The Digest’s Top 10 Celluosic Project flashpoints, 10 Quick Takes

It’s all very rosy on the cellulosic potential frontier. As Gevo and Renmatix recently observed, “cellulosic sugars are one of the most abundant feedstocks in the world, and in many geographies with dense vegetation, using woody biomass feedstocks to generate useful sugars is the most cost-effective solution.”

And there’s been positive progress, much, on cost. In Florida, study results from the University of Florida bio-refinery pilot plant in Perry, Florida (using crushed sugarcane and sweet sorghum stalks) to produce fuel ethanol.showed that the lowest break-even price for producing cellulosic ethanol is still higher than the price of gasoline. At their most optimistic, UF/IFAS researchers say cellulosic ethanol could be produced for about $1.50 a gallon.
http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2018/06/06/university-of-florida-see-cellulosic-ethanol-production-at-1-50-per-gallon/

And, policymakers have been coming aboard. In India, Praj expects the new national policy to promote second-generation ethanol production and consumption to go a long way towards achieving higher ethanol blending goals. The company has invested extensively over the last several years in developing the technology in order to get it ready for commercial roll out. It expects to start seeing returns on those technology investments in 2020. Praj’s CEO said offtake agreements of 15 years are under consideration to help get these projects financed.

Praj expects second-generation ethanol to take off thanks to new policy

So, where are the gallons? What are the hot projects? Here are the top 10 cellulosic storylines of the past year.

#1 Clariant launches flagship sunliquid plant in Romania as the EU bids to decarbonize transport

In Romania, Clariant officially started construction of the first large-scale commercial sunliquid plant for the production of cellulosic ethanol made from agricultural residues. The project represents the biggest industrial commitment by an international corporation in this region. At full capacity, the plant will produce 50 000 tons of cellulosic ethanol annually — using around 250 000 tons of wheat straw (and other grain residues) sourced from local farmers to . By-products from the process will be used for the generation of renewable energy with the goal of making the plant independent from fossil energy sources. The resulting cellulosic ethanol is therefore an advanced biofuel that is practically carbon-neutral.
More on the story, here.