Grainnet

Progress Made on Cellulose Ethanol Work By Several Entities

By Susan Reidy ... BioFuels Journal Editor

In order to meet the growing demand for ethanol, feedstocks other than corn will need to be utilized.

For that reason, private companies and the U.S. government are accelerating research into cellulosic ethanol, which is derived from the fibrous, woody, and generally inedible portions of plant matter.

This can range from the perennial crop switchgrass to corn stalks to wood chips.

Here are some of the latest developments.

U.S. Department of Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy released in July a 200-page “roadmap” for the development of cellulosic ethanol.

The document, “Breaking the Biological Barriers to Cellulosic Ethanol: A Joint Research Agenda,” outlines a detailed research plan for developing new technologies to transform cellulosic ethanol into an economically viable transportation fuel.

It is in response to the goal set by Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman to displace 30% of 2004 transportation fuel consumption with biofuels by 2030.

That goal was set in response to President Bush’s Advanced Energy Initiative.

The roadmap identifies the research required to overcome challenges to the large-scale production of cellulosic c ethanol including:

• Maximizing biomass feedstock productivity.

• Developing better processes by which to break down cellulosic materials into sugars.

• Optimizing the fermentation process to convert sugars to ethanol. Biotechnology advances.

The focus of the research plan is to use advances in biotechnology, those developed in the Human Genome Project and continued in the Genomics: GTL program, to jump-start a new fuel industry.

The plan was developed in December 2005 during a workshop hosted by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research and the Office of the Biomass Program.

“Cellulosic ethanol has the potential to be a major source for transportation fuel for America’s energy future,” said Under Secretary for Science Raymond Orbach.

“Low production cost and high efficiency require transformational changes in processing cellulose to ethanol. DOE’s Genomics: GTL program is poised to help do just that.”

New York State

New York Gov. George Pataki announced in mid-June that the state is offering $20 million in grants to develop and construct a pilot plant that produces cellulosic ethanol.

The New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority are jointly administering the request for proposals.

Applicants must demonstrate that they are able to build a pilot facility and to use the knowledge derived from the operation of the pilot plant to develop a commercial-scale facility.

Up to four awards will be made, ranging from $5 million to $20 million. Proposals are due on Sept. 20.

Private corporations, public benefit corporations, not-for-profit corporations, colleges and universities, or combinations of these groups may apply for a grant.

Eligible projects must include the design, construction, commissioning, and three-year operation of a pilot facility for the production of transportation-grade ethanol from cellulosic feedstock.

Production of at least 1 million gallons of ethanol per year is preferred but not required for the maximum award of $20 million.

Eligible feedstocks include a wide range of possible materials available in New York including wood chips, forest wastes and residues, clean wood and wood wastes, pulp and paper mill wastes or extracts, non-recyclable paper, waste timber or lumber, grasses or other agricultural crops grown for energy and agricultural and/or food processing wastes and residues.

A link to the request for proposals is available below.

Ceres, Inc./Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

Ceres, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation (www.noble.org), Ardmore, OK announced in June a long-term collaboration for the development and commercialization of new, advanced biomass crops for ethanol production.

“The Noble Foundation is the world’s premier organization for conventional and molecular breeding of switchgrass and other perennial grass crops useful for renewable energy production,” said Ceres CEO Dr. Richard Hamilton.

“Combining the Noble Foundation’s extensive breeding infrastructure and experience base with Ceres’ advanced genomics technologies creates a powerful pipeline for commercializing improved energy crop varieties to meet the projected market for cellulosic ethanol.”

Under the agreement, Ceres, a plant biotechnology company, will obtain an exclusive licence to switchgrass germplasm and advanced varieties developed by breeders at the Noble Foundation.

Initial projects under the agreement will expand on the conventional and molecular breeding program at the Noble Foundation for development of enhanced switchgrass varieties.

The Noble Foundation, a nonprofit group conducting agricultural, forage improvement, and plant biology research, will work to develop agronomic systems and best management practices aimed at optimizing biomass production and producer education.

Xethanol Corp.

Xethanol Corp., New York, plans to purchase and retrofit Pfizer’s 40-acre pharmaceutical manufacturing complex in Augusta, GA into a 35-million-gallon-per-year biomass-to-ethanol plant.

The company has formed CoastalXethanol LLC for the development of that facility and others throughout the East Coast.

The company also is looking to build a 20-mmgy facility in Savannah, GA, which also will use biomass waste streams.