Range Fuels Creates Cellulosic Ethanol
A Colorado startup has found a way to make fuel from wood. Range Fuels has discovered how to turn woodchips into ethanol, a project being funded by Khosla Ventures.
The world's first commercial-scale plant is being built to produce cellulosic ethanol in Soperton, Ga. Building is expected to finish completion at the end of 2008, after which it's anticipated the plant will churn out an annual 20 million gallons of ethanol.
"'This plant establishes the fact that the technology for next-generation ethanol is here,' Vinod Khosla said, in an interview with Forbes.com. 'This is ethanol that has 75% less carbon emissions, 75% less land use and 75% less water use' than ethanol produced from corn. The carbon emissions and use of natural resources are common criticisms of the corn-ethanol industry."
Aside from corn and sugar cane, the only other source we've seen capable of producing ethanol is orange peel rind:
The world's first commercial-scale plant is being built to produce cellulosic ethanol in Soperton, Ga. Building is expected to finish completion at the end of 2008, after which it's anticipated the plant will churn out an annual 20 million gallons of ethanol.
"'This plant establishes the fact that the technology for next-generation ethanol is here,' Vinod Khosla said, in an interview with Forbes.com. 'This is ethanol that has 75% less carbon emissions, 75% less land use and 75% less water use' than ethanol produced from corn. The carbon emissions and use of natural resources are common criticisms of the corn-ethanol industry."
Aside from corn and sugar cane, the only other source we've seen capable of producing ethanol is orange peel rind:
Trend Themes
1. Wood-based Ethanol Production - Range Fuels has led innovation in producing ethanol fuel from woodchips instead of corn or sugar cane, with less environmental damage than traditional ethanol.
2. Cellulosic Ethanol Production - The completion of a commercial-scale plant producing cellulosic ethanol in 2008 indicates that this sustainable solution to ethanol production is now commercially viable.
3. Sustainable Fuel Sources - The use of alternative fuel sources like woodchips or orange peel rind represent a key trend in moving away from traditional fossil fuels towards more sustainable options.
Industry Implications
1. Ethanol Production - Range Fuels and other ethanol producers have the opportunity to disrupt the traditional corn and sugar cane ethanol production industry through more sustainable and environmentally-friendly methods.
2. Biofuel Industry - The growth of cellulosic ethanol production provides a disruptive opportunity for the wider biofuel industry to explore and invest in alternative fuel sources.
3. Renewable Energy Industry - As industries explore more sustainable and renewable energy sources, companies like Range Fuels have an opportunity to contribute to and disrupt the larger renewable energy industry, particularly in regard to transportation fuel.
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