Cheaper Enzymes to Make Cellulosic Ethanol More Competitive. By Jessica Leber, ClimateWire, February 16, 2010. "Many cellulosic fuel producers are working with enzymes to break down tough, inedible plant parts, such as corncobs or switch grass, into simpler sugars that can be fermented to ethanol. Now enzyme companies say they are near to breaking down another tough obstacle: the cost of enzymes that will make the next generation of low-carbon fuels. The progress may help put cellulosic ethanol on course to compete commercially when the first large plants open next year. Novozymes, the world's largest industrial enzyme producer, today launched a new line it says will yield ethanol from plant wastes at an enzyme price of about 50 cents a gallon. The latest product of a decade of research, this marks an 80% price drop from two years ago, according to Global Marketing Director Poul Ruben Andersen. The advances, Andersen said, will help bring cellulosic ethanol production prices to under $2 a gallon by 2011, a cost on par with both corn-based ethanol and gasoline at current U.S. market prices."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment