From Field to Forest... Fueling America.

The Cellulose-Based Ethanol Plant (KLCBE©) design was developed for rapid and modular construction, ready to operate within six to ten months. As an example, instead of constructing large field-erected fermentations tanks, CBE fermenters are shop-fabricated and shipped to the site to meet an accelerated completion schedule. The design of the first commercial demonstration plant, Western Biomass Energy, was based on the premise that the essential differences between a traditional grain-based ethanol (KLGBE©) plant and a KLCBE© plant is the biomass feedstock and associated pretreatment processes to expose the sugars in the feedstock available for fermentation. Downstream of the pre-treatment process, subsequent steps to expose sugars, whether starch-based or cellulose, are essentially the same.

The KLCBE© business model starts with a five to ten million gallon per year ethanol production capacity with a boiler fired from the lignin co-product to supply steam to the plant. However, final sizing considerations are left to feasibility study results that ultimately dictate feedstock supply and ethanol marketing in the area. This paradigm eliminates the need for rail siding and natural gas supply. The plant can be located near populated areas, close to the fuel blending facilities and abundant biomass feedstock. These conditions are typically found in heavily-populated coastal regions.

There are multiple arrangements that promote the clustering of these bio-energy plants with other complementing technologies and industries in strategic locations. By co-locating with biomass-waste industries, ethanol yields become secondary to profitability due to cost elimination of biomass transportation, storage and in many cases, the biomass itself. We call this a “zero-radius” feedstock delivery arrangement. As an added benefit to the owner, KL can also provide plant management and off-take wholesale and retail ethanol sales agreements through the experienced ethanol marketing staff. KLCBE© designs benefit from the same efficiency KL has developed and proven in its KLGBE© designs through process simulation and application.

KL Energy | 306 East St. Joseph Street, Suite 200 | Rapid City, SD  57701 | Fax: (605) 718-1372