Neste Oil and Raisioagro have launched a research project to investigate the potential of straw as a raw material for producing renewable diesel. Large quantities of waste straw are produced as agricultural residue in Finland and elsewhere, and only a small proportion of this is currently used.

The project will study whether a logistically effective and efficient, large-scale straw harvesting chain could be created in Finland. The researchers will also look at the storability of straw for use as an industrial input year-round. Neste Oil has tested processing of  straw for some years and pilot-scale microbial oil production trials were started last year when Europe’s first microbial oil pilot plant was commissioned at Porvoo.