Aemetis da un nuevo paso para construir una biorrefinería de etanol celulósico en California

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Aemetis continúa dando pasos para construir una biorrefinería de etanol celulósico en California. A principios de agosto, la empresa californiana firmaba un acuerdo de derechos exclusivos para el uso de la tecnología de gasificación avanzada de InEnTec (véase entrada del Blog, 07/08/2017) y anunciaba que había empezado a producir etanol celulósico a partir de residuos de huertas en una unidad de demostración integrada (la nota de prensa de Aemetis en 07/08/2017 ha sido eliminada de la página web pero la información se puede encontrar en este artículo del Ethanol Producer Magazine).

La instalación está localizada en el Centro Tecnológico de InEnTec en Richland (Washington) y fue construida como escaparate de la producción de etanol celulósico a través de la integración de la tecnología de gasificación avanzada de InEnTec con la fermentación microbiana patentada de LanzaTech. Será la base para una biorrefinería a escala completa que será construida en Riverbank (California). De acuerdo con una reciente nota de prensa, Aemetis Advanced Products Keyes (filial de Aemetis) ha firmado un alquiler con un horizonte de 55 años en una antigua instalación de municiones del Ejército Americano localizado en esa localidad. Esta cerca de la planta de biocombustibles existente de Aemetis en Keyes (capacidad de producción: 60 millones de galones al año de etanol).

Figura 1. Planta de biocombustibles de Aemetis en Keyes (extraída de la página web de la empresa). La biorrefinería de etanol celulósica estará ubicada en Riverbank cerca de Keyes.

Ficha del proyecto
Localización
Riverbank (California).
Technologías
Gasificación: InEnTec.
Fermentación: Lanzatech.
Materias primas
Residuos de huertas y cáscaras de nueces.
El Central Valley de California produce más de 1,6 millones de toneladas de residuos de huertas y cáscaras de nueces cada año.
Productos y capacidad de producción
Etanol celulósico.
Fase 1: 10 millones de galones.
Objetivo final: 40 millones de galones.
Efecto sobre el empleo
1.900 empleos directos e indirectos.

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