The global transition towards a circular carbon economy requires technologies capable of converting biomass resources into renewable materials, chemicals and energy products, such as functional biochar, high-quality bio-oil, synthesis gas suitable for fuel production, or functional proteins. Although numerous individual biomass processing technologies already exist, integrating them into economically viable industrial systems capable of producing competitively priced products for the metallurgy, chemicals, construction materials, agriculture and energy sectors remains a major challenge.

New Standard Oil, the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB), and the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT) have jointly launched the validation of the first TRL 6 prototype of the UNIFORMER® concept.

The project is the result of several years of collaboration between the three partners. Fraunhofer IGB contributes expertise in superheated steam processing and biomass valorisation, while Fraunhofer UMSICHT provides know-how in Thermo-Catalytic Reforming (TCR) and other thermochemical processes. New Standard Oil focuses on system integration, reactor development and commercialisation, and has designed the UNIFORMER® platform architecture on which the current prototype programme is based.

Within the UNIFORMER® project, the partners are investigating how existing biomass valorisation technologies can be integrated into a unified industrial process. Unlike conventional systems, which are typically optimised for a single processing pathway, UNIFORMER® allows process configurations to be tailored according to the characteristics of locally available biomass resources. In the future, this could help companies achieve a better balance between economic performance, resource efficiency and environmental impact.

The project is also evaluating a process integration method and device developed by New Standard Oil and protected by a patent application. This approach enables multiple thermochemical technologies to be connected into a continuous production process. Eliminating airlock systems and mechanical transfer points reduces operating costs while increasing energy flexibility.