Interested in torrefaction?
Torrefaction can be interesting for forestry owners and parties with access to large volumes of agro-residues. Industrial scale torrefaction can add significant value to existing forestry businesses and has the power to transform the economics biomass-to-energy supply chain.
We can be of help
With our operational torrefaction experience we have gained valuable insights to the risks, investment requirements, technologies and business cases related to torrefaction. When you are interested in understanding how torrefaction can impact your business, we can assist you in the evaluation of the use of this technology.
Services
We can provide the following services:
Please contact Frederik Born.
f.born@futerrafuels.com
Founding of Futerra Fuels
Futerra Fuels was founded by Dutch energy tech investor Henk Hutting who initiated and financed the project in 2015. Under his leadership the company developed a commercial scale production facility for white pellets and black pellets in Valongo, Portugal.
Plant set-up
The plant included six torrefaction lines delivered by Yilkins, which were embedded in a broader plant set-up developed by the Futerra Fuels team. The facility was able to switch production from regular white wood pellets to torrefied pellets, depending on market demand and conditions.
Pandemic
The white pellet and torrefaction lines were commissioned at the end of 2019 and mid-2020, respectively. Due to the pandemic, there was a major delay in finishing the construction phase of system interfaces and consequently the start-up and de-bottlenecking of the plant. In 2020 the plant started with modest commercial production of torrefied pellets and was planning more investments to solve the technical issues related to the production of torrefied pellets.
Closure
COVID-19 jeopardised the possibility of contractors to react quickly, which has negatively impacted personnel availability at Futerra, Yilkins, and other suppliers on-site. The financial situation worsened when the company couldn’t meet its contracted longterm supply obligations to its off takers. In March 2021 Futerra’s founder and financier died. His heirs decided not to continue with the project and the company filed for bankruptcy in September 2022.
Under new management
In 2023 co-founder Frederik Born took over the Dutch entity Futerra Fuels International BV, with the aim to sell high quality woodpellets to the residential and commercial market.
Futerra Fuels International BV supplies top quality, 100% sustainable biomass pellets throughout the Netherlands.
Our wood pellets are of the highest quality and excellent for residential boilers and can be supplied in bags or bulk.
Futerra Fuels is the first choice for sustainable biomass products, we provide personal and passionate customer service backed up with a fast and efficient delivery service.
In the Netherlands we work under the brand StarPellets.
No, we currently don't produce torrefied pellets at this moment. There is not much supply in the market. Most producers deliver test batches to industrial users like utilities and CHP installations.
Torrefied pellets have a higher calorific value then regular woodpellets and are less sensitive to moisture uptake. They are more sustainable as they can be made of low value waste streams like agro residues, and forest residues.
You can order woodpellets in our webshop, which we come online mid 2024.
Are you interested to learn more on torrefied pellets? Or do you want to buy regular woodpellets? Please call or send an email to mr. Frederik Born.