DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC (DDCE) and the University of Tennessee Research Foundation, through its Genera Energy LLC, today announced a partnership to construct a pilot-scale biorefinery and state-of-the-art research and development facility for cellulosic ethanol in Vonore, Tennessee.
The pilot-scale biorefinery will develop the commercial package for DDCE’s leading cellulosic ethanol technology. The project will utilize UT’s expertise in cellulosic feedstock production and co-product research, as well as its work with Tennessee farmers to develop the first dedicated cellulosic energy crop supply chain for cellulosic biorefineries utilizing switchgrass. The facility design will incorporate the flexibility to operate on two different non-food biomass feedstocks–corn stover, cobs and fiber; and switchgrass.
The plant capacity will be 250,000 gallons of cellulosic ethanol annually. Site preparations are scheduled to begin this fall, and ethanol should be available from the pilot plant by December 2009.
"The joint venture is now targeting the two optimal biomass feedstocks in the United States and we are ready to take our technology to the next level of commercial viability," DuPont Danisco Technology Leader John Pierce said.
In 2007 Gov. Phil Bredesen proposed and the legislature set aside $40.7 million toward the construction of a pilot biorefinery. Those funds will be combined with a substantial investment from DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol to construct the high-tech research facility.
The university has invested state research dollars toward the development of switchgrass as a potential energy crop for the state and the United States. The first switchgrass plots that will supply the pilot biorefinery were planted by area farmers in spring 2008. These crops will fully mature in three years, and demonstration of switchgrass-to-ethanol conversion could begin as early as 2010. The pilot plant will initially process western Tennessee corn cobs to ethanol and then will optimize its technology for switchgrass to ethanol conversion.
About DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC
DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC is dedicated to the development and commercialization of cellulosic ethanol. Bringing together two leaders in the field–DuPont (NYSE: DD) and Genencor, a division of Danisco (DAY.BE)–DDCE leverages more than $140 million of investment and over 10 years of research and development to bring to market global, integrated cellulosic ethanol technology packages that utilize various non-food feedstocks. The company’s mission includes accelerating the development of commercial scale biorefineries, creating value for the renewable fuels and agricultural industries and leading the way toward a low-carbon economy.
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