Global Bioenergy Industry News
LS9 Buys Florida Production Plant
The facility will be retrofitted to accommodate LS9's proprietary one-step fermentation process that converts renewable raw materials into low-cost, low carbon transportation fuels and chemicals.
The project is designed to enable the production of 50,000-100,000 gallons of UltraClean Diesel by late-2010. This level of production will validate the commercial viability of LS9's UltraClean Diesel technology before moving to full-scale commercial production.
The facility will generate a significant number of jobs in the local area. LS9 anticipates 15-20 operations jobs will be created throughout the demonstration period alone.
The project is also expected to generate approximately 30-50 construction jobs over the six month retrofit period, as well as preserving job opportunities in the Okeechobee region through the company's of use local suppliers and contractors.
"LS9's acquisition of this state-of-the-art fermentation facility will deliver broad and deep benefits. It is a huge step for LS9, it represents significant promise for the U.S biofuels sector, and it benefits the Okeechobee economy," said Bill Haywood, CEO, LS9.
"The new facility will allow LS9 to demonstrate that our one-step manufacturing process is ready and capable of bringing low-cost, low-carbon fuels to market while creating and preserving jobs in the Okeechobee area."
LS9 is the low-cost producer of renewable advanced diesel products.
LS9 is currently producing significant amounts of UltraClean Diesel at its pilot plant in South San Francisco. The new Okeechobee facility will allow LS9 to move its technology from proven pilot capabilities to commercial demonstration scale production in 2010. Once the retrofit is complete, the facility will be the largest advanced biodiesel demonstration plant in the world.
"Moving technology from lab to full-scale commercial production is always an exciting challenge," said Wei Huang, Vice President of Process Development, LS9.
"With the progress we have achieved in moving our technology from the lab through the pilot plant, we are definitely ready to demonstrate at commercial scale. The Okeechobee facility is ideal for our needs."
In addition to demonstration scale equipment, the new facility will house lab and pilot scale operations that LS9 will use to test and integrate cellulosic materials such as wood chips and agricultural waste into its production process. The use of cellulosic biomass will lead to even greater reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
LS9's proprietary one-step fermentation process is also capable of producing high-value chemicals used in making industrial and consumer products that are more environmentally friendly than conventional processes.
TheBioenergySite News Desk
More Bioenergy Industry News
Go-head for 1101 Wind Turbines
Wind Energy Bosses Call for Strong RES
Enhanced Renewable Energy Target Scheme
Ontario’s Landmark Green Energy Plan Delivers
Order for Waste-to-Energy Plant on Sint Maarten- Small Farms to Receive Energy Grants
AMSC Receives $10 million Order from China- CNPV in Partnership with Techbank
Wind Farm Expansion Under Way- Imperium Resumes Production of Biodiesel
