| OTTAWA, Canada,
May 6, 2004- GreenBiz.com:
Iogen Corporation has announced it is producing the world’s
first cellulose ethanol fuel for commercial use. Cellulose
ethanol is an ultra-low CO2 emission fuel that can be
blended with gasoline and used in cars today.
Ethanol is currently produced from starchy grains such
as corn, but cellulose ethanol is produced from more
"woody" agricultural byproducts, such as straw,
corn cobs, and corn stalks, which are often discarded
as waste. Iogen is producing its cellulose ethanol at
a demonstration plant, but claims to be in the process
of finalizing locations for a full-scale commercial
plant. The Biotechnology Industry Organization hailed
the achievement as a "key breakthrough."
Iogen’s cellulose ethanol technology is a result
of more than 25 years of research and development. Iogen
and its partners have committed over C$110 million,
and the company owns and operates the world’s
only cellulose ethanol demonstration scale facility.
“Iogen has demonstrated that clean, renewable
fuels are no longer a dream, they are a reality,”
said Duncan Macleod, portfolio manager of Shell Global
Solutions International B.V. “We believe that
the global market for bio-fuels such as cellulose ethanol
will grow to exceed $10 billion by 2012. Cellulose ethanol
is a great fit with Shell’s commitment to leadership
in fuels technology and sustainable development.”
All vehicles can use a standard blend of up to 10%
cellulose ethanol mixed with gasoline, with no changes
required.
Iogen’s cellulose ethanol demonstration facility
is the final proving stage prior to the rollout of full-scale
commercial plants. The company is working with its partners
to finalize plant locations.
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