Introduction
Introduction and Overview
Project Rationale
Ethtec is developing and commercialising new technology for environmentally sustainable production of ethanol from the structural sugars of lignocellulosic (non-food, woody or fibrous) materials such as sugar cane bagasse, crop stubbles and forest material.
The sugars can also be converted to other high-value fermentation products such as xylitol and chemical precursors for the production of bioplastics. The lignin co-product can be used as a renewable solid fuel for heat and power generation and for production of value-added chemicals.
Ethtec’s key objective is the production of ethanol in volumes that are significant in the context of meeting fuel demand, at a price competitive with the price of petroleum fuels derived from crude oil, after having paid a reasonable price for the lignocellulosic feedstock.
Project and Process Development
Development of the Ethtec Process is divided into four phases, each phase incorporating new technology and addressing the associated technical risks.
Project Outcomes and Benefits
- Significant value-adding of existing biomass resources for the agricultural and forestry industries
- Economic underpinning of re-afforestation and treatment of land degradation programmes
- Robust technology package that enables the use of all types of lignocellulosic materials as feedstock
- Regional development and employment creation through roll-out of a scalable technology package that is implementable across all regions of Australia irrespective of the types of lignocellulosic resources available
- Fossil fuel displacement and significant reduction in greenhouse gas emission by the use of ethanol as fuel
- Increased liquid fuel security nationwide
