Tomas Harju-Jeanty, CEO of SFW (on the left), and Kalle Härkki, CEO of VTT, signed the license agreement in Espoo on January 19, 2026.

Sumitomo SHI FW (SFW) and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have signed a license agreement to advance the production of clean syngas from non-recyclable biowaste for sustainable fuels. The agreement gives SFW exclusive rights to use VTT’s syngas reformer technology.

The technology will be used in SFW’s gasification plants for sustainable fuels and chemicals across the globe. It enables the production of clean syngas from non-recyclable biowastes, such as woody and agricultural residues and municipal biowaste. Syngas is a key raw material for sustainable fuels and chemicals, needed for decarbonizing transportation, including shipping and aviation, and in hard-to-abate sectors.

The combination of SFW’s gasification and VTT’s reformer technologies allows the conversion of residual biowaste streams into drop-in liquid fuels, such as green methanol and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), that can be used in existing engines, turbines and infrastructure without significant modifications.

VTT began developing syngas reforming technology in the 1990s. SFW delivered its first biomass gasifiers in the 1980s. The industrial-scale liquid fuel plant in Finland has proven their technical performance using a wide range of biowaste streams, including forest industry by-products and residues.

Under the license agreement, SFW and VTT have also agreed to a program of common work, development and testing together, with the goal of further improving  gasification performance and syngas yields. This will support the production of low-carbon fuels and chemicals needed to reduce emissions.

About SFW

Sumitomo SHI FW (SFW)

is a global provider of solutions and services that drive the decarbonization of energy. Our solutions include energy from biomass and waste, long duration energy storage, sustainable fuels, carbon capture, flue gas cleaning, waste heat boilers, as well as related services to digitalize, optimize, and decarbonize assets that we deliver to the global power and industrial markets.

We strive to provide sustainable energy solutions for customers in a wide range of industries including energy, waste, chemicals, metal, sustainable fuels, cement and pulp and paper. SFW’s excellence in delivering projects worldwide rely on our 1,800 talented people, across 20 locations in 14 countries, with deep know-how and experience in the industry.

Powering a decarbonized world for everyone. For more information, please visit Sumitomo SHI FW at shi-fw.com.

About VTT

VTT is a visionary research, development and innovation partner. We drive sustainable growth and tackle the biggest global challenges of our time and turn them into growth opportunities. We go beyond the obvious to help the society and companies to grow through technological innovations. We have over 80 years of experience of top-level research and science-based results. VTT is at the sweet spot where innovation and business come together.

VTT – beyond the obvious

www.vttresearch.com

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