Cellulosic ethanol plant opens in Tennessee

February 2, 2010

One of the world’s first cellulosic ethanol demonstration plants opened in Vonore, Tennessee, last week.

DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE) has started producing ethanol from agricultural residues and bioenergy crops like corncobs and switchgrass at the 74,000 square-foot facility.

It has the capability to produce 250,000 gallons of ethanol each year.

The $50 million plant was developed as part of a Biofuels Initiative from the University of Tennessee, which attracted DDCE as an industry partner to take forward its bioenergy crop and production research.

The Iniative is now working with the University subsidiary Genera Energy to establish a supply chain for the plant among local agriculture.

“Ahead of the curve”

Joe Skurla, President and CEO of Illinois-based DDCE, said: “DDCE and Genera Energy are well ahead of the curve as we develop the entire value chain, from feedstock to production.

“We delivered on our promise to investors, customers and the industry by initiating start-up at the end of last year and are on track to provide the industry with investment-grade packages that meet demands for low-cost, scalability and sustainability.”

The cellulosic ethanol industry is under a federal mandate to deliver 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2022, of which 16 billion gallons must come from cellulosic sources.

Kelly Tiller, CEO of Genera Energy and director of external operations for the UT Office of Bioenergy Programs, said Tennessee farmers would be placing 4,000 acres of land into switchgrass production this spring, bringing the state’s total production of the energy crop up to 7,000 acres.

Ms Tiller said: “The University of Tennessee Biofuels Initiative is the only fully integrated program that is working with farmers and agricultural industry to reliably supply the necessary feedstock so biorefineries can produce plentiful, affordable, renewable and sustainable fuels.”