Renewi and Torrgreen test new route from waste wood to renewable fuels and chemicals

Waste-to-product company Renewi and technology company Torrgreen are launching a demonstration project at Renewi’s site in Vlaardingen, the Netherlands. Using the first installation for the torrefaction of waste wood in the Netherlands, the parties will investigate whether waste wood can be converted into a valuable feedstock for renewable fuels and green chemicals. The project is supported by the Just Transition Fund (JTF) Rijnmond.

Growing demand for sustainable feedstocks

Demand for sustainable feedstocks is growing. Fossil feedstocks such as oil, natural gas and coal currently form the basis of many fuels, chemicals and materials. To reduce CO₂ emissions and make better use of scarce resources, there is a growing search for sustainable and bio-based alternatives.

Through this project, Renewi and Torrgreen will investigate whether waste wood, which is currently used primarily to generate electricity and heat, can be upgraded for higher-value energy applications or used as a feedstock for sustainable materials and products.

First demonstration installation in the Netherlands

Approximately 2,000,000 kilograms of B-grade waste wood will be processed as part of the project. B-grade waste wood consists of treated wood, such as chipboard, MDF, painted wood and used construction timber. Because B-grade waste wood contains adhesives, paint and coatings, it is not easy to recycle it into products such as chipboard. By first converting the wood into uniform pellets, a product is created that may be suitable for new applications.

Using Torrgreen’s torrefaction technology, the waste wood is torrefied and then processed into compact pellets. These pellets are dark brown, resemble coal and have a much more consistent composition than ordinary waste wood. They also contain more energy than conventional wood pellets because moisture and some of the oxygen-rich components have been removed.

One important potential application is gasification. In this process, these high-quality biomass pellets are converted into chemical building blocks that can serve as a platform for green gas and renewable fuels such as methanol and sustainable aviation fuel. In the longer term, the same building blocks could also be used to support the necessary transition towards more sustainable chemicals.

More than a technology trial

The project is not only about determining whether the technology works. Renewi and Torrgreen will also investigate whether and how this solution is feasible in practice and can be applied on a larger scale. The demonstration is expected to start in June 2027.

Support from the Just Transition Fund

The project receives funding from the Just Transition Fund (JTF) Rijnmond. With this support, Renewi and Torrgreen can build the demonstration installation and gather valuable technical, operational and economic insights.

The coming period will focus on preparing and carrying out the demonstration. The results should show what role waste wood could play in the future as a feedstock for renewable fuels, green chemicals and other bio-based applications.