Ineos Bio moves into commercial-scale operation

Ineos Bio, owned by global chemicals companies Ineos, has begun production of commercial-scale bioethanol at its first facility.

The Indian River BioEnergy Centre, Florida is now producing commercial quantities of bioethanol from vegetative and wood waste, while also exporting renewable power to the local community. It is also permitted to use municipal solid waste (MSW), quantities of which will be used for bioethanol production during 2014.  

The facility has already converted several types of waste biomass material into bioethanol, including vegetative and yard waste, plus citrus, oak, pine, and pallet wood waste. It will have an annual output of eight million gallons of cellulosic ethanol and 6MW of renewable power.

The Centre cost more than $130 million (€98 million) and created more than 400 direct construction, engineering and manufacturing jobs during its development. The project sourced more than 90% of the equipment from US manufacturers, creating or retaining jobs in over 10 states. It has 65 full-time employees and provides $4 million annually in payroll to the local community.