Press release
9 April 2014
Topell Energy exploring strategic options to accelerate growth
The Hague – Topell Energy, the global torrefaction technology leader, announced today that it is
exploring strategic options to accelerate growth, as Topell Energy is moving into the next phase of its
development rolling out its technology on a global basis.
Recently, Topell Energy achieved and announced two key milestones in its development. In October
2013, the company reached “industrial proof of concept” producing torrefied pellets at an industrial
and commercial scale with its Topell Energy torrefaction system. In February this year, Topell Energy
announced the successful large scale co-firing test in collaboration with Energy research Centre of
the Netherlands (ECN) and utility companies Essent, Nuon and GDF Suez. During this test 2,300 tons
of torrefied pellets were co-fired at a 5% - 25% co-firing rate in the Amer power plant of Essent in
Geertruidenberg, producing green electricity. The co-firing test confirms the benefits of torrefied
pellets and the ability of Topell Energy’s technology to produce high quality biocoal.
Rob Voncken, CEO of Topell Energy, states “With the industrial proof of our technology and the
successful large scale co-firing test, a new phase for Topell Energy has started. We began our
worldwide commercial roll-out, selling torrefaction systems with a licence for the use of our
proprietary torrefaction technology, to bio-fuel producers and other interested customers. As a first
mover in a market with significant global potential, a natural moment has arrived for Topell Energy
to explore our strategic options”.
Topell Energy and its shareholders have retained investment bank Lincoln International to assist with
this process, in order to find a partner which can help Topell Energy to accelerate growth.
About Topell Energy
Topell Energy is a Dutch clean technology company. Topell Energy has developed a cutting edge
process for the production of high value solid bio-fuel from woody biomass. This process is known as
torrefaction and the solid bio-fuel is usually referred to as torrefied biomass, black pellets, or
biocoal. Torrefaction of biomass results in ability to use lower quality feedstock, reduced logistics
costs as well as lower capex at the power plant for handling bio-fuel. Torrefaction is instrumental in
unlocking the potential of biomass for energy production. Besides this, torrefaction also creates the
opportunity to accelerate the use of biomass as feedstock for large scale gasification to produce biobased chemicals and materials. Topell Energy operates a commercial scale demonstration plant in
Duiven, The Netherlands. The company is preparing the worldwide roll-out of its torrefaction
technology by licensing its technology to bio-fuel producers.