Honeywell, GranBio to produce SAF from cellulosic ethanolHoneywell and GranBio Technologies have partnered to combine Honeywell’s ethanol-to-jet (ETJ) technology with GranBio’s cellulosic ethanol technology (AVAP) to produce carbon-neutral sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from biomass residues at a U.S. demonstration plant currently under development.GranBio’s patented AVAP process converts biomass, including forest and agricultural residues, to pure, low-cost, low-carbon sugars, lignin, and nanocellulose. The cellulosic sugars are converted to SAF and biochemicals.&nbsp;Using forest biomass-derived ethanol, SAF produced from Honeywell's ETJ process can reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero on a lifecycle basis. GranBio CEO Bernardo Gradin said that, in addition to forest and agricultural residue, there is enormous potential for the technologies to be retrofitted to idle pulp and paper mills in the U.S.—"revitalizing forestry value chains and rural manufacturing with great social, environmental and economic impact."&nbsp;Ingenza, Phibro Ethanol enhance thermotolerant yeast solutionIngenza and Phibro Ethanol have, together, engineered a novel yeast strain designed to increase ethanol production yield under both challenging and conventional conditions.&nbsp;Focused on solving the problem of high-temperature yeast stress—which reduces fermentation performance and ethanol yield—Ingenza and Phibro created KinetX yeast solutions—a highly thermotolerant yeast strain that secretes glucoamylase (GA) throughout growth and fermentation stages. The novel strain was obtained using Ingenza’s proprietary methods centered around adaptive laboratory evolution. According to Phibro, the enhanced product offers superior robustness and reliability at higher temperatures while greatly reducing GA addition in comparison to traditional yeasts, bringing significant financial benefits to ethanol plants. Additional next-generation yeast lines in the KinetX portfolio are expected to debut on the international market soon, alongside other programs incorporating novel technologies to deliver even higher ethanol yields.&nbsp;EPA approves efficient producer pathways for White Energy plantsThe U.S. EPA recently published notices approving efficient producer pathways for two Texas ethanol plants operated by White Energy Inc. The approvals allow the company to generate renewable identification numbers (RINs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard for non-grandfathered volumes of ethanol.&nbsp;The approvals apply to ethanol produced at White Energy’s facilities in Hereford, Texas, and Plainview, Texas. Each facility currently has a production capacity of 150 MMgy, according to Ethanol Producer Magazine’s online plant map. However, it was reported last year that the company produces a total of about 250 million gallons of ethanol per year using 90 million bushels of grain, one-fourth of which is sorghum. With most of White Energy’s feedstock—corn—traditionally being delivered by rail from northern states, the company has been actively sourcing as much sorghum as it can, locally and regionally.Raízen, Wärtsilä partner to test ethanol as marine fuelBrazilian ethanol producer Raízen has partnered with Wärtsilä, a global leader in power system technologies for marine and energy markets, to advance decarbonization of the marine sector. By studying the use of ethanol as a marine fuel, the initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide novel options to customers seeking sustainable fuel alternatives, and substantively contribute to energy transition research and development in the global marine sector.Together, the companies will conduct technology tests with ethanol as a primary fuel in Wärtsilä Sustainable Fuels’ engine laboratories; the collaboration will support Raízen’s discussions with ship designers and shipowners, and produce data that may help fulfill regulations and compliance requirements for the use of cellulosic ethanol as fuel."Ethanol is a promising marine fuel that is readily available now," said Paulo Neves, vice president of Trading at Raízen.&nbsp;Verbio conducts second annual corn stover harvestVerbio has conducted its second corn stover harvest. The company uses stover as production feedstock for renewable natural gas (RNG) production at its biorefinery in Nevada, Iowa. The stover is sourced from growers within a 60-mile-radius of the plant.According to Greg Faith, president of Verbio Nevada, the company harvested approximately 135,000 bales of stover this fall, enough feedstock for a year. The plant has been in operation since late 2021, handling stover harvesting with its own team. After corn is harvested from a field, Verbio’s agronomy team chops, bales and hauls the stover that remains. The bales are trucked to the plant and stored on site.In addition to RNG production, Verbio is commissioning a 60 MMgy corn ethanol plant. “The integration of RNG and ethanol production [at the Nevada biorefinery] incorporates advanced operational technology to build on the company’s successful experiences in Europe,” Faith said.&nbsp;POET holds grand opening for Bioproducts CenterPOET, along with South Dakota State University and South Dakota Mines, celebrated the grand opening of the POET Bioproducts Center in mid-October.&nbsp;The 45,000-square-foot complex is located at SDSU’s Research Park in Brookings. The first-of-its-kind, innovative ecosystem between students, faculty and industry partners will allow collaboration on next-generation bioproducts. The facility and its operating body, Dakota BioWorx, represent a public-private partnership focused on research, economic development and workforce preparation in South Dakota.&nbsp;“At POET, we’re proud to have been at the forefront of ag and biotechnology innovation for 35 years,” said Jeff Broin, POET founder and CEO. “We are committed to investing in the next generation of leaders who will pave the way to the ag-based bioeconomy of the future. We have only begun to scratch the surface of what agriculture can do, and this venture will play a vital role in the ability of today’s bright young minds to continue our legacy of ingenuity.”Printed in the December 2023 issue of Ethanol Producer Magazine

thumbnail_GranBio_Logo.jpg

GranBio_Logo.jpg

thumbnail_Verbio-logo.jpg

Verbio-logo.jpg

thumbnail_Phibro-Logos_RGB_Full-Color.jpg

Phibro-Logos_RGB_Full-Color.jpg

Raizen-logo.jpg

thumbnail_Ingeza-logo.jpg

Ingeza-logo.jpg

thumbnail_Honeywell-Logo.jpg

Honeywell-Logo.jpg

small_POET-Center-Photo.jpg

thumbnail_POET-Center-Photo.jpg

POET-Center-Photo.jpg

small_White-Energy.jpg

thumbnail_White-Energy.jpg

White-Energy.jpg

Latest news about Business, People and Companies

Business Briefs for December 2023

Business Briefs for December 2023

Related Stories

4AIR's Assure SAF Registry marks major milestone of 10 million gallons of SAF registered on platform

IEA predicts 13% increase in bioenergy investments for 2025

2025 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo draws highest attendance in 15 years

EPA: 20 SRE petitions filed, 189 SRE petitions now pending

Blue Biofuels strengthens intellectual property portfolio with issuance of new US patent

Upcoming Events

North American SAF Conference & Expo

2026 International Biomass Conference & Expo

Business Briefs for December 2023.css-7jxktu{position:absolute;bottom:0px;left:0px;right:0px;height:3px;border-radius:3px;background-color:var(--chakra-colors-brandBlack);}

Related Stories

4AIR's Assure SAF Registry marks major milestone of 10 million gallons of SAF registered on platform

IEA predicts 13% increase in bioenergy investments for 2025

2025 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo draws highest attendance in 15 years

EPA: 20 SRE petitions filed, 189 SRE petitions now pending

Blue Biofuels strengthens intellectual property portfolio with issuance of new US patent

Upcoming Events

North American SAF Conference & Expo

2026 International Biomass Conference & Expo

Business Briefs for December 2023