Weyland Bioethanol begins production of cellulosic ethanol
25 October 2010
Weyland Bioethanol has begun production of cellulosic bioethanol at its pilot plant in Bergen, Norway. The process is based on concentrated acid hydrolysis with Weyland’s core technology being a method (patent pending) for recovering acid consumed in the process, with recovery of more than 98.5%, according to the company.
The pilot plant has the capacity to produce 200,000 liters (52,834 gallons US) of bioethanol per annum. Statoil has contributed substantially to the funding of the pilot plant.
Weyland aims to become an international supplier of technology for production of bioethanol from cellulosic feedstocks. The pilot plant will allow us to demonstrate the technology’s suitability for full-scale production.
—Petter Bartz-Johannessen, Weyland’s CEO
Work on the Weyland method began at Bergen University College in 1987. Weyland’s process has a high ethanol yield and can utilize a variety of different feedstocks, such as wood and agricultural waste, and wood waste from demolition.
Weyland represents an interesting and robust next generation biofuel technology that can use several types of feedstock. Together we are passing a historic milestone towards industrialization of this low carbon renewable fuel production.
— Guntis Aboltins-Abolins, Head of the Future Fuel unit at Statoil
The company’s ambition is that the pilot plant will pave the way for a larger production plant in Norway, with an annual production capacity in the order of 25-30 million liters (6.6 to 7.9 million gallons US). Weyland is currently evaluating such a project in cooperation with the industrial company Elkem.
(A hat-tip to Johannes at ZERO.)
Delightful but make it into beer instead. They could add electro de-ionization and recover more acid. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 26 October 2010 at 12:09 AM