In Norway, Circa Group, Vataset Teollisuus Oy and Kemijarvi Biorefinery have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to study building a Circa Furacell production facility at the Kemijarvi Biopark in Northern Finland. The plant would manufacture platform chemical levoglucosenone, biochar and solvent Cyrene from biomass feedstocks.
Vataset is developing the Kemijarvi site as a comprehensive biopark for renewable materials, fuel and chemicals. Kemijarvi Biorefinery specializes in biomass processing, and the companies are seeking partners to effectively utilize all side streams.
Kemijarvi Biopark was formerly the site of a Stora Enso pulp mill. “Finland has a long history in the forest-based industries and the Kemijarvi site has the necessary skills, feedstock, logistics and infrastructure to support Circa – combined importantly with a vision of circularity and low-carbon developments,” Tony Duncan, Circa CEO said in a press statement. “Circa’s strategy is to identify a small number of development sites globally to serve adjacent regional markets with levoglucosenone derivatives including our green solvent Cyrene.”