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Demonstration plant for ethanol opened
09.02.2010: University and industrial partner work on large-scale production
Leaders from DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE), University of Tennessee and Genera Energy cut the ribbon on one of the world’s first cellulosic ethanol demonstration facilities, located in Vonore, Tennessee, USA. The 74,000 square foot (6,875 m2) plant has started producing ethanol and will deliver low-cost, fully-integrated technology for commercial production of ethanol from agricultural residue and bioenergy crops, including corncobs and switchgrass.
The University of Tennessee’s Biofuels Initiative, championed by the governor, established a bioenergy crop research and production basis for the burgeoning industry and attracted second generation biofuels leader DDCE to participate as an industrial partner in the development of the cellulosic ethanol biorefinery. The University of Tennessee Biofuels Initiative (UTBI), with the support of Genera Energy, is establishing a supply chain for the development of fuel.
The state-of-the-art facility in Vonore has capacity to produce 250,000 gallons (946,353 litres) of ethanol annually, though its focus is on optimizing technologies for large-scale production. It represents an investment of more than US$ 50 million, including funding from UTBI and DDCE. The project also integrates about US$ 100 million investment in proprietary research by DuPont and Danisco, highly valuable intellectual property platforms and talent pools from both companies and DDCE’s commitment to pay operating costs not covered under UTBI.
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