Verenium strengthens cellulosic ethanol arm
In an age of idling ethanol plants, one company is paying particular attention to its cellulosic ethanol endeavours.
Massachusetts-based Verenium’s 1.4 million gallons a year (mgy) cellulosic ethanol demo plant in Louisiana has produced a few hundred gallons of beer, and the company is going through unit operations in an effort to optimise its process, and eventually scale-up for its 36 mgy commercial plant destined for Highlands County, Florida.
‘We’re starting up and shutting down the unit frequently,’ Russ Heissner, director of technology development at Verenium tells Biofuels International magazine. ‘We’re producing beer which has to be dehydrated for the market. Our intention is to eventually sell the ethanol to the blend market in Houston to BP.’
The producer also has further plans to reduce steam and energy demand in its facilities, then it may begin to export power.
The Jennings, Louisiana, facility has been operating since Q1. Construction on The Highlands project is expected next year with a typical 18-24 month building schedule. Operations are eyed for 2012.
The plant will be fed by energy cane grown on Verenium’s land in Louisiana and large scale farms in Florida.
‘Land in Florida is used minimally as pasture land, and much of it is under-utilised. Studies have been done to prove how much land availability there is,’ Heissner reflects. The company expects a yield of 18-20 dry tonnes per acre.
Verenium's renewable energy effort is bolstered by BP, which has led oil majors in going green, having formed a joint venture company, Vercipia, with Verenium at the end of July.
Vercipia Biofuels will continue to develop the Highlands County project. The company is also developing a second commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol site in the Gulf Coast region.
*Image source: Michael Stravato of Polaris Images*
Massachusetts-based Verenium’s 1.4 million gallons a year (mgy) cellulosic ethanol demo plant in Louisiana has produced a few hundred gallons of beer, and the company is going through unit operations in an effort to optimise its process, and eventually scale-up for its 36 mgy commercial plant destined for Highlands County, Florida.
‘We’re starting up and shutting down the unit frequently,’ Russ Heissner, director of technology development at Verenium tells Biofuels International magazine. ‘We’re producing beer which has to be dehydrated for the market. Our intention is to eventually sell the ethanol to the blend market in Houston to BP.’
The producer also has further plans to reduce steam and energy demand in its facilities, then it may begin to export power.
The Jennings, Louisiana, facility has been operating since Q1. Construction on The Highlands project is expected next year with a typical 18-24 month building schedule. Operations are eyed for 2012.
The plant will be fed by energy cane grown on Verenium’s land in Louisiana and large scale farms in Florida.
‘Land in Florida is used minimally as pasture land, and much of it is under-utilised. Studies have been done to prove how much land availability there is,’ Heissner reflects. The company expects a yield of 18-20 dry tonnes per acre.
Verenium's renewable energy effort is bolstered by BP, which has led oil majors in going green, having formed a joint venture company, Vercipia, with Verenium at the end of July.
Vercipia Biofuels will continue to develop the Highlands County project. The company is also developing a second commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol site in the Gulf Coast region.
*Image source: Michael Stravato of Polaris Images*
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