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Kansas cellulosic ethanol plant holds grand opening

abengoa plant-hugoton ksAnother cellulosic ethanol plant is officially open.

Abengoa held a grand opening today (Friday) for its new cellulosic plant in Hugoton, Kansas.  The plant, which is located about 90 miles southwest of Dodge City, began production in late September.

At full operation, the Abengoa plant will produce 25 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol annually and process one-thousand tons per day of biomass.  More than 80 percent of the feedstock will be irrigated corn stover, with the remainder comprised of wheat straw, milo stubble and switchgrass.

According to company officials, the Hugoton plant opening marks the first-ever commercial deployment of Abengoa’s proprietary enzymatic hydrolysis technology, which turns the biomass into fermentable sugars that are then converted to ethanol.  The plant also features an electricity cogeneration component, allowing it to operate as a self-sufficient renewable energy producer.

Abengoa plans to license its technology to other ethanol companies.

Abengoa received a 132 million dollar loan guarantee and a 97 million dollar grant through the U.S. Department of Energy to support construction of the project.  U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz was among the dignitaries on hand for the grand opening of the plant.

The Kansas plant is the third cellulosic ethanol plant to begin operations this year.  Quad County Corn Processors recently opened a bolt-on facility at their plant in Galva, Iowa, converting corn kernel fiber into cellulosic ethanol, while POET/DSM opened Project Liberty, a cellulosic ethanol production facility in Emmetsburg, Iowa, that utilizes corn crop residue.

Another cellulosic facility is nearing completion.  DuPont is expected to open its cellulosic ethanol plant in Nevada, Iowa later this year.

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