Nevada Biorefinery, a renewable natural gas (RNG) production facility, is planning to expand. The company is owned by VERBIO North America, a major German producer of ethanol, biodiesel, and renewable natural gas.
The location for this project in Nevada, IA, will use DuPont’s previous investment in site infrastructure and meets requirements for access to the natural gas transmission grid, high voltage power, major highways, feedstock sources and water supply.
For RNG production, feedstock is baled crop residue procured within a 50-75 mile radius. The company will use 90,000+ tons of corn stover per year during the first phase of operations and are interested in other types of cellulosic material including immature cover crops.
Logistics consists of baling, storing and hauling: some growers will be in a position to perform all functions themselves, while others will rely on us or a third party to perform one or more functions. We are happy to work under any set of options.
The company will produce RNG and humus. RNG will be cleaned to pipeline natural gas standards and injected into an onsite natural gas distribution pipeline for eventual use as compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquified natural gas (LNG) vehicle fuel.
Humus, alternatively known as digestate, is a value-added lignin- and nutrient-rich soil amendment similar to peat moss or compost which may be returned to feedstock suppliers or further processed into marketable products. The process does not create any significant wastewater and we will not pollute ground or surface waters claims the company.
During Phase 1, VERBIO expects to create 40 full time direct jobs at the plant and another 100+ indirect jobs in the local supply and value chain.
It will also employ round-trip trucking (stover bales/ humus) using specialized trailers and ultimately plan to exclusively utilize clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.
VERBIO AG is providing all project financing for Phase 1 of construction. No public financing, federal grants or bank loans have been sought. It has applied for incentives offered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and have pursued property tax abatement through the City of Nevada and Story County. Incentives are generally tied to achieving targets for jobs and wage rates.
As the Nevada site already has infrastructure in place to support ethanol production, VERBIO will evaluate options to produce ethanol and other value-added byproducts at this location in the future.
