1. EUROPEAN
CURRICULUM VITAE
FORMAT
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name ROBIN WILLEM RUDOLF ZWART
Address WESTERDUINWEG 3
Telephone +31-224-564574 / +31-6-30726498
Fax +31-224-568487
E-mail ZWART@ECN.NL
Phones +31-224-564574 (OFFICE)
+31-6-30736496 (MOBILE)
Personal webpage http://www.ecn.nl/bkm
Nationality Dutch
Date of birth March 24th 1974
Gender Male
Abstract As a chemical engineer Robin Zwart started working at the Energy research Centre of the
Netherlands (ECN) in 1999. He has expert knowledge on a variety of biomass energy conversion
systems, for CHP-production and/or the production of second generation biofuels. Further, he has
expertise concerning biomass pre-treatment & conversion systems.
Until December 2010 his position was research scientist and project manager “biosyngas and
synthetic natural gas (SNG)” at the “biomass, coal and environmental analysis” unit of ECN, where
he was responsible for the ongoing gas cleaning R&D activities at ECN, including the OLGA tar
removal technology.
From January 2011 his position is research coordinator “feedstock pre-treatment and conversion” at
the “biomass & energy efficiency” unit of ECN. This includes the Torrefaction and Torwash pre-
treatment technologies.
Specialties Biomass pretreatment / Torrefaction / Biomass gasification / MILENA / Tar removal / OLGA / Gas
upgrading / SNG production
WORK EXPERIENCE
• Dates (from - to) January 1st 2011 to now
• Name of employer Energy research Centre of the Netherlands
• Type of business or sector R&D
• Occupation or position held Research coordinator feedstock pretreatment and conversion
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Robin Willem Rudolf Zwart
2. • Dates (from - to) January 1st 2012 to now
• Name of employer Energy research Centre of the Netherlands
• Type of business or sector R&D
• Occupation or position held Project manager bioenergy
• Dates (from - to) January 1st 2007 to December 31st 2010
• Name of employer Energy research Centre of the Netherlands
• Type of business or sector R&D
• Occupation or position held Project manager biomass gasification and gas cleaning
• Dates (from - to) February 1st 2000 to December 31st 2006
• Name of employer Energy research Centre of the Netherlands
• Type of business or sector R&D
• Occupation or position held Project manager bioenergy system assessments
• Dates (from - to) May 1st 1999 to January 31st 2000
• Name of employer Randstad polytechniek
• Type of business or sector R&D
• Occupation or position held Project assistant bioenergy system assessments
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
• Dates (from - to) August 1st 1992 to August 1st 1998
• Name of organisation University of Twente
• Title of qualification MSc Chemical Engineering
PERSONAL SKILLS
AND COMPETENCES
MOTHER TONGUE DUTCH
OTHER LANGUAGES Verbal skills Reading skills Writing skills
• English Good Good Good
• German Good Good Good
• French None None None
• Spanish None None None
PUBLICATIONS
BOOKS Ree, R. van; Sanders, J.; Bakker, R.; Blaauw, R.; Zwart, R.; Drift, A. van der; “Biofuel-driven
biorefineries - Giving value to the sustainable production of biofuels”; Published in Handbook of
Biofuels Production (Woodhead Publishers); Edited by Luque, R.; Campelo, J.; Clark, J.; In press.
Zwart, R.W.R.; Ree, R. van; “Bio-based Fischer-Tropsch Diesel Production Technologies”;
Published in Biofuels (Wiley-Blackwell); Edited by Soetaert, W. and Vandamme, E.J.; 2009.
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Robin Willem Rudolf Zwart
3. ARTICLES Pucker, J.; Zwart, R.W.R.; Jungmeier, G.; “Greenhouse gas and energy analysis of substitute
natural gas from biomass for space heat”; Published in Biomass & Bioenergy (Elsevier), 2012, 38,
p.95-101.
Arasto, A.; Kujanpää, L.; Mäkinen, T.; Zwart, R.W.R.; Kiel, J.H.A.; Vehlow, J.; “Analysis and
implications of challenges in achieving the targets of EU RES-E directive Original Research Article”;
Published in Biomass & Bioenergy (Elsevier), 2012, 38, p.109-116.
Zwart, R.W.R.; Drift, A. van der; Bos, A.; Visser, H.J.M.; Cieplik, M.K.; Könemann, J.W.; “Oil-based
gas washing - flexible tar removal for high-efficient production of clean heat and power as well as
sustainable fuels and chemicals”; Published in Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy
(Wiley InterScience), 2009, Ed.28, p.324-335.
Rabou, L.P.L.M.; Zwart, R.W.R.; Vreugdenhil, B.J.; Bos, A.; “Tar in Biomass Producer Gas”,
Published in Energy & Fuels (American Chemical Society), 2009, Ed.23, 6189–6198, p.6189-6198.
Zwart, R.W.R.; Boerrigter, H.; Drift, A. van der; “The Impact of Biomass Pretreatment on the
Feasibility of Overseas Biomass Conversion to Fischer-Tropsch Products”; Published in Energy &
Fuels (American Chemical Society), 2006, 20 (5), p.2192–2197.
Zwart, R.W.R.; Boerrigter, H.; “High Efficiency Co-production of Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) and
Fischer-Tropsch (FT) Transportation Fuels from Biomass”; Published in Energy & Fuels (American
Chemical Society), 2005, 19 (2), p.591–597.
REPORTS Zwart, R.W.R.; “Torrefaction Quality Control based on logistic and end-user requirements”;
ECN-L--11-107, October 2011, 26 pages; Presented at the 2011 International Conference on
Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Science, Chicago, USA, 28-30 September 2011.
Verhoeff, F.; Pels, J.R.; Boersma, A.R.; Zwart, R.W.R.; Kiel, J.H.A.; “ECN torrefaction technology
heading for demonstration”, ECN-M--11-079, July 2011, 8 pages.
Zwart, R.W.R.; “Co-Feeding Fibrous Biomass and Coal into Entrained Flow Gasifiers”;
ECN-L--11-058, June 2011, 54 pages; Presented at the GAP & Coal Chemicals Conference,
Beijing, China, 8-9 June, 2011.
Drift, A. van der; Zwart, R.W.R.; Vreugdenhil, B.J.; Bleijendaal, L.P.J.; “Comparing the options to
produce SNG from biomass”; ECN-M--10-050, May 2010, 7 pages; Presented at the 18th European
Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Lyon, France, 3-7 May 2010.
Zwart, R.W.R.; Heijden, S. van der; Emmen, R.; Dall Bentzen, J.; Ahrenfeldt, J.; Stoholm, P.;
Krogh, J.; “Tar removal from low-temperature gasifiers”; ECN-E--10-008, May 2010, 73 pages.
Zwart, R.W.R.; “JER 2.2 - Prospects for production and use of substitute natural gas (SNG) from
biomass”; ECN-M--09-142, November 2009; Presented at the Bioenergy Network of Excellence
(NoE) Final Seminar, Brussels, Belgium, 2-3 November 2009.
Zwart, R.W.R.; “RD&D needs and recommendations for the production of high-efficient bioSNG”;
ECN-M--09-136, October 2009, 29 pages; Presented at Gasification 2009 - gas Clean-up and Gas
Treatment, Stockholm, Sweden, 22-23 October 2009.
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4. Zwart, R.W.R.; “OLGA: Flexible tar removal for high efficient production of clean heat & power as
well as sustainable fuels & chemicals”; ECN-M--09-120, September 2009, 24 pages; Presented at
the international conference on thermochemical conversion science, Chicago, USA, 16 September
2009.
Zwart, R.W.R.; “Allothermal gasification of biomass into chemicals and secondary energy carriers”;
ECN-M--09-117, September 2009, 27 pages; Presented at ICPS09, Vienna, Austria, 1-4 September
2009.
Meijden, C.M. van der; Veringa, H.; Vreugdenhil, B.J.; Drift, A. van der; Zwart, R.W.R.; Smit, R.;
“Production of bio-methane from woody biomass”; ECN-M--09-086, June 2009, 7 pages; Presented
at the bio-methane world gas conference 2009, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 5-9 October 2009.
Vreugdenhil, B.J.; Zwart, R.W.R.; “Tar formation in pyrolysis and gasification”; ECN-E--08-087,
June 2009, 37 pages.
Rabou, L.P.L.M.; Drift, A. van der; Meijden, C.M. van der; Vreugdenhil, B.J.; Bos, A.; Lievens, C.;
Smit, R.; Zwart, R.W.R.; Winkelman, J.; Balegedde Ramachandran, R.P.; “BioGG Substitute natural
gas (SNG) from biomass” (In Dutch); ECN-E--09-043, June 2009, 61 pages.
Zwart, R.W.R.; “Gas cleaning downstream biomass gasification – status report 2009”;
ECN-E--08-078, June 2009, 65 pages.
Zwart, R.W.R.; “2nd generation biogas: bioSNG”; ECN-M--08-086, November 2008, 24 pages.;
Presented at Biofuels, Berlin, Germany, 29-30 October 2008.
Meijden, C.M. van der; Veringa, H.J.; Vreugdenhil, B.J.; Drift, A. van der; Zwart, R.W.R.; Rabou,
L.P.L.M.; “Production of Bio-Methane by gasification”; ECN-M--08-084, November 2008, 8 pages;
Presented at NGV 2008 – 11th IANGV Conference & Exhibition, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3-5 June
2008.
Meijden, C.M. van der; Veringa, H.J.; Vreugdenhil, B.J.; Drift, A. van der; Zwart, R.W.R.;
“Production of Bio-CNG by gasification”; ECN-M--08-085 , November 2008, 9 pages; Presented at
the Pittsburgh Coal Conference 2008, Pittsburgh, USA, 29 September 2008-2 October 2008.
Schwietzke, S.; Ladisch, M.; Russo, L.; Kwant, K.; Mäkinen, T.; Kavalov, B.; Maniatis, K.; Zwart,
R.W.R.; Shahanan, G.; Sipilä, K.; Grabowski, P.; Telenius, B.; White, M.; Brown, A.; “Analysis and
identification of gaps in the research for the production of second-generation liquid transportation
biofuels”; IEA, 2008, 20 pages.
Zwart, R.W.R.; “Synthetic Natural Gas; Large-scale introduction of green natural gas in existing gas
grids”; ECN-L--07-069, October 2007, 22 pages.
Boerrigter, H.; Zwart, R.W.R.; Deurwaarder, E.P.; Meijden, C.M. van der; Paasen, S.V.B. van;
“Production of Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) from biomass; development and operation of an
integrated bio-SNG system”; ECN-E--06-018, August 2006, 62 pages.
Bos, A.; Oudhuis, A.B.J.; Zwart, R.W.R.; Boersma, A.R.; “TDT-3R Clean Multi Fuels: ECN
contribution to WP3 lab-/bench-scale pyrolysis test of biomass and analysis of byproducts”;
ECN-C--05-077, November 2005, 59 pages.
Hemmes, K.; Zwart, R.W.R.; Oudhuis, A.B.J.; Hest, H. van; “Utilisation of biomass / waste streams
in the drying process of GIBO” (In Dutch); ECN-C--05-080, September 2005, 76 pages.
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5. Ree, R. van; Drift, A. van der; Zwart, R.W.R.; Boerrigter, H.; “Market competitive Fischer-Tropsch
diesel production”; ECN-RX--05-132, August 2005, 13 pages; Presented at the 1st International
Biorefinery Workshop, Washington, USA, 20-21 July 2005.
Bergman, P.C.A.; Boersma, A.R.; Zwart, R.W.R.; Kiel, J.H.A.; “Torrefaction for biomass co-firing in
existing coal-fired power stations BIOCOAL"; ECN-C--05-013, July 2005, 72 pages.
Zwart, R.W.R.; “Feasibility of integration of the fluegas cleaning of a fluidised bed with a waste
incinerator”; ECN-C--04-115, December 2004, 59 pages.
Mozaffarian, M.; Zwart, R.W.R.; Boerrigter, H.; Deurwaarder, E.P.; Kersten, S.R.A.; “'Green Gas as
SNG (Synthetic Natural Gas); A renewable fuel with Conventional Quality”; ECN-RX--04-085,
August 2004, 17 pages; Presented at Science in Thermal and Chemical Biomass Conversion,
Victoria BC, Canada, 30 August 2004 - 2 September 2004.
Zwart, R.W.R.; Boerrigter, H.; “High efficiency co-production of Substitute Natural Gas (SNG) and
Fischer-Tropsch (FT) transportation fuels from biomass”; ECN-RX--04-042, May 2004, 5 pages;
Presented at the 2nd World Conference and Technology Exhibition on Biomass for Energy, Industry
and Climate Protection, Rome, Italy, 10-14 May 2004.
Mozaffarian, M.; Zwart, R.W.R.; Boerrigter, H.; Deurwaarder, E.P.; “Biomass and waste-related
SNG production technologies : Technical, economic and ecological feasibility”; ECN-RX--04-024,
April 2004, 4 pages; Presented at the 2nd World Conference and Technology Exhibition on Biomass
for Energy, Industry and Climate Protection, Rome, Italy, 10-14 May 2004.
Boerrigter, H.; Zwart, R.W.R.; “High efficient co-production of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) transportation
fuels and Substitute Natural Gas (SNG) from biomass”; ECN-C--04-001, February 2004, 64 pages.
Mozaffarian, M.; Zwart, R.W.R.; “Feasibility of biomass/waste-related SNG production technologies:
Final Report”; ECN-C--03-066, July 2003; 117 pages.
Zwart, R.W.R.; “Technical, economic and environmental potential of co-firing of biomass and waste
in natural gas fired turbines and combined cycles”; ECN-RX--03-003, March 2003, 8 pages.
Mozaffarian, M.; Zwart, R.W.R.; “Feasibility of SNG production by biomass hydrogasification”; ECN-
RX--02-035, August 2002, 8 pages; Presented at the 12th European Conference and Technology
Exhibition on Biomass for Energy, Industry and Climate Protection, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,
17-21 June 2002.
Mozaffarian, M.; Zwart, R.W.R.; “Production of substitute natural gas by biomass hydrogasification”;
ECN-RX--00-038, November 2000, 15 pages; Presented at Developments in Thermochemical
Biomass Conversion, Tyrol, Austria, 17-22 September 2000.
PROJECTS Sustainability assessment torrefaction: The primary goal of this project is to assess the techno-
economic potential as well as the sustainability of importing torrefied bamboo pellets from Colombia
to the Netherlands in order to be used as bioenergy source for co-firing in coal-fired power plants.
Client: NL Agency, Country: Colombia, Period: 2011-2012.
CEN/ISO standards for torrefied solid biofuels: Quick scan on the possibility of implementation of
torrefied biofuels in the recent developed CEN en ISO standards (CEN/TC 335 and ISO/TC 238) on
Solid Biofuels are presented. Can torrefied biofuels be considered as biofuels? Is it necessary to
adapt the existing standard for torrefied biofuels? Is there a need for new dedicated standards?.
Client: NL Agency, Country: Netherlands, Period: 2011.
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6. KTO MILENA OLGA HVC: ECN has developed the MILENA gasification technology that can
convert lingo-cellulosic biomass (e.g. residual wood) into a combustible gas. This gas can be
converted into natural gas quality gas (bio-methane) by catalytic processes. ECN and HVC have
decided to demonstrate the MILENA technology on a commercial scale in Alkmaar. An extensive
test program, with different fuels, was done in the 30 kWth MILENA lab-scale and 800 kWth MILENA
pilot plant to generate engineering data and to... Client: NL Agency, Country: Netherlands, Period:
2009-2011.
Commissioning OLGA: OLGA is an advanced scrubbing technology for tar removal downstream
gasification processes. Its basic idea is to remove tars above the water dew point, so that mixtures
of tar and water are avoided. OLGA tar removal prevents issues with fouling, water pollution, and
coking (in case of downstream catalytic processes). The OLGA technology is developed and
patented by ECN and is licensed to Dahlman. Client: Technisch Bureau Dahlman B.V., Country:
France, Period: 2010.
Operational support synthesis unit: Operational support for CTL pilot plant (Coal to Liquids). Client:
Shell Global Solutions International, Country: Netherlands, Period: 2009.
Process design OLGA: OLGA is an advanced scrubbing technology for tar removal downstream
gasification processes. Its basic idea is to remove tars above the water dew point, so that mixtures
of tar and water are avoided. OLGA tar removal prevents issues with fouling, water pollution, and
coking (in case of downstream catalytic processes). The OLGA technology is developed and
patented by ECN and is licensed to Dahlman. Client: Technisch Bureau Dahlman B.V., Country:
USA, Period: 2009.
Consultancy gas cleaning: The consultancy focused on cleaning technologies downstream biomass
gasifiers to manufacture clean gas, from which electricity and heat, transport fuels, chemicals, SNG
and hydrogen can be produced efficiently. It provides an overview of the current status, the key
players, the motives and challenges, and the ongoing remaining R&D. The consultancy also
provided information focused at upgrading of biogas or landfill gas. The technologies in this sector
may also apply for gas obtained from digestion plants. Client: NL Agency, Country: Netherlands,
Period: 2008-2009.
Consultancy SNG production: It can be estimated that 50% of heat consumed in the EU is
produced from natural gas. Substitute Natural Gas from biomass is an excellent option to overcome
limitations and drawbacks of heat generation from solid biomass by exploiting synergies with fossil
natural gas. Conversion of biomass into SNG and subsequent distribution and use can be
considered as an alternative supply chain for heat from biomass. Distribution of biomass in the form
of SNG offers the same advantages as... Client: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland,
Country: Europe, Period: 2007-2009.
NoE BIOENERGY: The Bioenergy Network of Excellence (NoE) is a European group of eight
leading bioenergy institutes. We are integrating our RD&D activities to create a Virtual Bioenergy
R&D Centre that will contribute to a competitive bioenergy market in Europe. The objective is to
grow our joint research activities into a Virtual R&D Bioenergy Centre that can spearhead bioenergy
research in Europe. The centre will open its doors to collaboration with other R&D institutes to offer
pan-European expertise ... Client: European Commission, Country: Europe, Period: 2004-2009.
Research OLGA: OLGA is an advanced scrubbing technology for tar removal downstream
gasification processes. Its basic idea is to remove tars above the water dew point, so that mixtures
of tar and water are avoided. OLGA tar removal prevents issues with fouling, water pollution, and
coking (in case of downstream catalytic processes). The OLGA technology is developed and
patented by ECN and is licensed to Dahlman. Client: Technisch Bureau Dahlman B.V., Country:
Canada, Period: 2008.
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7. Process design synthesis unit: Process design and construction of CTL pilot plant (Coal to Liquids).
Client: Shell Global Solutions International, Country: Netherlands, Period: 2006-2008.
Consultancy BTL production: To develop a successful project, insight in the technical and economic
feasibility at an early development stage is of key importance. ECN offers independent techno-
economic evaluations and design studies of biomass conversion processes. We have an extensive
expertise in biomass and waste combustion and gasification, biomass co-firing, product and fuel
gas cleaning, heat & power and bio-refinery processes. The results of our study provides you
insight in your cost drivers an... Client: Hydro Oil & Energy, Country: Norway, Period: 2006-2007.
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