Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Danish firms launch 2nd generation biofuel enzymes

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http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE61E0LM20100215

Danish firms launch 2nd generation biofuel enzymes

By John Acher

COPENHAGEN, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Denmark's Danisco (DCO.CO) launched on Monday a new enzyme for bioethanol production from plant waste material and rival Novozymes (NZYMb.CO) said it would unveil a competing product on Tuesday.

The Danish enzymes producers, which already sell enzymes for "first-generation" bioethanol are now vying to supply enzymes for "second-generation" biofuels made from farm waste such as straw or corn cobs instead of from food crops.

Commercial production of second-generation biofuels is still a year or two away though they are seen as part of plans laid out earlier this month by U.S. President Barack Obama to boost production of biofuels in a bid to promote clean energy and reduce dependence on foreign oil for the United States.

Danisco's Genencor division launched its new product, called Accellerase DUET, at the Renewable Fuels Association's 15th Annual National Ethanol Conference in Orlando, Florida, Danisco A/S said in a statement. "This product is the latest generation in the company's line of enzymes used to convert biomass into sugars, a critical step in the production of cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels and biochemicals from non-food feedstocks," it said.

Novozymes, the world's biggest industrial enzymes producer, said separately its Chief Executive Steen Riisgaard would address the Florida conference on Tuesday "to announce a technological breakthrough for cellulosic ethanol."

Novozymes spokesman Rene Tronborg confirmed that meant the launch of a new enzyme for second-generation biofuel production.

"It is the new product that will enable to break down the cellulosic walls in straw for example," Tronborg said. "Both Danish companies are rallying to be first."

"Biofuel production from straw is competitive with gasoline at today's U.S. prices," Tronborg said.

Obama said earlier this month that the United States would triple the volume of biofuels it produces to 36 billion gallons by 2022 to help decrease dependence on imported oil.

The United States currently produces around 12 billion gallons annually, mostly from corn.

At the same time, however, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lowered the requirement for ethanol and other renewable fuels this year to 8.25 percent of total gasoline sales from last year's 10.21 percent renewable fuel standard.

The EPA also cut the requirement for producing cellulosic ethanol this year to 6.5 million gallons from an original 100 million gallons, but said "a number of companies and projects appear poised to expand production over the next several years."

The biggest U.S. ethanol maker, privately owned Poet, is building a 25-million-gallons-per-year cellulosic ethanol plant at Emmetsburg, Iowa, which it aims to start up next year with corn cobs as feedstock.

Danisco shares traded up 1.0 percent at 349.40 crowns, while Novozymes shares were flat at 539 crowns by 1112 GMT. (Additional reporting by Teis Jensen; editing by James Jukwey)

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Danish groups claim biofuel breakthrough

Novozymes will on Tuesday claim a breakthrough in efforts to produce biofuels from agricultural waste a day after rival Danisco made its own push for leadership of what could become a multi-billion dollar industry.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/bc8c31d2-1a8a-11df-bef7-00144feab49a,s01=1.html

Also says: “Novozymes, spun off from Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical group, a decade ago, will tell a biofuel conference in Florida on Tuesday that it has created an enzyme capable of producing cellulosic ethanol at a cost of $2.25 a gallon – close to the price of petrol and conventional ethanol.

Danisco on Monday told the same conference that it too had made a technological advance with the launch of an enzyme that it predicted would become the industry standard “in terms of cost and performance”.

http://www.novozymes.com/en/MainStructure/PressAndPublications/PressRelease/2010/Novozymes+to+announce+technological+breakthrough+at+NEC+Conference.htm

Press release:

Novozymes to announce technological breakthrough at NEC Conference

World’s largest enzyme producer will reveal details on cellulosic ethanol technology

Who: Steen Riisgaard, CEO, Novozymes

What: Novozymes CEO to discuss advancements of commercial viability of cellulosic ethanol

When: Tuesday, February 16, 7:15 – 8:00 a.m. EST (1:15-2:00 pm CET)

Where: National Ethanol Conference, Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center
6000 W Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34746
NEC Press Room – Gainesville 1
(407) 586-0000

Live audio/video webcast available at: http://www.livewebcast.net/novozymes

To access the webcast, please log on approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled time to receive email confirmation.

Why: To announce a technological breakthrough for cellulosic ethanol

Video: Novozymes B-roll will be available via satellite feed in the U.S. at the following coordinates below. (All other regions may request video from their corresponding media contact):