Straw power
Cleaner, renewable, sustainable energy made from agriculture’s leftovers—that’s long been the promise of cellulosic ethanol. Inbicon is doing their share to deliver that promise.
The Asnæs powerplant is producing bio-ethanol from straw (Photo: Inbicon)
In 2009 Inbicon, a DONG technology company, opened their first plant to publicly showcase their technology for turning straw into ethanol. The plant placed in the coastal refinery town of Kalundborg will convert 30,000 tonnes of straw yearly to produce 5.4 million litres of bioethanol that can be mixed with gasoline to reduce CO2 emissions.
The new biomass refinery will demonstrate not only their patented technology for making renewable fuel but how its integration with an electric power plant can dramatically increase the efficiency of both operations. The combined operations also underscores the two-decade-long commitment DONG Energy has made to the future of clean, renewable energy here in Denmark and abroad. DONG Energy is a world leader in offshore wind farms.
In July 2010 the first bioethanol from the plant was ready for distribution. The Norwegian energy company expect to have solved the logistical challenges around distributing fuel mixed with bioethanol by the end of 2010. By mixing fuel with bioethanol the CO2 emissions from a single car could be cut by 85 %. If 10 % of Danish cars switch to second generation biofuels Denmark could cut their emissions by 600 000 tons.
Facts about the Inbicon Biomass Refinery:
Raw materials
- 4 t/h equivalent to 30,000 tonnes of straw a year
- Enzymes supplied by Danisco Genecor and Novozymes
- Annual production: 5.4 million litres of bioethanol
- 13,000 tonnes of lignin pellets
- 11,100 tonnes C5 molasses
Costs and grants
Total construction costs: About 400 million DKK (54 mio. EUR). Design and construction is supported by the Danish EUDP programme with 76.7 million DKK (10.3 mio. EUR) Demonstration is supported by the European Seventh Framework Programme with 67.7 million DKK (9.1 mio. EUR) Support from the European Fifth framework to development of the technology in an earlier stage has previously been granted.
Further reading
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