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UPM Signs Joint Development Agreement with Renmatix in Biochemicals
trategic collaboration to convert lignocellulosic feedstocks into cost competitive sugars HELSINKI, June 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — UPM (OMX: UPM1V) and Renmatix, Inc. , have entered into a non-exclusive joint development agreement (JDA) in the area of biochemicals. Under terms of the JDA both companies will further develop Renmatix’s water-based Plantrose™ process to convert woody biomass into low-cost sugar intermediates for subsequent downstream processing into biochemicals. Offering cost-competitive bio-alternatives for select petrochemicals on an industrial scale is the long term goal of this initiative. “We are very excited about this truly collaborative endeavor. It combines UPM’s core competencies in sustainable sourcing and efficient industrial processing of wood, with Renmatix’s unique conversion technology,” noted Michael Duetsch, Director of Biochemicals, at UPM. “Access to second generation, lignocellulosic, sugars through a process that uses almost no consumables is a crucial factor in Plantrose technology’s attractiveness.” The Plantrose process employs water at very high temperatures and pressures to breakdown biomass through supercritical hydrolysis. Under such conditions water can act as both a powerful solvent and catalyst, creating rapid reactions. “We believe this pioneering approach leads to real cost advantages over conventional methods. Our growing relationship with UPM gives Renmatix an opportunity to support them expanding the Biofore story,” commented Mike Hamilton, CEO of Renmatix. “Renmatix, as a U.S. based technology provider, takes great pride in working with global companies across the emerging bio-value chains. It reinforces the demand that exists for licensing Plantrose technology as the bridge between sustainable sources of upstream biomass, and downstream manufacturing of biochemicals and fuels.” “The joint development agreement with Renmatix is another milestone in the implementation of our biochemicals strategy and UPM’s Biofore vision. The co-operation further strengthens our position as the frontrunner in the innovation-driven integration of bio and forest industries,” adds Juuso Konttinen, Vice President of UPM. UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 22,000 people. UPM is present in 67 countries and has production units in 17 countries. UPM’s annual sales exceed EUR 10 billion. UPM’s shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange. UPM – The Biofore Company – www.upm.com UPM New Businesses and Development (NBD) is an important part of UPM’s renewal and Biofore strategy. The objective of NBD is to provide added value to renewable wood raw material by developing ideas into new products and businesses. The key projects are biocomposites, biofibrils and biochemicals. Renmatix is the leading manufacturer of cellulosic sugar, an enabling feedstock for petroleum alternatives used in the global biochemical and biofuels markets. The company’s proprietary Plantrose™ process challenges conventional sugar economics by cheaply converting cellulosic biomass – from wood waste to agricultural residue – into useful, cost-effective sugars. Renmatix’s supercritical hydrolysis technology deconstructs non-food biomass an order of magnitude faster than other processes and enhances its cost advantage by using no significant consumables. Renmatix is privately held, with operations in Georgia (USA) currently capable of converting three dry tons of cellulosic biomass to Plantro® sugar per day, and a world-class technical center in Pennsylvania (USA). www.renmatix.com For further information, please contact: Michael Duetsch, Director, Biochemicals, UPM, +49.821.310.9130 (German, English) Juuso Konttinen, Vice President, New Businesses & Development, UPM, +358.40.531.7405 (Finnish, English) Duncan Cross, Director, Marketing, Renmatix, +484.751.4000 (English, French) Tim Brown, Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Renmatix, businessdevelopment@renmatix.com UPM, Corporate Communications Media Desk, +358.40.588.3284 media@upm.com www.twitter.com/UPM_News Renmatix, Media Inquiries Katie Struble, +415.977.1928 renmatix@antennagroup.com www.twitter.com/renmatix SOURCE Renmatix RELATED LINKS http://www.renmatix.com Continue reading
EU Should Move Beyond Carbon Market to Shut Coal, IEA Says
By Mathew Carr & Sally Bakewell – Jun 10, 2013 The European Union needs to think of other ways to prevent new coal-fired power stations from being built because its carbon market won’t achieve that this decade, according to the International Energy Agency . Nations should consider measures including bans of new and inefficient plants known as “sub-critical,” unless they are fitted with carbon capture and storage technology, Maria Van der Hoeven, the executive director of the Paris-based agency that advises 28 developed nations, said today in a London interview. 3:41 June 10 (Bloomberg) — International Energy Agency Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven discusses the IEA’s view that the European Union needs to think of other ways to prevent new coal-fired power because its carbon market won’t achieve that target through 2020. She talks with Bloomberg’s Mathew Carr in London. (Source: Bloomberg) EU carbon permits, which have plunged 88 percent since 2008, would need to trade at 10 times their current value of about 4 euros ($5.28) a metric ton to prompt utilities to switch to cleaner natural gas from coal, according to a Bloomberg fuel switch calculator. The push in Europe to improve energy efficiency helped drive down permit prices, Van der Hoeven said. “What we want to see is that sub critical coal-fired power plants are less in use and are not going to be constructed any more,” Van der Hoeven said. “The most important thing is we look into the reasons beyond the collapse in the price of carbon” to explain why emissions are not falling faster. Lawmakers need to review energy policies to make sure they don’t contradict each other or overlap to cut emissions and protect the climate, Van der Hoeven said. Halting Plants “Governments have to look into the complementarity of what they are doing. If you only look at one technology and forget about the rest, that doesn’t help,” she said. While the IEA does not have the authority to stop nations using coal power, it’s urging them to halt construction of new units, Van Der Hoeven said. “We show them with our report what will happen if they don’t,” she said, referring to a report published today called “Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map.” The publication contains two different scenarios. Under a situation that limits an increase in global temperature to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), the world will leave two thirds of its fossil fuel reserves untapped before 2050. Under that climate-saving scenario, revenues in the power industry through 2035 from 2012 are $1.3 trillion higher than in the agency’s central case, which includes fewer climate protection policies. “The higher gross revenues result from a combination of lower electricity demand and higher electricity prices, with the latter effect proving slightly larger,” according to the report. Technology, legislation, markets and industry can operate together to save the climate, Van der Hoeven said. “When the Stone Age came to and end, it wasn’t because there was no stones anymore, but because we had different technologies,” she said. “There’s no need to use coal for our energy supply if we have other options.” To contact the reporters on this story: Mathew Carr in London at m.carr@bloomberg.net ; Sally Bakewell in London at sbakewell1@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Lars Paulsson at lpaulsson@bloomberg.net Continue reading
