A new cellulosic ethanol plant in Denmark is claiming to be the largest producer of “New Ethanol” in the world, turning wheat straw into 1.4 million gallons per year.
According to Inbicon CEO Niels Henriksen, the biorefinery in Kalundborg is producing both cellulosic ethanol and a clean lignin biofuel to replace coal. “But our renewable energy process is as important as our renewable energy products,” Henricksen says. “The Inbicon Biomass Refinery can demonstrate dramatically improved efficiencies when integrated with a coal-fired power station, grain-ethanol plant, or any CHP operation. Symbiotic energy exchange helps our customers build sustainable, carbon-neutral businesses.”
The Kalundborg refinery will be integrated with the Denmark’s largest power station. Waste steam from the power station will run the biomass refinery, increasing the refinery’s total energy efficiency to 71%. Inbicon says a variety of feedstocks can be used by the plant, including straw, corn stalks and cobs, sugar bagasse, and grasses.
According to the company, three U.S. companies have cellulosic projects in development that will each include a scaled-up Inbicon Biomass Refinery.
Sandra Broekema, manager of business development for Great River Energy, a Minnesota electric cooperative, spoke about Dakota Spirit AgEnergy, a commercial-scale Inbicon Biomass Refinery processing North Dakota wheat straw to be co-located with their new 64 megawatt Spiritwood Station.
John Gell, Director of Genesee Regional BioFuels, presented plans for a biomass business complex near Rochester, New York. His company is focused on bringing an old brown site back to life while revitalizing New York’s agriculture–processing corn stalks–transitioning to home-grown grasses. The lignin will offset coal used in existing power stations.
Peter Bendorf, PE, Integro Services Group, developing engineer for SWI Energy, plans a new 59MMgy corn-to-ethanol plant in Alton, Illinois integrated with a 20MMgy Inbicon Biomass Refinery. Utilizing the synergies of each will produce fossil-free ethanol.