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Cellulosic ethanol advantage

Researchers and scientists from government and industry have been developing cellulosic ethanol production methods.

One of the main reasons the government passed the Renewable Fuels Standard is to reduce factors that contribute to global warming. According to a study by the U.S. Department of Energy, cellulosic ethanol reduces emissions by approximately 85% compared to gasoline, while corn ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 18 to 29%.

Researchers have been making cellulosic ethanol in labs for years, but no one has been able to make the process cheap enough to be commercially viable.

Project LIBERTY

POET has begun work on Project LIBERTY, which will add commercial cellulosic production to the current grain production already being done in Emmetsburg, IA. POET Biorefining - Emmetsburg produces 50 million gallons/year of corn ethanol and will ramp up production to 125 million gallons/year, 20% of which will be from the corn cobs and corn fiber.

POET has been developing the process and technology for cellulosic ethanol production for nearly eight years, according to Jim Sturdevant, director of Project LIBERTY. The company is producing ethanol from corn cobs in a laboratory setting and at their pilot plant, but Project LIBERTY marks the first time they’re taking their technology to a commercial scale.

The launching of Project LIBERTY was triggered by a DOE announcement in 2006 that it would partner with the industry in funding cellulosic ethanol technology development. The Emmetsburg facility is projected to begin producing cellulosic ethanol as early as 2011.

POET chose to integrate an existing facility rather than build a completely new one because it not only allows the company to use their current resources, but it allows synergies in water and energy usage.

“It just makes sense to base cellulosic ethanol development on the existing infrastructure and existing processes,” says Sturdevant. “Let’s take advantage of our current industry, which is based on corn.”