The BIOLYFE project

The BIOLYFE project aims at improving critical steps of the second generation bioethanol production process and at demonstrating the whole supply chain, from feedstock sourcing via fuel production to product utilisation. The main result will be the construction of an efficient second generation industrial demonstration unit with an annual output of about 40.000 tons of lignocellulosic bioethanol.

Please see www.biolyfe.eu for more information.

BIOLYFE is co-funded by the European Commission in the 7th Framework Programme (Project No. FP7-239204). Project duration is four years and activities started in January 2010.

This Newsletter

In this BIOLYFE newsletter issue, we would like to announce the first BIOLYFE workshop to be held on 7 June 2011 (14:00-18:10) in the ICC Berlin, Germany.

Furthermore, this newsletter provides a brief report on the progress of the construction of the BIOLYFE ethanol production plant in Crescentino, Italy, which started on 12 April 2011 with the Foundation Stone Ceremony.

Finally, we would like to announce a graduate level course on "Bioethanol in a Biorefinery Context" to be organised in the framework of the European NEMO project in May 2012.

First BIOLYFE workshop

Within the BIOLYFE project, three workshops on lignocellulosic ethanol production will be organised.

The first BIOLYFE workshop focuses on sustainable feedstock sourcing and energy crop production.

Our first workshop will be held on 7 June 2011 (14:00-18:10) in the ICC Berlin, Germany, as a side-event of the European Biomass Conference taking place in Berlin from 6-10 June 2011 (www.conference-biomass.com).

The production of energy crops and the sourcing of agricultural residues at a larger scale is one of the critical steps in implementing environmentally and economically sustainable supply chains for lignocellulosic ethanol. However, large-scale agronomic experience is rather scarce regarding lignocellulosic feedstocks. This workshop aims at exchanging existing experience and at discussing factors influencing the sustainability of the resulting supply chains.

The preliminary programme is as follows:

Welcome and introduction
Dr. Rainer Janssen, WIP Renewable Energies

Lignocellulosic ethanol production at industrial scale (BIOLYFE)
Prof. David Chiaramonti, Chemtex Italia

Potential and perspectives of sustainable second-generation biofuels
Anselm Eisentraut, Bioenergy Analyst, IEA Renewable Energy Division

Arundo donax – A promising energy crop
Fabio Sissot, Bioenergy Senior Expert, Agriconsulting S.p.A.

Agronomic experiences with large-scale production of Miscanthus
Steve Bacon, International Energy Crops

Large-scale production of Switchgrass and Reed Canary Grass in Latvia
Aigars Olukalns, Agronomy Consultant

Residual straw as energy source – Agronomic aspects
Dr. Joachim Möser, Bioenergy Product Manager, Saaten-Union GmbH

Untangling the next-generation biofuel value chain: feedstock and technology cost analysis
Aleksandra Rybczynska, Bloomberg New Energy Finance

Final discussion and closing of the workshop

Speakers and presentation titles are preliminary and can still be subject to change. Please note that participation in the workshop is free of additional charge but requires the registration for the European Biomass Conference.

The BIOLYFE consortium is looking forward to meeting you in Berlin!

Construction of the BIOLYFE ethanol production plant has started!

On 12 April 2011, the construction of the BIOLYFE ethanol production plant in Crescentino, Italy, has started with the Foundation Stone Ceremony.

The BIOLYFE plant will demonstrate the production of second generation ethanol at industrial scale with an output of 40,000 tons ethanol per year. The plant will be operated by Chemtex as coordinator of the BIOLYFE project. The plant will utilize Chemtex´s own proprietary PROESA (TM)technology. Chemtex is a subsidiary of the Italian Mossi & Ghisolfi Group.

The ceremony started with the reception of around 250 invited guests, including representatives from industry, politics and press.

The reception was followed by a workshop entitled "Second Generation Bioethanol: an Italian Fact", moderated by Jacopo Giliberto (Il Sole 24 Ore). The workshop was opened by Guido Ghisolfi, Vice President of the Mossi & Ghisolfi Group (see picture).

Among the speakers were Sen. Andrea Fluttero (Chairman of  the Environmental Commission of  the Italian Senate), Ugo Cavallera and Massimo Giordano (both representing the  Piemont Region), Vittorio Cogliati Dezza (President of the environmental organisation Legambiente), and Marinella Venegoni (Mayor of the city of Crescentino).

The event ended with the official Foundation Stone Ceremony with Guido Ghisolfi (Vice President of the Mossi & Ghisolfi Group, on the left), Marinella Venegoni (Mayor of the city of Crescentino, in the middle), and Vittorio Ghisolfi (President of the Mossi & Ghisolfi Group, on the right).

NEMO course on "Bioethanol in a Biorefinery Context" - 23-25 May 2012

The NEMO project aims at the development of novel high-performance enzymes and microorganisms for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol. The NEMO consortium organises a 3-day graduate level course in which the state-of-the-art of lignocellulosic conversion technologies will be presented and discussed in the broader framework of biorefineries.

The course takes place on 23-25 May 2012 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. More information is provided in the information flyer and at the NEMO project website.