DDCE’s demo plant opens in Tennessee
One of the world’s first cellulosic ethanol demonstration facilities has opened in Vonore, Tennessee, in a ribbon-cutting affair, followed by a tour of the 74,000-square-foot plant.
Several hundred visitors gathered to witness the opening of this demo refinery – a partnership between Genera Energy and DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE) that has the capacity to convert switchgrass and corncobs into 250,000 gallons of ethanol every year.
The president and CEO of DDCE Joe Skurla explained that the opening of the plant is a big step towards developing alternative fuels.
It is thought that when commercial production begins, using the technology developed at the plant, the US could be generating 16 billion gallons of biofuel per year by 2022. While 25,000-gallon tanks are being used at the moment, full-scale production could see the implementation of million-gallon tanks.
To create fuel, the switchgrass is first pre-treated and saccrification takes place (the process of producing sugars from starch), before it is fermented, distilled and filtered.
‘It operates something like an oil refinery and something like an alcohol distillery,’ said Kyle Althoff, director of feedstock development for DDCE.
Several hundred visitors gathered to witness the opening of this demo refinery – a partnership between Genera Energy and DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE) that has the capacity to convert switchgrass and corncobs into 250,000 gallons of ethanol every year.
The president and CEO of DDCE Joe Skurla explained that the opening of the plant is a big step towards developing alternative fuels.
It is thought that when commercial production begins, using the technology developed at the plant, the US could be generating 16 billion gallons of biofuel per year by 2022. While 25,000-gallon tanks are being used at the moment, full-scale production could see the implementation of million-gallon tanks.
To create fuel, the switchgrass is first pre-treated and saccrification takes place (the process of producing sugars from starch), before it is fermented, distilled and filtered.
‘It operates something like an oil refinery and something like an alcohol distillery,’ said Kyle Althoff, director of feedstock development for DDCE.
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