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North Carolina pilot plant to showcase enzyme biodiesel technology

The Piedmont Biofuels pilot plant will produce around 12,600 gallons of biodiesel a year

Industrial enzyme producer Novozymes and North Carolina biofuels company Piedmont Biofuels have unveiled a new biodiesel pilot plant.

The first of its kind in the US, the facility will demonstrate an improved technological process for biodiesel production, the firms said.

It will use enzyme systems developed by the two companies to turn low quality waste grease into high quality biodiesel.

The pilot plant has been developed in partnership with the Biofuels Center of North Carolina and the Chatham County Economic Development Corporation.

Initially, it is expected to produce about 12,600 gallons of biodiesel each year.

Lower cost

“This new process of using enzymes to produce biodiesel will increase yields, decrease waste, and allows the producer to use lower cost feedstocks,” said Greg Austic of Pittsboro-based Piedmont Biofuels.

“This groundbreaking technology will create more valuable co-products, and will allow existing producers to increase their biodiesel output.”

“We are glad to be partnering with our North Carolina neighbor Piedmont Biofuels to develop this promising enzymatic route to biodiesel. With continued research, we believe this technology could contribute to North Carolina and U.S. biofuels targets within a couple years,” said Hans Christian Holm, global marketing manager for Novozymes.