Biofuels Journal - January/February 2008 - (Page 78)

Waste-Wood Ethanol Commercial Cellulosic Demo Plant Begins Production ethanol production, we have incorporated proven technologies that have been utilized for years in other industries,” says Dave Litzen, vice president of process engineering for KL Process Design Group. “Through these processes, we are releasing fermentable sugars hidden within the wood, without the use of environmentally unfriendly acids.” Looking ahead, KL projects that its cellulosic technology utilized at Upton, coupled with new applied design concepts, will allow KL to build plants to match the amount and type of feedstock available near large cities, further lessening their cellulosic ethanol’s carbon footprint. According to Slunecka, KL’s advanced biofuels plant design will also produce excess electricity and/or steam heat that can provide additional power sources for local municipalities or complimenting biofuel plants and manufacturing facilities. First Commercial Operation Wood waste from the nearby Black Hills forest in South Dakota provides the feedstock for Western Biomass Energy. Western Biomass Energy, LLC, Upton, WY, began commercial operations Jan. 29 at its new cellulosic ethanol plant, utilizing waste wood as a feedstock. Construction on the 1.5 million-gallon-per-year (MMGY) plant began in 2006 and was completed last summer. According to Tom Slunecka, vice president of business development for KL Process Design Group, Rapid City, SD (402-575-5855), the designer/ owner/operators of the plant, there was a six-month ramp up period to production. “We consider this a demonstration plant on a commercial scale, possibly the first commercial cellulosic plant in the country,” Slunecka said Process Without Acid The plant produces a co-product, lignin, which can be sold for such uses as wood decking, counter tops, cosmetics and paint. Lignin may also be combusted for energy to run the plant, Slunecka noted. In addition, Slunecka added, plants of this size will have a direct relationship with local fuel marketers who will be able to benefit from the 51-cent blender’s credit. “When you factor in the co-product lignin, today’s ethanol prices and incentives that are in place or coming, the plant will run at a profit,” Slunecka said. Waste Feedstock Slunecka stressed that the Upton plant, while small (1.5 MMGY) compared to today’s typical ethanol plant, is a commercial operation able to make a profit. The plant’s feedstock is chipped ponderosa pine wood waste from the forest floor 10 miles from the Black Hills forest in South Dakota. “The waste is not used for lumber or paper,” Slunecka said. “It’s small limbs that have little value.” Many times, this type of wood waste has to be cleared from the forest floor to prevent forest fires, Slunecka said. Then the wood is put on a burn pile and combusted, polluting the atmosphere. Myke Feinman, editor “This is an enzymatic process done without the use of acids,” Slunecka said. According to Slunecka, the research for this process, which began in 2002, “is a result of development efforts between KL and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.” “We use a mechanical heat/enzyme combination,” he added. The enzyme was engineered specifically for KL Process by Novozymes, an enzyme research and development firm, based in Franklinton, NC. “In our experience with enzymes and BFJ | JAN/FEB 08 KL Process Design Group to Supply Cellulosic Ethanol to American Le Mans Series KL Process Design Group (KL) of Rapid City, SD, announced Jan. 29 that it will supply the American Le Mans Series with cellulosic E85 racing ethanol for its 2008 season. The fuel, produced from waste wood, will be used for the first time during the season opener — Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 15. Corvette Racing will be the first team to use the cellulosic-based flexfuel ethanol in competition. “This is a groundbreaking achievement not only in motorsports, but also in the drive to relevant fuel technologies,” said Scott Atherton, president and CEO of the American Le Mans Series. 78

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Biofuels Journal - January/February 2008 Contents Biofuels Safety Lockout/Tagout Managing Safety Ethanol Incidents Hot Work Safety Arresting Falls Firefighting Foam Confined Spaces Natural Fiber Clothing LifeLine Foods - St. Joseph, MO Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Indiana A New Energy Era POET - Portland, IN Company Profile, OPW State Ethanol Promotion State Report: Nebraska Anti-Lignin Beetles Sequential Extraction Developing Energy Crops Stover Logistics Cellulosic Ground Covers DDGS to Feed Fish Miscanthus: Energy Crop Webinar Series Launched New Fractionation Process Tropical Maize Ethanol Synthetic Fuel High Starch Corn Testing Abengoa's Cellulosic Ethanol Plans Credits and Incentives POET Cob Harvest High Oil Corn SunOpta Steam Explosion Process Enough Water? Ethanol Water Use Seth Snyder, Argonne National Laboratory Continuous Fermentation ACE Blend Study Wood Waste Ethanol Fodder Beet Ethanol Monthly Ethanol Production Ethanol Terminal Wood Feedstock Carbon Credits Bio Motor Oil Ethanol Bacteria Ethanol Pipeline Ethanol Plant Construction - Canada Cellulosic Ethanol Plants Under Consideration Cellulosic Ethanol Plants Construction Map In the Pipeline Ethanol Blending History Ethanol World Calendar Profile: Zabler, Pine Lake Corn Processors Industry News Western Dubuque Biodiesel - Farley, IA Profile: Winkel, Central Iowa Energy Biodiesel Construction List Biodiesel Plants Under Construction Map Wet vs. Dry Biomass Storage Book Review Green Earth Fuels - Houston, TX Biodiesel News Alternative Feedstocks Glycerol as Feed EPA Requires Standards Mustard Biodiesel Sun Grant Initiatives Biodiesel Jet Glycerol Alternatives Platts Advanced Biofuels Seminar Cellulosic Heating Oil Glycerine Used for Ethanol Blackmer Fremont Industries Biomass Association DOE Grants $7.7 Million for Biofuels Aecometric Corp. Civacon Viking Pump, Inc. SimplexGrinnell ICM Inc. Applied Milling Systems Ad Index

Biofuels Journal - January/February 2008

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