Süd-Chemie starts work to build cellulosic ethanol plant in Germany
Specialty chemicals firm Süd-Chemie has begun construction at Straubing in southern Germany of a €28mn plant to produce cellulosic ethanol from agricultural waste materials.
A ground-breaking ceremony for the state-funded project was held In the presence of Bavaria’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Martin Zeil, and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Once production begins in late 2011, the plant will produce up to 1,000 metric tpy of cellulosic ethanol, primarily from wheat straw from the Straubing area.
The plant represents a key milestone on the road to the commercialisation of the technology, company officials said. Around 20 new jobs are expected to be created at the location in the next three years.
“As a second-generation biofuel, cellulosic ethanol delivers significant greenhouse gas savings of up to 95%,” said Sud-Chemie head of strategic research and development Andre Koltermann.
“In addition, cellulosic ethanol has considerable potential to reduce dependence on crude oil on a long-term basis through local production of a renewable energy source.”
The €28mn includes €16mn on the plant itself and €12mn on research.
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