Allotrope Partners (Allotrope), Axens North America (Axens) and Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA) have agreed to develop a joint study for a commercial plant producing cellulosic bioethanol utilising the Axens Futurol™ process, produced from woody biomass through Allotrope Cellulosic Development Company (ACDC), a project development company based in the State of California in the US.
Bioethanol is currently attracting attention in countries worldwide striving for carbon-neutral societies as a renewable energy source and as a feedstock for biofuels such as SAF*1 and bio-chemicals.
Cellulosic bioethanol made from woody biomass is classified as "Advanced Bioethanol2" by the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) programme. and "Cellulosic Fuel" by the US EPA Renewable Fuel Standard, which has the potential to scale sustainably.
The three companies will be studying the possibility of an initial plant to produce about 60,000 tonnes of bioethanol derived from local feedstocks.
The project will consider carbon recycling initiatives that contribute to the realisation of a decarbonised society, such as CCU2 using carbon-neutral, biogenic CO2 generated naturally during bioethanol production, internal energy production and effective utilisation of residues from the fermentation process including Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) production.
The project will use feedstock based on local Californian forest thinning materials and agricultural residues. These feedstocks in part come from the waste generated in large forest fire prevention activities to reduce risk of wildfires that have become a challenge in the state in recent years.
According to the companies, this project will produce a commercial grade bioethanol, while simultaneously contributing to the reduction of carbon released into the atmosphere from the massive wildfires that have impacted the environment and residents in California.
The parties added they are committed to developing a first project then continuing to expand their cellulosic ethanol footprint within California and to other locations all around North America.
"Allotrope is excited to continue its efforts to develop a series of advanced biofuels projects in California in partnership with Sumitomo and Axens," noted Marc Stuart, CEO of Allotrope Partners.
"Axen's Futurol™ technology is ready for commercial scale roll out and Sumitomo will be a valuable partner across the entire project development process, from feedstock sourcing to the sale of final products into the markets."
Allotrope Partners, Axens North America and Sumitomo partner for biomass-to-bioethanol study
