Green Plains Begins Commissioning of the Demonstration Facility Combining Fluid Quip Technologies’ MSC ™ with Shell Fiber Conversion Technology

(Green Plains) Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) today announced that it has begun commissioning of the York, Nebraska, demonstration facility combining Fluid Quip Technologies’ precision separation and processing technology (MSC™) with Shell Fiber Conversion Technology (SFCT). The new facility combines fermentation, mechanical separation and fiber conversion technology into one platform. This facility will demonstrate the potential to liberate all available renewable corn oil currently bound in the fiber fraction of the corn kernel, generate cellulosic sugars for production of low-carbon fuels, and further enhance and expand production of Ultra-High Protein feed ingredients for global animal feed diets.

“We believe that pairing together FQT’s best-in-class mechanical separation technology with Shell’s cutting-edge chemical process solidifies our path to revolutionizing the grain processing and biofuels landscape as we’ve known it,” said Todd Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Plains. “This collaboration has the potential to transform how we process agricultural products – maximizing the availability of low-carbon feedstocks for fuels and high-value animal nutrition markets.”

“I am delighted to see this innovative partnership of sustainable technologies achieve this important milestone,” said Sinead Lynch, Senior Vice President Low Carbon Fuels, Shell. “This was accomplished through close collaboration with our partners at Green Plains, and as a result of the dedication and hard work of the joint project team. The SFCT + MSC process is an exciting development for our Low Carbon Fuels business and brings us one step closer to delivering additional sustainable products for our customers.”

Product and market development for the Ultra-High Protein feed ingredients is already underway, with active involvement from potential customers. Following successful demonstration of the combined technology, and subject to positive final investment decisions, Green Plains and Shell will look for potential opportunity to take this technology platform forward through full commercial deployment, beginning with one of Green Plains’ existing MSC™ facilities. Green Plains will market and distribute protein products through the company’s animal nutrition platform, and Shell will manage the energy-based low-carbon feedstocks and products for various uses within its global platform.

Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) is a leading biorefining company focused on the development and utilization of fermentation, agricultural and biological technologies in the processing of annually renewable crops into sustainable value-added ingredients. This includes the production of cleaner low carbon biofuels and renewable feedstocks for advanced biofuels. Green Plains is an innovative producer of Ultra-High Protein and novel ingredients for animal and aquaculture diets to help satisfy a growing global appetite for sustainable protein. For more information, visit www.gpreinc.com. READ MORE

Excerpt from Office of Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE)/York News Times: Last week, I spoke at an exciting ceremony in York. Ethanol and agri-tech company Green Plains partnered with oil company Shell to open a new facility for biofuels research and innovation. It’s a collaboration across industries that builds on the unique strengths and resources housed in Nebraska.

This new demonstration facility will combine fermentation, mechanical separation, and fiber conversion technologies into one platform. The goal is to get as much out of the corn kernel as possible. The technologies will liberate corn oil, produce ethanol, and yield feed. This work will enhance our use and understanding of both plant and kernel. It will strengthen our nation’s domestic energy resources and generate quality high-protein, high-energy feed for our livestock.

The facility is a remarkable collaboration that demonstrates how the liquid fuel industry can work together to create sustainable fuels for cars on the road today. We know that biofuels like ethanol benefit our environment. Emissions from ethanol are 46 percent lower than from traditional gasoline, and one study found that corn ethanol contributed to a reduction of 500 million tons in emissions between 2005 and 2019. Not only do higher ethanol blends of gasoline emit less greenhouse gases, but the corn used in ethanol production soaks up massive amounts of additional carbon dioxide. During the summer, the Corn Belt of the United States has more photosynthetic activity than even the Amazon rainforest.

Nebraska is the natural home for this sort of innovation. Our state is the second largest producer of biofuels in the nation. Each year, we generate over two billion gallons of renewable fuel sources from our farmers, who grow a billion and a half bushels of corn. Our 24 operating ethanol plants have created almost 1,500 good-paying jobs.

As Nebraska’s senior senator, I’ve supported the biofuels industry and the incredible progress it’s spearheading for years. Since 2017, I’ve been working toward the nationwide accessibility of 15 percent ethanol blends of gas, known as E15. My bipartisan bill, the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, would get rid of unnecessary red tape and approve E15 sales across the country.

Over the past several years, we’ve made strides toward accomplishing goals like this that would lower fuel costs, help the environment, and improve American energy security. Because of all these factors, ethanol enjoys bipartisan support. The Biden administration has said it wants to defend E15 access as strongly as possible. Here at home, Nebraskans on both sides of the political aisle understand that biofuels are good for us all: they’re good for the environment, good for our communities, good for our state’s economy, and good for our ag producers.

As I work to promote biofuels accessibility in Congress, it’s great to see the innovation and development happening at home. I’m thankful to the leadership of Green Plains and Shell for their work on the new facility at Green Plains’ York biorefinery. Nebraska is proud of this investment in our state and in renewable energy. As your senator, I’ll keep supporting these initiatives and advancing legislation that liberates the industry to launch more of them. READ MORE

Excerpt from BNN Bloomberg: The company said first-quarter ethanol margins were weaker amid an industry glut and lower prices. Margins have since improved from the quarterly lows but still have a “long way to go,” Chief Executive Officer Todd Becker said on an earnings call with analysts. He also noted that the company was hurt by a cold snap in January that caused a few of its biofuels plants to be idled.

Becker is under pressure as he tries to transform Green Plains from mainly an ethanol maker into an agriculture-technology powerhouse. The aim is to generate steady profit by making high-value ingredients from corn to use in products ranging from low-carbon jet fuel to candy.

Disappointing financial results last year led to investor pressure for change, and in February the company said it was exploring options that could include a sale, merger or acquisition. Green Plains is still evaluation strategic options, Becker said during the call.

“We continue to await evidence of the benefits of investments that have been made,” Stephens Inc. analyst Ben Bienvenu wrote in a note on Friday ahead of the company’s earnings conference call. READ MORE