Bioethanol from by-products of food industry
About this good practice
The St1's production plant Etanolix utilises bio-based process residues originating mainly from beverage manufacture of Hartwall. In addition, waste material is transported to St1 from several local industries using grain, such as bakeries, grain mills and breweries. From these by-products St1 produces bioethanol, which is later mixed with petrol to gain bio-based fuel for vehicles. The resulting fuel has 80 % bioethanol concentration.
The waste material originating from Hartwall consists of production’s residue yeast and beverages, which cover 30–40 % of total material needed for bioethanol production. The location of St1 plant right next to the Hartwall’s factory enables transferring yeast through pipes between the two plants.
In Finland fuel distributors are legally bound to replace a certain share of fossil fuels with biofuels, the obligation being 15 % in 2018. This obligation has been an incentive for St1 to develop bio-based fuels.
This industrial symbiosis is related to the good practice “The Grain Cluster – a cooperation model between companies”.
Expert opinion
This good practice is fully aligned with the Circular Economy Action Plan, one of the main building blocks of the European Green Deal. The presented project is an excellent example and practical application of industrial symbiosis, a process through which wastes or by‐products of an industry or industrial process become the raw materials for another. Application of this concept allows materials to be used in a more sustainable way and contributes to the creation of circular economy. It is a positive example of cooperation between an energy company and a beverage company resulting in industrial symbiosis where by-products of food industry are utilised to produce biofuel. Another essential feature is that the energy production process is able to exploit various materials. The initiative can provide helpful insight to businesses how to create industrial symbiosis and turn waste into valuable material.
Resources needed
Evidence of success
The St1’s Etanolix plant in Lahti is able to produce 1 million liters of bioethanol in a year.
Potential for learning or transfer
When pursuing successful utilisation of by-products, it is crucial to secure adequate material acquisition. The legislative framework affects the availability of different materials, and globally the competition of by-products and waste material flows is getting tighter.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
St1