Liquid biofuels are an efficient way of reducing carbon emissions from asphalt work. They make the asphalt both physically durable and ethically sustainable.
Summer vacation, a hot car, passengers arguing in the back seat, and traffic at a standstill due to road construction. This is likely a familiar scenario for almost everyone.
Roads must naturally be kept in good condition and withstand heavy wear, but at the same time, paving causes a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, the sustainability of roads must also be considered from this perspective, and Wibax has a solution for this: liquid biofuels.
Recycling of by-products and surplus production
Wibax supplies its customers with liquid biofuels optimised for the Nordic climate. Susanna Korpijaakko-Öhman, who is responsible for the sale of biofuels at Wibax Finland, explains that the liquid biofuels Wibax currently delivers are plant- and wood-based, made from by-products and surplus production.
“For example, there will be surpluses from the production of food, feed, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics, which we use for liquid biofuels. These include rapeseed, coconut, soy, and sunflower. It’s a very responsible approach, as we don’t cultivate plants separately for biofuel but rather utilise others’ surplus,” says Korpijaakko-Öhman.
Another liquid biofuel that Wibax supplies to its customers is tall oil pitch, which is produced from wood-based products.
“In the past, tall oil pitch was a problem as there was too much of a surplus. Now it can be utilised and doesn’t become waste,” says Korpijaakko-Öhman.
Reduced carbon footprint
Wibax has been active in biofuels in Sweden since 2010 and in Finland for five years. In recent years, demand has increased significantly—even within the asphalt industry.
So how can liquid biofuels be used in asphalt production, and how does this make paving more responsible?
“Liquid fuels are not used in the asphalt itself but as a heat source in the production of asphalt,” explains Korpijaakko-Öhman.
“Asphalt companies use the most energy when producing asphalt. It’s therefore important to consider the climate impact of the manufacturing phase and replace fossil fuels with energy produced from renewable raw materials, such as liquid biofuels made from surplus products.”
All asphalt companies calculate their own carbon footprint, and the responsibility and sustainability of liquid biofuels are reflected in these figures.
“When burning fossil fuels, it’s calculated that a thousand kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions are produced. However, if biofuels or combustible liquid biofuels are used, the corresponding figure is zero,” says Korpijaakko-Öhman.
In other words, if a thousand tons of fuel are used, the carbon footprint is already significantly reduced.
A key role in the transition
Peab Asfalt, part of the Nordic region’s largest construction group, is Finland’s largest asphalt producer and uses liquid biofuels from Wibax for its asphalt production.
Pasi Korhonen, Purchasing Director for the Nordics at Peab Asfalt, explains that they use combustible liquid biofuels to produce ECO-Asphalt so that they can reduce carbon dioxide emissions from their own production and protect the environment by offering their customers a greener and more sustainable alternative.
“I am proud that Peab aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its own production by 60 percent by 2030 and that Peab will be a climate-neutral group by 2045. Combustible liquid biofuels play an important role in this transformation of asphalt production,” says Korhonen.
“I believe that interest in liquid biofuels will continue to grow—not only in the asphalt sector but also in other energy-intensive industries,” says Korpijaakko-Öhman.
