ZeaChem Holds Groundbreaking for Pilot-Scale Cellulosic Ethanol Biorefinery

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Privately held biorefinery developer ZeaChem Incorporated (Lakewood, Colorado) held a groundbreaking ceremony last week to mark the start of construction on ZeaChem's pilot-scale cellulose-based ethanol biorefinery. The pilot-scale plant will produce 250,000 gallons per year of fuel ethanol. The feedstock will come mainly from poplar trees, but ZeaChem will run trials with a variety of biomass, including herbaceous crops, agricultural residuals and other renewable biomass resources.

The plant is located in Boardman, Oregon, and is expected to be fully operational by early 2011. Construction of the plant had an estimated total investment value of $34 million. ZeaChem received $25 million in funds U.S. Department of Energy for the project.

Once the pilot-scale facility is successfully producing fuel, development of a 50 million-gallon-per-year commercial-scale plant is expected to follow in 2012.

Plans are to construct a commercial-scale plant that will process hard and soft woods, switchgrass and corn stover into fuel ethanol. The plant will be located in Boardman, Oregon, alongside the pilot plant.

Industrial Info's databases provide a comprehensive outline of all current development activities in the emerging alternative fuels market. Industrial Info's North American Ethanol Database covers 203 plants in operation and 358 plants in various stages of development. Our North American Biodiesel Database covers 153 operational plants and 72 plants under development. Industrial Info's North American Wood Fuel Pellet Database includes 59 operational plants producing greater than 25,000 tons annually, and 37 projects under way.

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View Project Report - 22001356

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