Cellulosic Biofuel Moves Toward Commercialization

GRAND FORKS, ND --- The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) Foundation and Whole Energy Fuels Corp. said they are poised to commercialize cellulosic biofuel technology developed at the EERC at the University of North Dakota. 

Whole Energy is receiving global and exclusive licensing rights to EERC Foundation's technology, which converts biomass and other recycled material into liquid biofuels. 

Using cellulosic materials to produce biofuels has several advantages. Cellulosic materials such as wood, grasses or the nonedible parts of crops, including wheat straw, soybean hulls and corn cobs, are vast and diverse feedstocks compared to first-generation feedstocks like corn starch or sugarcane. In addition, cellulosic fuels promise to become the lowest-cost biofuel while providing large reductions in greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum-derived fuels. 

"This project presents an exciting opportunity for the EERC, as it is one of the very first involving production of advanced fuel additives from cellulosic feedstocks," said Senior Research Advisor Ed Olson. "This technology will ultimately be used to improve engine performance using a renewable product, both in gasoline and diesel engines. In the case of diesel fuel, our additives will boost the cetane levels, improve flow properties and, most importantly, reduce particulate emissions." 

The current federal Renewable Fuel Standard requires that 36 million gallons of biofuels must be used in transportation fuel by 2022, including at least 21 billion gallons of advanced biofuels such as cellulosic biofuels. This creates a gigantic market for cellulosic biofuels. 

Atul Deshmane, CEO and president of Whole Energy, said he is excited to capture this market opportunity and build on over 15 years' experience in the alternative fuels industry. "Partnering with the EERC and obtaining a technology license from the EERC Foundation will jump-start Mercurius Biofuels, a new company formed with our help to develop and commercialize advanced biofuel technologies," Deshmane said. "Mercurius is developing the technology with the intent of building and operating a pilot plant to demonstrate what may be the most energy- and carbon-efficient process for making a cellulosic fuel."