ARENA to provide financial support for the pilot biorefinery of Ethtec in Hunter
Type of post: NEWS.
Ethanol
Technologies Limited (Ethtec) is developing a process for the production of
ethanol and other high-value fermentation products from lignocellulosic
materials such as crop stubbles, cotton gin trash, timber residues and sugar
cane bagasse. This Australian biofuel company intends to construct a 30 M$ pilot-scale
facility (Hunter Pilot Biorefinery) located at Muswellbrook (Upper Hunter
Valley of New South Wales) as part of a 48 M$ project.
According to a recent announcement,
the completion of the pilot plant will receive support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). On
behalf of the Australian Government, ARENA will fund it with 11.9 M$. The
project is also endorsed by several partners:
- Jiangsu
Jintongling Fluid Machinery Technology Company Limited. Its financial
contribution (11.9 M$ in matching funding) will play a part in the construction
of the pilot plant and its overall involvement in the project will assist in commercialising
the Ethtec process.
- Apace Research Limited.
Video of the University of Newcastle about the Ethtec process
The facility would enable Ethtec to complete the
development and demonstration of its advanced biofuel technology. It will process
around 2 dry tons of biomass per day and will be used to generate the engineering
data to construct commercial scale plants with a biomass processing capability
in excess of 250 dry tons per day. The project is being undertaken in four
phases, with each phase incorporating new technology and addressing the
associated technical risks. Ethtec has invested over 18.6 M$ million in the
project to date, with 15.6 M$ coming from shareholders and 3 M$ from the Federal Government.
More information:
- Press release of Ethtec (21/11/2017): Advancing
Second Generation Production.
- News from the University of Newcastle (21/11/2017):
Reaping
the benefits of agricultural waste.
