Logos Technologies and EdeniQ have announced that they have been awarded a $20.4 million grant to modify and operate a pilot-scale bio-refinery plant to produce low-cost ethanol bio-fuel from cellulosic feedstock, such as corn stover and switch grass.
Logos will manage the project, and EdeniQ will be responsible for the modification and operation of their existing refinery site in Visalia, CA. The project team also includes Novozymes (enzymes), Ceres (switchgrass), NextStep Biofuels (pelletized corn stover), USDA Forest Products Laboratories (yeast R and D), and U. California-Davis (greenhouse gas emissions analysis).
The project utilizes a suite of EdeniQ's proprietary technologies: the Cellunator(TM) (mechanical pretreatment), advanced enzymes for conversion of cellulose to sugars, and high-yielding yeasts to ferment the sugars to ethanol.
The biofuels produced through this project will reduce CO2 emissions, displace petroleum, and accelerate the industry's ability to achieve production targets for cellulosic and advanced biofuels mandated by the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
Logos Technologies CEO, Dr. Greg Poe said, "Cellulose is the most abundant organic compound on Earth and is a compellingly interesting source of liquid fuels for our future transportation needs. Logos and EdeniQ are prepared to demonstrate the economic viability of this game-changing national resource for the Department of Energy."
EdeniQ CEO Larry Gross added, "We are delighted to partner with the DOE to accelerate the development and commercialization of low-cost cellulosic biofuel production. The technologies being developed by EdeniQ and Logos will dramatically reduce the time and capital required to achieve cellulosic production, by taking advantage of the billions of dollars infrastructure already deployed in today's ethanol industry.
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