Forest Product Companies

Biorefinery Strategy Roadmap for Corporate Decision-Making

Systematic identification of 6 promising biorefinery strategies for a specific mill using a phased approach. More than 200 process/product options were systematically assessed and triaged using a risk-based approach. Early-stage techno-economics and market assessment provided the basis for a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) activity involving senior executives and board members. This process resulted in an alignement between stakeholders for the definition of their innovation strategy.

 

Systematic Risk Assessment of Biorefinery Project Implementation

Systematic risk identification and mitigation associated with the implementation of a biorefinery project in retrofit to an existing mill involving a non-traditional partnership. A risk register was developed considering different risk natures, different project implementation phases, as well as different probabilities of occurrence and impacts. For each risk, specific mitigation strategies were presented which led to recommendations associated with the project management and/or contractual negotiations with the partner. Residual risks were determined and follow-up actions were identified. As a result of this activity, a dynamic risk register tool was provided for systematic risk monitoring.

 

Biorefinery Opportunities Assessment for a Integration in a Canadian Thermo-Mechanical Pulping Mill​

Identification of viable and profitable biorefinery strategies for implementation in retrofit to a TMP mill and development of order-of-magnitude capital and operating costs for the retained options combined with preliminary market analysis. 3 main pathways were assessed: fast pyrolysis, fractionation with a focus on lignin and bio-butanol product portfolio, and the production of TMP fibre-based biocomposites. A set of specific criteria was defined in order to conduct a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making panel involving key stakeholders at the mill and corporate levels in order to identify the most promising biorefinery strategies.

 

Added-value Biorefinery Strategy Involving Biochemical Process

Creation of a competitive environment for negotiation for the sale of a sugar-based added-value chemicals on the market. Unique, non-traditional partnerships were identified and assessed between forestry and non-forestry companies for supporting early-to-market competitive advantage. This biorefinery project received funding from both the federal and provincial governments and is expected to break ground in 2014.

 

Commodity-driven Biorefinery Strategy Involving Thermochemical Process

Techno-economic assessment of 6 product-process pathways leading to the production of biofuels incl. torrefied pellets, engineering wood pellets and pyrolysis oil. A multi-criteria decision making was used to identify the most preferred option for which a preliminary non-bankable business plan was developed including a value proposal and sales strategy involving European off-takers.



​Business Strategy for the Sale of Fibre-based Biocomposites

Assistance in the development of an innovative biomaterial strategy including the identification of potential off-takers and the phased approach to market penetration from commodity to added-value market opportunities. 

 

Development of Proposals for Grant Applications​

Development of 3 proposals at the Federal level for leading Canadian forest product companies of which 2 were retained for support including a sugar-based strategy and a biomaterials strategy.