DuPont Danisco and University of Tennessee Partner to Build Innovative Cellulosic Ethanol Pilot Facility
Document : Press release ; Date of  edition : 07/2008  ; link :  http://www.dupontdanisco.com/news_tennessee.html

DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC (DDCE) and the University of Tennessee (UT) Research Foundation, through its Genera Energy LLC, today announced a partnership to construct an innovative pilot-scale biorefinery and state-of-the-art research and development facility for cellulosic ethanol in Vonore, Tenn.

The pilot-scale biorefinery will develop the commercial package for DDCE’s leading cellulosic ethanol technology. The project will utilize UT’s world-class expertise in cellulosic feedstock production and co-product research, as well as its work with Tennessee farmers to develop the first dedicated cellulosic energy crop supply chain for cellulosic biorefineries utilizing switchgrass. The facility design will incorporate the flexibility to operate on two different non-food biomass feedstocks – corn stover, cobs and fiber; and switchgrass.

Press Release

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of two small-scale cellulosic biorefinery projects in Park Falls, Wis. and Jennings, La. for federal funding of up to $40 million over five years. 

These two biorefinery projects are the final round of selections for DOE’s competitive small-scale biorefinery solicitation. Earlier this year, DOE selected seven other projects, comparable in size and scope, to receive up to a total of $200 million.  With the addition of the two new projects announced today, the selected biorefinery projects will receive up to a total of $240 million in DOE funding, subject to appropriations, over the next five fiscal years.  Once federal funding is combined with industry cost share, more than $735 million will be invested in these nine projects, over the next four to five years

September the 16th, DG RTD Directorates:
- Biotechnology, Agriculture, Food
- Industrial Technologies
- Environment
- Energy
and the Directorate D (New and renewable sources of energy, energy efficiency & innovation) of DG Transport and Energy organise an info day on the Biorefinery 2009 Joint call.

Objective: Underlining the relevance of the subject and the importance of the joint effort among different FP7 Themes, the European Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potočnik
will open the event.
The morning session will continue with a general presentation of the rationale for this Biorefinery Joint Call, its modalities for implementation, the call text and the different aspects that will need to be considered by the potential applicants in order to fully address the integration and multidisciplinary features of the joint call.
The afternoon programme is dedicated to a brokerage event. Participants will be allowed to present a "flash" 5-min. presentation (5 slides max.) related to project ideas, to their competence in the specific field, or to their interest to join consortia.
The Closing Session will be devoted to further Question and Answers and to the final remarks
from Commission representatives.

METabolic EXplorer, a green chemistry company that specializes in the development of bioprocesses for the production of chemical compounds used in a wide range of everyday products (paints, solvents, adhesives, textile fibres, resorbable surgical thread, etc.), today announced that its butanol programme has move into the pre-industrial pilot phase.

Butanol is notably used in the manufacture of paints and adhesives. The market is worth $4.9 billion and, as with METabolic EXplorer's other products, the company's bioprocess offers an alternative for industrial businesses who want to change to more environmentally friendly raw materials and production methods.

METabolic EXplorer's portfolio includes the following compounds (in alphabetic order):

• butanol: used in the manufacture of paints and adhesives.
• glycolic acid: used in the manufacture of cosmetics and biodegradable plastics.
• L-methionine: used in the manufacture of feed additives.
• MPG (1,2-propanediol), used in the manufacture of personal hygiene products and furnishings.
• PDO (1,3-propanediol), used in the manufacture of textile fibres, polymers and coolants.

MORE

In the project green biomass will be investigated for applying the biorefinery approach. Partners from Austria and the Netherlands will define possible process setups for the feedstock grass, maize and agro-wastes. The technology required will be generally assessed and selected processes will be further developed. Market potential of products and the implementation potential of the investigated green biorefinery systems will be evaluated. The results of will be used to specify on technology bottlenecks and further R&D needs in that field and to compile a technology deployment plan for green biorefineries.

The project will focus on three different types of Green Biorefineries based on the selected feedstock: grass, maize, agro-wastes (e.g. sugar beet leaves). The overall objectives of the project are:

A Joint Call on Biorefinery with a total budget of 57 MEuro organised jointly by Directorate Agriculture, Energy, Materials and Environment of DG RTD will be published soon

Two topics:

- Sustainable Biorefineries
Development of technologies for the entire value chain from biomass production, logistics and pre-treatment to conversion (thermo-chemical and biochemical technologies) of different types of biomass feedstock into bio-based products and energy. Assessment of the environmental, economic and social sustainability.
Collaborative projects

- Enhancing exchange of information, synergies and cross-fertilization between on-going biorefinery projects
Coordination and support action

Tentative publication date: 3 September 2008

Tentative Deadline: 25 November 2008 (stage1)??
14 April 2009 (stage 2)??

METabolic EXplorer, is a green chemistry company that specializes in the development of bioprocesses for the production of chemical compounds used in a wide range of everyday products - paints, solvents, adhesives, textile fibres, resorbable surgical thread, etc.-, today announced a major development in its Glycolic Acid programme.

METabolic EXplorer has been able to significantly improve the performance of the bacterial strain used in lab-scale production of Glycolic Acid. This important technical development enables the programme to move into the pre-industrial pilot phase up to ten months earlier than initially planned. MORE

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman today announced the competitive selection of three projects in which DOE plans to invest up to $86 million over four years (FY ’08 - ‘11) to support the development of small-scale cellulosic biorefineries in Old Town, ME; Vonore, TN; and Washington County, KY. This funding will further President Bush’s goal of making cellulosic ethanol cost-competitive by 2012, and reduce America’s gasoline use by expanding the availability of alternative and renewable transportation fuels. Secretary Bodman made today’s announcement at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Biomass 2008: Fueling Our Future conference in Alexandria, VA. 

TECHNOSE: Program of Excellence to support the sector of the biorefinery in Wallonia
Document : Press release ; Date of  edition : 03/2008  ; link :  www.fsagx.ac.be 

The Minister of the Research and the new Technologies of the Walloon Region, Marie Dominique SIMONET and Professor Michel PAQUOT, Professor in the university Faculty of the agronomic Sciences of Gembloux presented on Monday, March 17th the new program of Excellence led in collaboration between the FUSAGx and the UCL.