May 13, 2010
DOE funds effort to convert biofuel plants to cellulosic feedstocks
Published in Brighter Energy
The US Department of Energy has signed deal to provide $20.5 million in grants for a project that could help existing “first generation” biofuels plants convert to cellulosic feedstocks.
The funding first announced last December will support work by EdeniQ, Inc., to develop a pilot project at its existing refinery site in Visalia, California.
The latest agreement releases the first $2.8 million in federal funds. The remaining $17.7 million is expected to be released in the third quarter of 2010 assuming the project achieves its required conditions.
With the project managed by Virginia company Logos Technologies, will develop a biofuel pilot facility processing two tons of corn by-products per day.
The companies said their biological, chemical and mechanical technology would allow first-generation biorefineries to add cellulosic production to their existing operations.
EdeniQ CEO Larry Gross said his company’s process would allow advanced biofuels production using America’s existing biofuels infrastructure.
He explained: “Our Corn-to-Cellulose Migration technologies will allow today’s corn ethanol producers to add corn stover (leftover stalks, cobs and leaves) and switchgrass (a native, perennial prairie grass used as an energy crop) to their current operations far faster, and for far less money, than building ‘green field’ cellulosic plants from the ground up.”
EISA
US fuel suppliers are required to provide 250 million gallons of cellulosic biofuels in 2011, according to the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), but are expected to fall well short.
Cellulosic biofuels are those made from crop by-products or crops that do not affect global food prices, thought to be better for the environment than conventional “first generation” biofuels...
