The technology converts lignocellulosic non-food biomass to renewable, low carbon intensity biofuels and has already been installed in GranBio’s plant in São Miguel dos Campos, Alagoas.  GranBio spent $220 million to build the plant, which it said is the first in the Southern Hemisphere that is dedicated to cellulosic ethanol. Current capacity is about 30 million liters per year with potential to export the total output to American and European markets.                                                                                                                                                      

GranBio said the partnership will enable the commercialization of the technology globally, combining its knowledge in biomass and second-generation biofuels with NextChem's engineering intelligence and group global presence. Together, it added, the companies will have the opportunity to lead decarbonization of liquid fuels in an efficient and profitable way on a large scale.

“We want to be pioneers in this business model, leading the development of the cellulosic ethanol industry in the world, offering complete solutions, from the feasibility study to the engineering project,” said Paulo Nigro, GranBio’s CEO. “Some countries like the US, China and Brazil already recognize the renewable carbon premium. The European Union, for example, recently determined policies that will promote the construction of dozens of second-generation fuel plants by 2030.”

Nigro explained that the flexible technology allows the use of almost all types of agricultural waste as feedstock, such as sugarcane, cornstraw and even leftover wood such as pine and eucalyptus.

Waste-to-ethanol license to LanzaTech

In July, NextChem signed an agreement with LanzaTech to license the US carbon recycling company’s waste-to-ethanol technology, adding to the Italian firm’s circular hydrogen and circular methanol technologies.

LanzaTech’s biological syngas fermentation process produces ethanol by bacteria. NextChem will license the technology exclusively in Italy and on a project basis in some foreign markets. 

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist