Cellulosic Leaders Talk Feedstock Procurement at Nebraska Event
by Chris Hanson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) In front of an attentive crowd at the 2013 National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo in Omaha, Neb., representatives from Abengoa Bioenergy S.A., Poet-DSM Advanced Biofuels LLC and Ineos Bio presented updates on their cellulosic ethanol projects and feedstock procurement activities.
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To secure the feedstocks needed, Robb (Tom Robb, co-products project manager for Spain-based, Abengoa) explained how factors such as supply chain risks, weather and competitive uses were addressed by the company. He said the relatively dry climate of Kansas was a major benefit for the Hugoton plant site. “If you get rain or snow during your harvesting time, that could put a bind in your operations,” Robb said. “We’re less dependent on mother nature here.”
Additionally, Robb spoke about the dynamics between Abengoa, biomass owners and grain facilities. He said demonstrating stewardship principles, demonstrating synergies for biomass residue management with farming practices, and working within customary business practices are necessary when interacting with biomass owners.
Next, Steve Hartig, general manager at Poet-DSM, addressed the feedstock procurement efforts leading up to the opening of Project Liberty plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa. He said the plant’s feedstock needs can be secured with the corn residue from one-third of the corn acres within a 35 mile radius of the facility. Hartig said corn residue was selected as the feedstock for the project due to a plentiful local supply, existing business relationships with farmers, and the presence of standard harvesting equipment, which eliminates the need for farmers to purchase additional equipment.
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Finally, Ineos Bios’ Vice President Dan Cummings presented its cellulosic ethanol and power generation facility in Vero Beach, Fla. …
Florida was selected for the site due to the extended growing period for the vegetative waste that is used as feedstock. “They grow year round, there’s quite a bit of quantity there and it’s also a very large ethanol market,” Cummings said. He added they have used more than six kinds of waste biomass in the commercial scale facility, including woody biomass, citrus waste, Australian pine, and palm fronds from tree trimmings.
In addition to producing cellulosic ethanol, Cummings noted the facility also generates 6 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity. READ MORE and MORE (Poet-DSM Advanced Biofuels/Ethanol Producer Magazine) and MORE (BreakingEnergy.com)
