The US Department of Energy (DOE) is set to invest $33.8m in four cellulosic ethanol companies aimed at accelerating the development of commercially viable second generation biofuels, it was announced this week.
Andy Karsner, assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy at the DOE said the four projects will be financed over the next four years and will concentrate on "developing improved enzyme systems to convert cellulose material into sugars suitable for the production of biofuels".
The companies selected are: DSM Innovation Centre Inc, Genencor, Novozymes, and Verenium Corporation. They are all involved in enzyme research and production for biofuels.
According to the DOE, the projects are now set to receive $70m in funding with a minimum of half coming from industry.
The projects aim to breakdown processed biomass into fermentable sugars, cost effectively and efficiently and were selected based on their "demonstrated ability to reduce the cost of enzymes-per-gallon of ethanol by improving an enzyme’s performance". The initiatives will also be required to display that their technologies can work on a commercial scale.
Cellulosic ethanol is typically made from waste organic material, such as cereal straws, industrial plant waste and paper pulp, for example. Non food crops that have previously proved difficult to break down for processing, such as switchgrass, can also be used.
In related news, the DOE today announced the selection of three venture capital firms that will participate in their Entrepreneur in Residence pilot programme. The programme aims to accelerate deployment and commercialisation of clean energy technologies. Venture Capital firms ARCH Venture Partners, Foundation Capital and Kleiner, Perkins, Caulfield & Byers are set to participate in the scheme.
New enzyme promises to speed delivery of second-generation biofuels made from waste biomass 18 Oct 2007
DuPont and Genencor set to invest $140m in attempt to commercialise production of second generation cellulosic ethanol 16 May 2008
The two firms plan to convert plant sugars into a petrol substitute more potent than ethanol 28 Mar 2008
Fresh from securing $100m in funding Range Fuels is pressing ahead with the construction of an ethanol plant capable of turning wood into biofuel 04 Apr 2008
Controversial Bioethanol firm outlines plans for a plant designed to turn citrus waste into biofuel 31 Jan 2008
Intelligent Energy ramps up funding for R&D and partnerships 04 Jul 2008
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