European Commission green-lights DuPont, Danisco cellulosic ethanol joint venture

In Belgium, the proposed DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol joint venture has received approval from the European Commission, and the companies can now advance in their plans to develop a pilot-scale sugar cane bagasse and corn stover cellulosic ethanol plant in the by 2009. The joint venture partners intend to have a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant operational in the US by 2012, and are investing $140 million in the project.

Dupont, Danisco background

DuPont and biotech firm Genencor announced a $140 million joint venture to produce cellulosic ethanol. Each company will contribute $70 million to form DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol, and the new company will use new enzymes by Genencor to dramatically reduce the cost of cellulosic ethanol production. The new company said that it would launch a pilot production plant next year and expected to have a  commercial-scale demonstration plant open by 2012.

The company said that it had set a target of reducing the cost of biofuel production by 35 to 40 percent, and with corn ethanol at a break even point of $2 per gallon, the firm is clearly targeting cost structures similar to the $1 per gallon target announced earlier this year by Coskata.

“Clearly there is an urgent need for renewable energy alternatives and management of the rising food prices,” DuPont Chief Executive Charles O. Holliday Jr. said in remarks to reporters. “DuPont is committed to bringing part of that solution.”

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