Transcript Bolsen – Coskata - Ascension Publishing

Licensing Cellulosic Biofuel Technology Today
Coskata: Accelerating to
Commercialization
Wes Bolsen
CMO & VP, Government Affairs
Coskata, Inc.
Coskata’s platform technology is progressing to
commercialization
Coskata has a 3-step process platform for biomass to fuels and chemicals
Can use
1. Biomass
any
Gasification
sustainable
biomass
2. Syngas
Fermentation
3. Product
Recovery
• Produces ~400 liters of
ethanol per dry ton of
material
• Feedstock flexible process
enables rapid licensing
and commercialization
Coskata’s ethanol technology is ready for commercialization and licensing
• First focus is Ethanol, but can selectively produce other fuels and chemicals
• Secured US Department of Agriculture’s intent to fund the largest biofuel loan
guarantee in US Government history
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Coskata’s proprietary technology drives efficiency
Ethanol Production
Proprietary microorganisms convert
syngas (CO and H2) into ethanol.
6 CO + 3 H2O
6 H2 + 2 CO2
C2H5OH + 4 CO2
C2H5OH + 3 H2O
Each reaction is independent allowing
for a range of H2/CO ratios.
Proprietary bioreactor designs
enhance productivity.
Advanced bioreactor at
Lighthouse facility.
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Feedstock flexibility is critical to commercialization
Gasification +
Enzymatic
Catalytic
Feedstock Flexibility
No
Yes
Yes
Ethanol Specificity
Yes
No
Yes
~55-85
76-89**
~100+
Yield*
(gal/dry ton)
* Best estimates from publicly available data
** Chemical catalysis yield estimate from 2012 NREL targets (76 for ethanol, 89 for all alcohols)
Source: Press; DOE; Company reports
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Coskata is ready for commercialization
Currently Operating
Currently Operating
Under Development
Horizon (2008)
Lighthouse (2009)
Flagship
Integrated Processing
Warrenville, Illinois
Semi-Plant Demonstration
Madison, Pennsylvania
Commercial Production
Boligee, Alabama
 Integrated processing system
with methane thermal reformer,
multiple bioreactor designs,
and distillation
 Integrated biorefinery
 Linear scale-up to commercial
production
 Will test multiple commercialscale bioreactor and separations
designs
 55 MM Gallons / yr
 Multiple gasifiers that process
~1700 dry tons/day of biomass
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Coskata Integrated Biorefinery Operating:
Now ready for full-scale facilities
Coskata has:
• Successfully scaled its
cellulosic ethanol technology
•
Shown the process to be costcompetitive with gasoline
from multiple feedstocks
•
Completed design for
commercial scale facilities
•
Enabled commercialization
through licensing model
IT’S TIME TO START BUILDING!
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Coskata’s partners support commercialization
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Significant U.S. biomass resources are available
Sandia estimates production of 90 billion gallons of
ethanol per year by 2030.
Source: Sandia National Labs, Feasibility, economics, and environmental impact of
producing 90 billion gallons of ethanol per year by 2030
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Ethanol-The Primary
Renewable Liquid Fuel
Perspective paper by Rathin Datta, Mark Maher, Coleman Jones, and
Richard Brinker
J. Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 2011,
86: 473-480, Society of Chemical Industry
Natural Efficiencies: Half the Carbon
• The biofuel option most naturally compatible with biomass will have the highest yield from
the least amount of feedstock, leading to greater efficiency, lower costs, and less
greenhouse gas emissions.
• Because of its molecular advantages, biomass-to-ethanol achieves the highest yields.
• Requires at least half as much carbon as other biofuels,.
• Makes the best use of the significant oxygen portion in the feedstock.
Product
Conversion equation
Theoretical
Yield
Ethanol
3”CH2O”  C2H5OH + CO2
51%
(90 to 98% of theoretical achieved in
industrial carbohydrate fermentations)
n-Butanol or
iso-Butanol
6“CH2O”  C4H9 OH +
2CO2 + H2O
41%
(55 to 60% of theoretical yields achieved in
industrial scale ABE fermentations)
Octane C8Hydrocarbon
13“CH2O”  C8H20 + 5CO2
+ 3H2O
29.7%
Typical Yields Achieved
46 to 50%
23 to 25%
Not practiced industrially – wide mix of
hydrocarbons and oxygenates produced
Major Conclusions
1) Biomass-to-ethanol has natural efficiencies. On a molecular level, ethanol is the fuel that is
most compatible with biomass.
• Ethanol requires at least half as much carbon as other biofuels
• Cellulosic ethanol is the fuel that best utilizes the oxygen in the biomass
• A ton of biomass converted to ethanol will have higher yields than other alternative
biofuels, resulting in the lowest cost to the consumer, and less greenhouse gas
emissions to the environment
2) Ethanol has a history of superior performance. A fabric of American
transportation for over a century, ethanol has the proven longevity other
fuels don’t.
3) Today’s cars are ready for ethanol. America’s cars are rapidly
being developed to run on higher ethanol blends. The transition to
electric vehicles will take decades. Ethanol is ready today.
4) Sufficient biomass exists to make an impact. America has sufficient
biomass to supplant our dependence on foreign oil by 30%.
Licensing Cellulosic Biofuel Technology Today
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