Genencor, a subsidiary of Danisco A/S, and DuPont have announced a joint venture that promises cheaper cellulosic ethanol. Both companies will be investing $140 million in a plant that will use sugarcane bagasses and corn stover, although other sources such as straw will be used in the near future. A pilot plant will be ready by 2009. The joint venture integrates the proprietary DuPont pretreatment and ethanologen technologies with the innovative enzyme technology of Genencor. Cellulosic ethanol is expected to be a $75 billion market in the following years.

[Source: Dupont Danisco via Energías Renovables]

We've mentioned Mascoma a couple of times recently in relation to the cellulosic ethanol conversion technology developed by Prof. Lee Lynd at Dartmouth College that they have been set up to commercialise. The latest news is that they have received a $14.8 million award from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). This will allow them to build and operate a cellulosic biomass-to-ethanol demonstration.

The proof of concept facility is set to be built in Rochester, New York pending approvals and agreements. A consortium that includes International Paper Co., Cornell University, Clarkson University, Genencor and the Natural Resources Defense Council will partner with Mascoma to support the project. The biomass feedstock required for the plant is set to be sourced from a variety of products including agricultural and/or forest waste, paper sludge, wood chips, switch grass and corn stover.

Related:

• Mascoma and Tamarack Energy Partner on Cellulosic Ethanol; Focus on Forestry Waste
• SunOpta building new wood chip cellulosic ethanol plant
• Crunching the numbers between ethanol, cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel
• Corn ethanol or cellulosic ethanol? To Congress, the difference is sometimes irrelevant

[Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com]