Fulcrum Bioenergy: 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy candidate profile
Fulcrum Bioenergy
Based in: California
2008-09 ranking: Unranked
Business: Fulcrum utilizes new emerging technologies to convert post-recycled municipal solid waste (MSW) feedstock to cellulosic ethanol. Fulcrum is deploying new technologies in a clean, efficient and proven two-step thermochemical process. In the first step, MSW received from feedstock suppliers under long-term contracts, will be processed through a down-draft partial oxidation gasifier followed by a plasma arc.
This combination provides a highly efficient and economic method of creating a synthesis gas, or syngas, consisting mainly of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. In the second step, the syngas will be converted to ethanol through an alcohol synthesis process developed by Fulcrum using a new, proprietary catalyst technology. Fulcrum is privately held and financed by US Renewables Group, LLC, which manages a portfolio of renewable power and clean-fuel assets, and Rustic Canyon Partners, a large venture capital firm based in Southern California.
Model: Developer/Owner/Operator
Past milestones:
1. Fulcrum successfully tested both of its new, innovative technologies which included: a two-phase gasification process that converts MSW to syngas; and an alcohol synthesis process that converts syngas to 100% alcohol.
2. Significantly advanced the development of Fulcrum’s first large-scale plant, the Sierra BioFuels Plant, a first-of-its-kind facility designed to convert 90,000 tons per year of post-recycled MSW into 10.5 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol:
3. Secured several long-term, fixed cost feedstock contracts with large waste service companies across the U.S. These contracts will provide Fulcrum with enough feedstock to generate one billion gallons of ethanol per year, displacing 14 million barrels of oil annually.
Future milestones:
1. Complete construction and commence commercial operations of the Sierra BioFuels Plant positioning Fulcrum as the leader in the next generation of advanced biofuels.
2. Begin construction of the next phase of larger waste-to-ethanol facilities and further develop multiple plants across the U.S.
3. Complete evaluation and testing of additional emerging technologies that can efficiently convert MSW to ethanol in a clean, sustainable manner and begin testing of 2nd generation gasification and alcohol synthesis systems.
Metrics: By recycling heat and energy within the MSW-to-ethanol plant, Fulcrum is able to reduce its cost of production to less than $1.00 per gallon. This represents a dramatic reduction in the cost of production when compared to both conventional ethanol production as well as other cellulosic ethanol production models using agricultural and wood-waste feedstocks.
Fulcrum Bioenergy quotable quotes:
“Emerging Technology: Fulcrum’s approach will integrate new, innovative technology that has been proven on a non-commercial scale to efficiently convert post-recycled MSW to cellulosic ethanol. We worked closely with outside engineering firms to evaluate numerous technologies for processing various waste streams and have secured licenses and intellectual property rights with three different technology providers, giving Fulcrum the ability to deploy the right best-in-class technology based on the feedstock, size of plant and desired transportation fuel.”
“Strong First Mover Competitive Advantage: Fulcrum has secured long-term, fixed price, feedstock contracts to lock up access to key waste streams across the U.S. With these contracts, we have secured access to enough feedstock to generate one billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year. These fixed, long-term contracts provide Fulcrum with access to the lowest cost feedstock and secure key locations in the waste shed. Additionally, Fulcrum has identified what it believes are the most commercially feasible waste-to-ethanol technologies.”
“Profound Environmental and Social Benefits: Fulcrum’s innovative approach efficiently transforms our everyday trash into a reliable domestic fuel source. Complementing and enhancing recycling efforts, Fulcrum’s process of producing ethanol provides profound environmental and social benefits. Our projects will create a reliable domestic source of renewable fuels from non-agricultural feedstock, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 75% compared to the production of traditional refined gasoline, helping to alleviate our Nation’s dependence on foreign oil, creating new green jobs and relieving pressure on existing and future landfills.”
“Low-Cost Producer: Post-recycled MSW is an attractive feedstock for conversion to renewable transportation fuels with large volumes existing near dense population centers and in areas of strong transportation fuel demand. With fixed price contracts, Fulcrum’s cost of production will be 50% lower than conventional agricultural-based methods.”
“Sierra BioFuels – Fulcrum’s First of a Planned Fleet of Larger Projects Across the Nation: Fulcrum is scheduled to begin construction in early 2010 on its first large-scale project, the Sierra BioFuels Plant, outside of Reno, Nevada using new technologies in an innovative, clean, efficient, and proven process. Utilizing approximately 90,000 tons per year of post-recycled MSW – waste from a city with the population of 165,000 – the plant is designed to produce 10.5 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol annually.”
The Hot 50 for 2009-10 will be released Tuesday, 12/1. Between now and then, you’ll see profiles of potential candidates in the Digest, and you’ll have a chance to vote for your favorites. Reader response will count for 50 percent of a company’s overall score in the preparation of the rankings. The remaining 50 percent is voted by a panel of experts.
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