Using Renewable Energy to Make Renewable Energy

An ethanol plant completely powered by waste? It's possible that POET Biorefining - Chancellor could displace 100 percent of its natural gas usage with renewable energy.

Late last year we announced the construction of a solid waste fuel boiler that will burn wood waste that would otherwise have been destined for local landfills. The energy from the boiler will displace up to 60 percent of the plant's natural gas usage.

Yesterday, we announced a partnership with the Sioux Falls Area Regional Landfill that will see that same facility near Chancellor use methane from the landfill to displace even more natural gas. The combination of the two alternative energy technologies will displace at least 90 percent of the plant's natural gas usage and potentially all of it.

Here's a schematic of the facility that explains the process:

As Jeff Lautt, EVP of Corporate Operations for POET, said in his speech:

As renewable energy has increased in America, defenders of the status quo have become fond of pointing out that the production of renewable energy requires fossil fuels. But, should the lack of renewable energy be a reason to not produce renewable energy? Today, most ethanol production facilities are dependent on fossil fuels, just like our country. But as the renewable economy grows, these same facilities will be able to draw their power from renewable sources, like we’re doing in Chancellor.

Comments

[Steve]

Reading Mr. Lautt's comments, caused a question to pop up in my head. Have you ever considered / is it feasible to use ethanol to provide the energy? It seems obvious that wood waste and methane is a good solution, but you have that great source of energy that you are manufacturing...could it also be used, or is it not technically or economically feasible?

[mus302]

Steve

It would be technically feasible to burn ethanol to provide the heat energy to produce ethanol. It would also be technically feasible to burn the distillers grains for some, maybe all of the process energy. But in both cases they are more valuable as other things. Ethanol is more valuable as a liquid fuel since it fits into the existing transportation fuel infrastructure.

We have no shortage on items that can be burned for heat energy, such as biomass, natural gas, propane, heating oil, etc. We do have a shortage of liquid transportation fuels that fit into the existing infrastructure.

[mus302]

Nathan,

I applaud your efforts at lowering the fossil fuel inputs needed to produce ethanol and to make the process more efficient.

[kum Dollison]

So, if you replace 90% of the nat gas, how many btus of nat gas will you be using on a per gallon basis?

[Jordan Spizike]

I agree. If enough were created to support a large footprint, it would outstrip the natural gas supply and it would create higher gas prices. I would probably put the gas supply at risk, and that would have an impact in home heating. now link my name to know me,and each other we all get the good things.don't think that I cheat you,pls.