POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, a joint venture of Royal DSM and POET Llc, began commercial production at its first cellulosic ethanol plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa, thus proving its revolutionary technology that converts agricultural residue into renewable fuel.
The plant, named ‘Project Liberty’, converts baled corn cobs, leaves, husk and stalk into renewable fuel. The plant has now officially started up, processing its first batch of biomass into cellulosic ethanol and is moving forward toward continuous operation. At full capacity, it will convert 770 tons of biomass per day to produce ethanol at a rate of 20 million gallons per year, later ramping up to 25 million gallons per year.
Feike Sijbesma, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Managing Board of Royal DSM, said: "This is an historical day in the development of plant-residue-based cellulosic ethanol as a viable, commercially attractive alternative to gasoline as we are moving from the fossil age to the (bio-) renewable age. For DSM this is a strategic investment, applying our proprietary technology to convert agricultural residue on a commercial scale, allowing it to be replicated at other facilities globally as we are ramping up our cellulosic ethanol licensing business."
"Some have called cellulosic ethanol a ‘fantasy fuel’, but today it becomes a reality. With access now to new sources for energy, Project Liberty can be the first step in transforming our economy, our environment and our national security," said Jeff Broin, POET founder and Executive Chairman.
This first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol facility marks a huge step forward in the wider adoption of biofuels, both in North America and elsewhere. It is also a victory for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which prompted increased investment into advanced biofuels that accelerated development of this new technology. The RFS is a critical tool in moving the US beyond 10 percent ethanol use to allow this new technology to expand to other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the world the development of cellulosic ethanol is expected to be boosted as POET-DSM's Liberty process and technology to effectively convert agricultural residue using a proprietary cocktail of enzymes and yeast becomes available via licensing.
The plant, named ‘Project Liberty’, converts baled corn cobs, leaves, husk and stalk into renewable fuel. The plant has now officially started up, processing its first batch of biomass into cellulosic ethanol and is moving forward toward continuous operation. At full capacity, it will convert 770 tons of biomass per day to produce ethanol at a rate of 20 million gallons per year, later ramping up to 25 million gallons per year.
Feike Sijbesma, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Managing Board of Royal DSM, said: "This is an historical day in the development of plant-residue-based cellulosic ethanol as a viable, commercially attractive alternative to gasoline as we are moving from the fossil age to the (bio-) renewable age. For DSM this is a strategic investment, applying our proprietary technology to convert agricultural residue on a commercial scale, allowing it to be replicated at other facilities globally as we are ramping up our cellulosic ethanol licensing business."
"Some have called cellulosic ethanol a ‘fantasy fuel’, but today it becomes a reality. With access now to new sources for energy, Project Liberty can be the first step in transforming our economy, our environment and our national security," said Jeff Broin, POET founder and Executive Chairman.
This first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol facility marks a huge step forward in the wider adoption of biofuels, both in North America and elsewhere. It is also a victory for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which prompted increased investment into advanced biofuels that accelerated development of this new technology. The RFS is a critical tool in moving the US beyond 10 percent ethanol use to allow this new technology to expand to other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the world the development of cellulosic ethanol is expected to be boosted as POET-DSM's Liberty process and technology to effectively convert agricultural residue using a proprietary cocktail of enzymes and yeast becomes available via licensing.