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<H1>Planners, I believe this endeavor by DuPont
exemplifies the potential opportunities that could be envisioned and implemented
here in Missouri. We could use our innovative talents and combined environmental
resources to improve the quality of life for our depressed rural communities
while immensely developing better wildlife habitat.
fo </H1>
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<H1><A
title="http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2010/01/29/metrics-for-cellulosic-ethanol-surface-as-dupont-danisco-launches-its-demonstration-plant/ CTRL + Click to follow link"
href="http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2010/01/29/metrics-for-cellulosic-ethanol-surface-as-dupont-danisco-launches-its-demonstration-plant/"
rel=bookmark>New metrics for cellulosic ethanol – DuPont Danisco launches its
demonstration plant</A></H1>
<DIV class="wp-caption alignright" id=attachment_15153 style="WIDTH: 310px"><A
href="http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2010/01/29/metrics-for-cellulosic-ethanol-surface-as-dupont-danisco-launches-its-demonstration-plant/ddce/"
rel="attachment wp-att-15153"><IMG class="size-full wp-image-15153"
title="http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2010/01/29/metrics-for-cellulosic-ethanol-surface-as-dupont-danisco-launches-its-demonstration-plant/ddce/ CTRL + Click to follow link"
height=201
alt="The DuPont Danisco cellulosic ethanol plant in Vonore, Tennessee"
src="http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/DDCE.jpg"
width=300></A>
<P class=wp-caption-text>The DuPont Danisco cellulosic ethanol plant in Vonore,
Tennessee</P></DIV>
<P>In Tennessee, Dupont Danisco <FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">Cellulosic Ethanol will officially open its
250,000 gallon demonstration facility in Vonore</FONT>, and the first one
dedicated to converting both agricultural residue and bioenergy crops to fuel
ethanol. The facility has initiated start-up and began producing ethanol in
mid-January. The facility is focused on process and data validation to achieve
commercial scale production by 2012. The plant is using corn cobs as a feedstock
today, <FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">and will begin to integrate
switchgrass grown primarily in Tennessee later this year.</FONT></P>
<P>“A perfect storm made this happen,” DDCE CEO Joe Skurla told the DIgest.
“Governor Bredesen’s vision, plus our need to put in a demonstrate plant. To
start in October 2008 and to have a plant complete and started up – I’ve seen a
lot of projects in my time, but I’ve never seen a team come together and
overcome the issues like this one.”</P>
<P>Skurla said that final design for DDCE’s technology will be completed after
data is accumulated from the demonstration plant, and construction will begin in
2011 on the cobs plant, which is likely to be built in the corn belt.</P>
<P>To improve the lifecycle analysis of the plant and increase the reduction in
Greenhouse gas emissions, the plant is burning lignin, recovered from the
process, as fuel for the system in place of natural gas. Lignin is being burned
as fuel for the system.</P>
<P>Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen will be on an honored speaker at the event,
along with other state, local, and business dignitaries. The 74,000-square-foot
facility has the capacity to produce <FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">250,000 gallons of ethanol from corncobs and
switchgrass and is preparing DDCE’s innovative integrated technology for
commercial production by 2012.</FONT></P>
<P>Skurla confirmed to the Digest that conversations are occurring with “several
early adopters” in terms of licensing technologies, and said that the US was a
likely first area of licensing operations although he added that conversations
have emerged with potential parties in Europe, Asia and South America, and said
that the technology would be effective with any region where agricultural
residues or energy crops could be provided at scale. Likely facility size is 50
Mgy in the near term , <FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">working off a
35-50 mile radius for residues and crops</FONT>. Skurla commented that
ultimately the company beeves it can deploy its technology at 100 Mgy scale.</P>
<P>The model for biomass aggregation? DDCE pointed to the partnership with
Genera Energy, a University of Tennessee spinout that is developing the
logistics for a biomass supply chain, with a goal of establishing multi-year
contracts for energy crops that would be grown specifically for the cellulosic
ethanol facility, and thereby limit the volatility in feedstock prices that have
plagued first-generation ethanol.</P>
<P>Asked to comment on what set DDCE apart from other cellulosic ethanol
technology licensors, Skurla identified thre factors: “One, all the technologies
under one roof, basic in fundamental in every aspect, through our parents
DuPont, Genencor and Danisco as well as our own work. Two, our project execution
capabilities – that’s the Dupont and Danisco/Genencor experience in building
projects all around the world. Three, we view this holistically — clients will
see us as a partner rather than just as a licensing company.”</P>
<P><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00"><STRONG>Metrics? </STRONG>The plant
is producing over 85 gallons per ton, and is targeting 90 gallons per ton by the
time of its commercial rollout. Capital costs are $5-$6 per gallon of operating
capacity, based on the company’s models, and are expected to reach sub-$5 by the
time of the first commercial rollout and “pushing $4″ by the time the company
has completed “4-5 plants”. The company’s manufacturing cost is $2 per gallon,
with a goal of reaching $1.50 per gallon, and will be competitive with $85-$90
oil, and is designed to be competitive without subsidies or
incentives.</FONT></P>
<P>DDCE was established in 2008 to integrate the state-of-the art technologies
and engineering expertise of DuPont and Danisco, and today is accelerating
commercialization of cellulosic ethanol.</P>
<P>Warren Nevad, executive director of the Tennessee Renewable Energy and
Economic Development Council said “TREEDC is very proud of the University and
the Governor’s revolutionary vision of making Tennessee the premier leader and
business model with cellulosic ethanol development. TREEDC believes that
the eventual commercialization of this innovative technology to market will be a
windfall for rural communities as they look at ways to bring back jobs and
energy independence to their communities.”</P>
<P><FONT size=6>Meanwhile </FONT><A
title="http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/01/28/business-financial-impact-us-biorefinery-switchgrass-tennessee_7312954.html?boxes=Homepagebusinessnews CTRL + Click to follow link"
href="http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/01/28/business-financial-impact-us-biorefinery-switchgrass-tennessee_7312954.html?boxes=Homepagebusinessnews"><FONT
title="http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/01/28/business-financial-impact-us-biorefinery-switchgrass-tennessee_7312954.html?boxes=Homepagebusinessnews CTRL + Click to follow link"
size=6>Forbes has files an excellent report</FONT></A><FONT size=6> on the
opening, with a focus also on a local switchgrass grower who said that he
planted on 39 acres which were too steep for row crops, such as corn or
soybeans. The grower reported that “switchgrass is extremely slow to germinate”
and is less profitable than row farming but offers superior returns to pasture
or hay ground. UT estimates that 5,600 acres of switchgrass will be cultivated
in Tennessee in 2010.</FONT></P>
<P><A
title="http://www.ddce.com/media/100107.html CTRL + Click to follow link"
href="http://www.ddce.com/media/100107.html">More on the story from
DDCE</A>.</P>
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