Waste-to-biofuel back on the agenda

Canadian biofuel company Enerkem has filed for a $125 Million Initial Public Offering (IPO), emphasising the strength of the waste-to-biofuel industry.

Enerkem has developed a 'proprietary thermochemical technology' platform which can process municipal solid waste (MSW) into syngas, which is then transformed from methanol to ethanol. The platform has been credited for its ability to process a range of waste, from mixed textiles to plastics, fibers and wood.

A similar waste development programme is under consideration in Lithuania, where the national forestry sector development programme has submitted a proposal to maximise the use of logging waste for biofuels, raising the usage from 80,000 cubic metres to 500,000 cubic metres per year.

Canadian biofuel company Enerkem has demonstrated the potential of the new technology in a pilot plant as well as giving a commercial demonstration. However, the company has yet to convert methanol to ethanol at its demo plant. Although this should be a relatively easy task, there could be production and logistical problems.

Posted by Joseph Hutton