Gasification is a thermochemical process in which biomass or other carbon containing materials are converted into an energy rich synthesis gas (syngas) at high temperatures with a controlled supply of oxygen, steam or other gasifying agents. Syngas consists mainly of hydrogen (H₂) and carbon monoxide (CO), which can be used to produce heat, power, sustainable fuels and green chemicals.
Gasification is considered one of the most promising technologies for utilizing forest resources, residual biomass and organic waste streams in a future low emission society. The technology enables the production of advanced biofuels, biomethanol, sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen, while also allowing for integration with carbon capture to achieve negative emissions.
Why gasification?
Compared with conventional combustion, gasification offers greater flexibility in how energy is utilized.
Key benefits
- Production of hydrogen rich syngas
- Potential for producing biofuels and green chemicals
- High carbon utilization
- Suitable for a wide range of biomass and waste streams
- Potential for carbon negative value chains when combined with CO₂ capture
- Effective disinfection and volume reduction of organic residues and waste
Gasification technologies
There are several different types of gasification reactors.
- Fixed bed reactors
- Well suited for smaller plants and relatively homogeneous fuels.
- Fluidized bed reactors
- Provide good heat transfer and can handle a wide range of biomass types.
- Entrained flow gasification
- Pulverized biomass or other finely divided materials are converted at high temperatures, often under pressure. The technology provides high carbon conversion, low tar content and syngas that is well suited for fuel synthesis.
SINTEF’s expertise in gasification
We combine experimental research, advanced modelling and techno economic analyses to develop the bioenergy technologies of the future.
Our research areas
Process development and system analysis
- Development of new processes and concepts
- Integration into industrial energy systems
- Scale up from laboratory to pilot and demonstration scale
Process simulation and modelling
- CFD and CPFD modelling
- Reactor design and optimization
- Analysis of temperature, flow and reaction behaviour
- Digital twins and scaling studies
Fuels we have studied
- Biomass
- Forest industry residues
- Lignin
- Sludge and digestate
- Waste based feedstocks
- Macroalgae
Gas and product analysis
- Syngas composition
- Hydrogen production
- Carbon conversion
- Cold Gas Efficiency (CGE)
- Product quality for downstream synthesis processes
Techno economic analyses
- Profitability
- Value chain analyses
- Carbon accounting
- Market and competitive analysis
Advanced laboratory infrastructure
SINTEF has unique research infrastructure for the gasification of solid fuels. Our facilities include:
- Pressurized entrained flow gasification reactor
- Chemical looping (150 kW pilot unit that can be used for both combustion and gasification)
- Laboratories for thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
- Gas analysis equipment (GC and FTIR)
- Ash characterization
Experimental results from our studies show that the right combination of temperature, oxygen supply and steam injection can achieve very high carbon conversion and syngas quality.
Current applications
- Biofuels
- Production of methanol, Fischer Tropsch fuels and sustainable aviation fuel.
- Hydrogen
- Production of renewable hydrogen from biomass and waste resources.
- Industrial heat and power
- Efficient energy recovery with high flexibility.
- Carbon negative solutions
- Combination of bioenergy, gasification and carbon capture (BECCS).
- Circular resource utilization
- Upgrading sludge, waste streams and industrial residues into energy and valuable products.
Why collaborate with SINTEF?
- Leading expertise in biomass gasification
- Unique pressurized entrained flow research platform
- Combination of experiments, modelling and system analysis
- Documented results published in international journals
- Experience across the entire value chain, from feedstock to fuels and chemicals
- Close collaboration with industry, energy companies and public sector stakeholders