort to reduce total emissions. That is why every solution, both big and small, is important.

to 30% of total fuel consumption. “Of all the EUmember states, Finland is a bold example of a country that is determined to cut emissions,” says Helin.

Reducing emissions with renewable fuels

UPMproduces wood-based renewable fuel, UPMBioVerno, which reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80% during its lifecycle. “We have calculated the emissions generated during the lifecycle of the fuel and compared this amount with the carbon footprint of fossil fuels. Transportation of rawmaterial, storage, processing and distribution are all included in the calculations.

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