Poet to accelerate on cellulosic ethanol
In South Dakota, POET Energy said that it was accelerating the schedule for its $4 Million pilot cellulosic ethanol plant in Scotland, and would open the facility by December. “Our expanded research effort has led to several significant strides in the development of cellulosic ethanol technology at the lab scale in recent months,” said Jeff Broin, CEO of POET. “In the past few months, our scientists have been able to achieve significant ethanol percentages in fermentation and improve the yield of ethanol from biomass. Additionally, in our work with farmers and agricultural equipment manufacturers, we had a very successful harvest of corn cobs last fall and anticipate further advances during an expanded harvest this fall.”
POET’s 125 Mgy cellulosic ethanol plant, “Project Liberty” is expected to commence construction in Emmitsburg, Iowa in 2009 and will be operational in 2011. The plant will produce 100 Mgy of conventional corn ethanol and 25 Mgy of cellulosic ethanol from corn fiber and cobs. The project is expected to increase pr bushel yields from corn by 11 percent, to 3 gallons per bushel, and per-acre yields by 27 percent.
