Novozymes has introduced a new yeast platform for starch-based ethanol with its first product, Innova Drive. According to the company, this new yeast strain can reduce fermentation time by up to two hours compared to current yeasts.
“The first product from our yeast platform, Innova Drive is a completely new ride for the ethanol industry. It puts plant operators in the driver’s seat to run fermentations the way they need to,” says Brian Brazeau, Novozymes’ Vice President for Biofuels Commercial. “Yeast is a major bottleneck that requires constant care and attention. Innova Drive is a response to the needs of the ethanol industry, and resets expectations for how tough a yeast can be.”
The new yeast is also able to ferment in adverse conditions such as higher organic acids and temperatures which increases ethanol output and reduces operational costs.