Alternative fuels: Denmark Makes Stab for Biofuel Greatness by making them competitive with fosil fuels

In the last 24 hours, Danish giants Novozymes and Genencor have announced technological breakthroughs that radically cut the price of their enzymes.

Genencor got the ball moving yesterday at the 15^th Annual National Ethanol Conference in Orlando, FL by announcing that its new enzyme is an advanced version of its Accellerase 1500 model. By using a whole broth formulation, the enzyme provides nutrients for fermentative organisms while lowering the chemical load created during fermentation. Genencor claims that this new enzyme results in higher yields at a three-fold lower dosing and works well with all feedstock and pretreatment combinations.

Not to be outdone, Novozymes today announced its first commercial enzyme for cellulosic ethanol produced from agricultural waste via its Cellic® CTec2 enzymes. Most significantly, the company's CTec enzyme, when combined with the HTec2 enzyme, has reduced current enzyme production costs for cellulosic ethanol producers by 80% over the last two years to $0.50/gal --- a long-term industry price target. At $0.50/gal, enzyme costs will represent approximately 25% of the total levelized cost structure for cellulosic ethanol production via bio-chemical processes. Yet, if total costs have now been brought down to $2.00/gal, cellulosic ethanol can now be said to be very close to cost parity with corn ethanol and gasoline at $75/bbl.

For more: Denmark Makes Stab for Biofuel Greatness : Greentech Media