ICM to build showcase biorefinery plant

US biofuels technology company ICM will build a biorefinery showcasing its technology.

The company said its plant will be called ICM Element.

In a statement, ICM said: “We see every individual as an integral element to the success of the planned 70 MMGY revolutionary plant estimated at a cost of $175 million (€166m) to build. ICM plans to be the majority owner and is in current discussion with investors who also see the vision and value of the project to the industry.”

ICM president Chris Mitchell explained: “Element will strive to be one of the most energy efficient manufacturers of ethanol in the industry with the deployment of multiple new technologies including our ICM gasification unit.”

The ICM patented gasifier technology is capable of fully converting biomass and forestry feedstocks into producer gas or syngas, while co-generating a biochar product that has many applications in agriculture and other industries, the company said.

Producer gas, derived from air-blown gasification platforms, is ideal for local combined heat and power applications, industrial power and heating/drying applications.

Mitchell said: “As a result, we will produce one of the lowest cost, highest value ethanol gallons on the market while bringing increased revenue to one of America’s most essential elements: the US agricultural industry.”

Element will also be the first full scale deployment of ICM’s patent pending Generation 1.5 Grain Fiber to Cellulosic Ethanol Technology (Gen 1.5) process producing up to five million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year.  

According to ICM, this process has been proven in large scale, up to 585,000 gallons fermentors in runs greater than 1000 hours increasing ethanol yield up to 10% and increasing corn oil yield up to 20%.

Low Carbon Fuel Standard Credits

The cellulosic gallons produced will be eligible to capture D3 RINs, cellulosic tax credits and California Low Carbon Fuel Standard Credits, which can result in an added value as high as $4.00 per gallon above corn ethanol prices. 

According to ICM, this process also produces a high protein distiller's dried grains with soluble (DDGS) which has been demonstrated in extensive feed trials to bring added value in poultry and swine rations. 

Steve Hartig, VP of Technology Development at ICM, said: “Showcasing this technology at Element is an important step forward. We see this technology bringing a sustainable benefit to the entire ethanol industry by maximising the value of each acre of corn and supplying the market with cost competitive low carbon cellulosic ethanol.”