Nov 25 2009
The collaboration of Ceres and CHOREN was announced by Ceres, an energy crop company, on 24 November 2009.
This joint venture will develop energy crops to convert thermochemicals into much advanced biofuels possessing low-carbon characteristics. The US Department of Energy will provide funds for this bioenergy project, which is planned to go on for two years.
In the conversion process, carbon monoxide, hydrogen-rich gas and synthetic gas are produced, allowing the biomass to be gasified under specific pressure and heat conditions. These gases are further converted into electricity, intermediate chemicals or synthetic fuels.
The arrangement of switchgrass and willow plants will be evaluated by Ceres and the company will also provide biomass samples for thermochemical processing that is to take place at CHOREN. The results obtained will be utilized to select appropriate plants and traits, which will maximize fuel yields and improve the conversion process.
Considering biotechnological options such as plant breeding and modern biology techniques for achieving the desired chemical composition of woody crops and grasses for achieving enhanced thermochemical and economic efficiency are also being considered.
Anna Rath, Vice President of commercial development at Ceres, remarked that the production of different energy crops to suit thermochemical processing is the main goal of Ceres. Besides, the company also aims to reduce costs by using a volume of biomass per acre and increasing the conversion rate.
Christopher Peters, Vice President of Finance at CHOREN, stated that the quality of the synthesis gas mixture and the costs involved with gas-cleaning operations will be improved and controlled by fine-tuning feedstocks.
Ceres and CHOREN, with reference to their future projects, are also planning to evaluate the commercial quantities of the energy crops at the Biomass to Liquids facility in Freiberg, Germany.
Source: http://www.ceres.net/