Dupont Danisco Opens Cellulosic Ethanol Demonstration Facility
30 January 2010
Leaders from DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE), University of Tennessee and Genera Energy cut the ribbon on a cellulosic ethanol demonstration facility in Vonore, Tenn. The 74,000-square-foot plant has started producing ethanol and will deliver low-cost, fully-integrated technology for commercial production of ethanol from agricultural residue and bioenergy crops, including corncobs and switchgrass.
The plant combines pretreatment technology based on DuPont’s advanced mild alkaline technology and low-cost enzyme technology for saccharification, based on Danisco’s protein engineering innovation and commercial scale enzyme production expertise. An innovative ethanologen based on DuPont Zymomonas technology delivers high performance sugars co-fermentation for optimal process and yields.
The facility in Vonore has capacity to produce 250,000 gallons of ethanol annually, though its focus is on optimizing technologies for large-scale production. It represents an investment of more than $50 million, including funding from UTBI and DDCE.
The project also integrates about a $100 million investment in proprietary research by DuPont and Danisco,intellectual property platforms and talent pools from both companies and DDCE’s commitment to pay operating costs not covered under UTBI.
The University of Tennessee’s Biofuels Initiative (UTBI) established a bioenergy crop research and production basis for the burgeoning industry and attracted DDCE to participate as an industrial partner in the development of the cellulosic ethanol biorefinery. UTBI, with the support of Genera Energy, is also establishing a supply chain for the development of fuel.
The University of Tennessee Biofuels Initiative is the only fully integrated program that is working with farmers and agricultural industry to reliably supply the necessary feedstock so biorefineries can produce plentiful, affordable, renewable and sustainable fuels.
—Kelly Tiller, CEO of Genera Energy and director of external operations for the UT Office of Bioenergy Programs
Tiller said plans are for Tennessee farmers to place an additional 4,000 acres of switchgrass into production this spring, bringing the total production in the state to nearly 7,000 acres of the dedicated energy crop.
The more non-oil energy options the better.
Since the 1970's, OPEC would dump oil prices for a few years to crush alternate energy firms in their incubation.
It's still early, but the oil harems may not win this time.
Posted by: kelly | 30 January 2010 at 08:09 AM
With India and China demanding more and Saudi Arabia not producing as much as they did, it will be a tight market from here on out.
Posted by: SJC | 30 January 2010 at 08:29 AM
Agree with both you guys. OPEC today is aware that their future is dimming. And like any cartel they are torn between taking big profits today or trying to extend their run into the future. Knowing human nature, I expect the short term profit wins. Meaning oil prices stay fixed or rise.
This is fantastic. Compliments the Coskata and Range Fuels cellulosic projects. Ethyl alcohol is a good domestic transitional liquid fuel.
Posted by: sulleny | 30 January 2010 at 10:53 AM
Syntec is getting more than 100 gallons of alcohols per ton, so if we have FFVs that do not matter what mix is used, we can burn them blended without distillation nor dehydration.
Posted by: SJC | 30 January 2010 at 12:41 PM
@SJC: I'm sure the market will tighten up in 2010 and beyond, but to put some of the blame on the Saudis for not producing as much as they did, is a mistake. Their current capacity stands at an all time high of 12 million barrels per day and they are investing in even more production.
Posted by: vrd863 | 31 January 2010 at 07:05 AM
I never said I blame the Saudis, please to not try to put words in my mouth. The largest field they have is in decline. They know that they will be back to riding camels when it is all over and they want to put that date farther into the future if they can.
Posted by: SJC | 31 January 2010 at 09:27 AM
At the current ultra high rate of increase of ICE vehicles in China, India, Brazil and Russia; worldwide liquid fuel consumption will increase for most of the current decade, if not more.
Agriculture, wastes and bio-mass cannot supply anywhere near the 100+ million barrel/day required. It could be limited to about 10% to 20% or up to 20+ million barrel/day. The other 80 million barrel/day may have to come from fossil sources. Coal may come to the rescue.
Fossil fuel price will creep up as supply diminishes or as cheap sources run out.
The next decade may see a massive switch to electrified vehicles and a progressive reduction of liquid fuel consumption.
Between 2030 and 2050, electrified vehicles may outnumber ICE units and non-fossil sources may supply a major share of the reduced liquid fuels required in many countries.
Camel riders may not outnumber Mercedes 600+ before 2050. Most of us will not be around to see it.
Posted by: HarveyD | 31 January 2010 at 12:21 PM
Even if biofuels only make up 10% of total fuel it could make a big difference in the price of the remaining 90% (gas). anything to put downward pressure on price is good.
Posted by: danm | 01 February 2010 at 10:11 AM
“My father rode a camel. I drive a car. My son flies a jet-plane. His son will ride a camel." —Saudi saying
http://www.theoildrum.com/
Posted by: SJC | 01 February 2010 at 11:28 AM
Which is why I'm in camel futures.
Posted by: sulleny | 02 February 2010 at 11:18 AM
Worldwide liquid fuel consumption can only equal production. Production of petroleum is declining steadily, and even rapid YoY increases in non-petroleum supplies will not make up the difference. The best option for all nations is to use petroleum only where absolutely necessary, and as efficiently as possible where it is.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 02 February 2010 at 08:48 PM
Worldwide liquid fuel consumption can only equal production. Production of petroleum is declining steadily, and even rapid YoY increases in non-petroleum supplies will not make up the difference. The best option for all nations is to use petroleum only where absolutely necessary, and as efficiently as possible where it is.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 02 February 2010 at 08:49 PM
Worldwide liquid fuel consumption can only equal production. Production of petroleum is declining steadily, and even rapid YoY increases in non-petroleum supplies will not make up the difference. The best option for all nations is to use petroleum only where absolutely necessary, and as efficiently as possible where it is.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 02 February 2010 at 08:49 PM
Thank you EP, that message is worth repeating :)
Posted by: SJC | 03 February 2010 at 12:39 PM
Many here seem to have turned a blind eye to Brazil's massive offshore finds, Iraq's reopening of their oil fields, revised estimates of massive reserves in Venezuela, and the fact the OPEC has scaled back production significantly in the wake of demand destruction from the global recession. Yes China is using more oil but there is still an obscene amount of supply out there. The best option among civilized countries is the radical incentivizing of renewables & biofuels so we don't have to fight any more wars over oil --- ever.
Posted by: ejj | 08 February 2010 at 01:26 PM
The Oil Drum certainly hasn't turned a blind eye to either Tupi or Iraq. While Tupi can probably only be produced at prices characteristic of the downslope, Iraq may postpone the final slide of oil production by 10 years.
That doesn't mean "happy motoring". It means a respite, time to do the things we should have kept doing from the 70's. And first among those things is electrification, because electricity is the one medium which can be produced from all non-trivial energy sources.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 08 February 2010 at 04:16 PM