St1's new biorefinery – a historical investment for more sustainable energy production in Sweden
AFRY has supported St1 in its largest investment, a new top-of-the-line biorefinery in Gothenburg, Sweden.
St1’s new facility will reduce road and air traffic emissions by approximately 500,000 tons of CO₂, compared to their fossil fuel equivalent.
The new biorefinery in Gothenburg is a joint venture between SCA and St1 and is the largest investment in St1's history, with an investment cost of 4 billion SEK. The investment is a part of St1's CO₂-conscious energy strategy, and the company's vision to develop and commercialise functional and environmentally sustainable solutions to replace fossil energy with renewable energy. AFRY has served as an engineering partner to St1's new top-of-the-line facility since the project's inception, delivering a comprehensive range of services.
Project highlights
Project
New production plant for renewable fuel production
Client
St1
Project duration
2020-2024
Project location
Gothenburg, Sweden
Production capacity
200,000 tonnes/year
Reduction in traffic emissions
500,000 tonnes of CO₂/year
Inside the Gothenburg biorefinery
The investment includes a hydrogen plant, a renewable fuels plant, and a dedicated tank farm. The design of the biorefinery brings flexibility to the process by allowing the use of a wide range of feedstocks. Used cooking oil, animal fats, and tall oil fatty acids, the latter from SCA's paper and pulp mills, will be integrated.
The biorefinery will have an annual production capacity of 200,000 tons of renewable fuel production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), Bio-Diesel (HVO), Bio-Naphtha, and Bio-LPG. Fuels that have significantly lower CO2 emissions than fossil fuels. The fuels produced at the biorefinery will lead to an annual reduction in road and air traffic emissions by approximately 500,000 tonnes CO₂, compared to their fossil fuel equivalent. All production at the Gothenburg Biorefinery will be certified according to sustainability certification ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification.
AFRY's services delivered
Automation, Electrical, Instrumentation, Health and Safety Services, HVAC, Procurement, Mechanical, Process, Project Management, Piping, Procurement, and Scheduling.
Project result
Annual production capacity of 200,000 tons of biofuels and an annual reduction in road and air traffic emissions by approximately 500,000 tonnes.
"It’s quite simple – we need to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions, and biofuels are a step toward success."
Partner from the beginning
AFRY has been involved as an engineering partner from the beginning, providing a wide range of services including all engineering disciplines, procurement, and scheduling services. The project also consists of new units, a revamp of existing units, and new storage facilities. AFRY's assignment in the biorefinery included engineering services related to all necessary facilities surrounding the project, except for the pre-treatment plant. These included two amine plants and a sour water plant for treating waste streams, a tank park for raw materials and products, as well as various auxiliary systems for steam, nitrogen gas, cooling water, compressed air for work and instruments, among others.
Several disciplines were involved, such as process, project management, automation, electrical, instrumentation, health and safety services, HVAC, procurement, mechanics, piping, purchasing, and scheduling.
"The biorefinery in Gothenburg is a key milestone in our roadmap and a significant step in St1's journey towards more sustainable energy production. AFRY's contribution as an engineering partner has helped us take further steps towards realising our vision of becoming the leading producer and seller of CO₂-aware energy", says Miika Eerola, Head of Refining in Projects & HSSE at St1.
"We are, of course, very proud of our partnership with St1 Biorefinery. For us, it is also proof of our strong focus on sustainability. It shows how our deep sector knowledge and wide global competence, together with our local resources, have the strength to contribute to strategic investment projects for industry leaders. Together, we are accelerating the transition to a more sustainable society", says Lisa Vedin, AFRY's Business Area Manager in the Process Industries Division in Sweden.
About St1
St1 Nordic Oy is an energy group whose vision is to be the leading producer and seller of CO2-aware energy. The Group researches and develops economically viable, environmentally more sustainable energy solutions. St1 focuses on fuel marketing activities, oil refining, and renewable energy solutions, such as waste-based advanced biofuels and industrial wind power. The Group has more than 1250 St1 and Shell-branded retail stations and gas filling points in Finland, Sweden, and Norway. With its headquarters in Helsinki, St1 currently employs more than 1000 people.
