DuPont Danisco cellulosic ethanol begins construction at demonstration plant
Construction has begun on a biofuel refinery in east Tennessee, US, which will use switchgrass, a perennial crop, as a feedstock to produce cellulosic ethanol. The pilot plant is a partnership between DuPont Danisco Cellulosic, the University of Tennessee (UT), and Genera Energy, which aims to produce 250,000 gallons of ethanol by the end of 2009.
DuPont's Danisco subsidiary will develop the ethanol refining technology.
State support for the project totaled $70.5 million (55m Euros), which includes $40.7 million to build the biorefinery.
About 16 local farmers already have planted more than 700 acres of switchgrass to support the refinery. It is drought tolerant, grows on steep land and, because it is a perennial, does not have to be planted every year.
Switchgrass can be replaced when necessary by corncobs and fibre.
DuPont's Danisco subsidiary will develop the ethanol refining technology.
State support for the project totaled $70.5 million (55m Euros), which includes $40.7 million to build the biorefinery.
About 16 local farmers already have planted more than 700 acres of switchgrass to support the refinery. It is drought tolerant, grows on steep land and, because it is a perennial, does not have to be planted every year.
Switchgrass can be replaced when necessary by corncobs and fibre.
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