In Norway, the BALI demonstration plant operated by the BIOFOREVER project reports that the successful scale-up from lab by a factor of 1000 and several years of operation in a semi-commercial scale suggests that the BALI technology is at TRL (Technology Readiness Level) 6-7. In September 2016 a consortium of 14 European companies started the […]
In Iowa, we reported late last week that POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels will build an on-site enzyme manufacturing facility in Emmetsburg, pending state and local approvals. It gives us a chance to review the progress with cellulosic biofuels. In that, you might find yourself in one of three camps, in looking at cellulosic’s slow ramp-up: 1. […]
In the Netherlands, Avantium, AkzoNobel, Chemport Europe, RWE and Staatsbosbeheer have established a partnership for the development of a reference plant at the Chemie Park Delfzijl. The new project will be based on the Zambezi process that has been developed by Avantium. Zambezi. What’s that, exactly? Let’s explore. The Zambezi process The Zambezi process aims for a […]
By Irshad Ahmed, Consultant with Lee Enterprises Consulting and Member of MITSBAA Entrepreneurs Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Special to The Digest The story of cellulosic ethanol in the United States has had more plot twists than The Crying Game, the acclaimed Hollywood brain twister—except that this story promises to end with a predictable happy […]
By Lorenz Bauer, PhD, Lee Enterprises Consulting, Inc. Special to The Digest What’s up with C5 and C6 sugars? Given that a significant portion of the several billion dollars spent on renewable fuels spending involves these molecules, it is not surprising that progress is fast and furious. This note provides an overview and snapshot of […]
Out of the unlikely bioeconomy hub of West Palm Beach, Florida, Alliance BioEnergy Plus has revealed what it describes as the “successful completion of its yearlong efforts to optimize its patented CTS technology to extract 100% of the sugar from virtually any cellulosic feed-stock after having it completed and proven by major industry ethanol producers.” […]
Last week, Digest readers around the world rated feedstocks for the Advanced Bioeconomy. In a 200 million ton scenario, we wondered, which feedstocks are the best bets — and at what price? We say relatively novel because some of them exist in our everyday world — woody biomass for lignocellulosic conversion, or the residues (animal, […]
In Finland, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Aalto University investigated how willow biomass can be utilized more efficiently. When processed correctly, willow is eminently suitable as a source of sugar in the production of ethanol. The lignin fraction formed as a by-product of the ethanol process and the fibres and compounds of willow […]
In Australia, Leaf Resources and ZeaChem signed a joint venture agreement to establish a Glycell based project in the USA. The new agreenent advances the relationship between the two companies from an October 2014 Collaboration Agreement. That previous agreement covered ZeaChem’s evaluation of the Leaf Glycell process for the production of fermentable sugars at ZeaChem’s demonstration […]
Chempolis’ multi-year quest to build cellulosic ethanol in India finds a happy landing. In India, €110 million joint venture cellulosic ethanol project of Chempolis Ltd and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) is moving towards construction after getting approval from NRL’s board. The project is expected to come online by 2019. The when and where The bamboo-based […]
