Energy Security

IO4 – Increase New Zealand’s energy security through the use of forest biomass, clean technologies and industrial symbiosis


Impact KPI-8: Diversify the products of existing firms in wood processing, pulp and fibre production in New Zealand

By 2019, Scion’s product and process developments will be embedded in existing wood processing industries to support them build greater economic and environmental resilience through diversification of their product offerings and reduced environmental impact.

Leading indicator
Progress
By 2015, Scion will have delivered at least one commercial solution to a firm or waste material treatment entity for the conversion of liquid or solid rich organic wastes into recoverable products to maintain BATEA (Best Available Technology Economically Achievable).




TERAX™ technology was demonstrated at pilot scale at Rotorua Lakes Council (RLC) wastewater treatment plant. A decision from RLC on the deployment of the technology at commercial scale is awaited.
An electro-separation process to remove resin from pulpmill liquid streams was successfully developed. Next steps are to scale up to process and complete the business viability assessment.

By 2016, Scion will have supported the pulp industry in evaluating at least one new high-value co-product from their operations.
Contract lab-scale trials were carried out for a client to modify a pulping process to produce paperboard with improved strength when exposed to a cycling humidity environment. This work was successful and is ready to scale-up.
By 2018, Scion will have supported a group of firms in one region to develop a value proposition, based on industrial symbiosis, outlining the benefits/risks across economic, social and environmental criteria, enabling them to make an informed decision for action.
The MBIE-funded Industrial Symbiosis project began analysis for two case studies and identified five opportunities for further analysis with the co-funders.