Novozymes inaugurates US$200 million biofuels plant in the U.S.

Novozymes’ new enzyme plant in Blair, Nebraska, U.S.A., puts the company a step closer towards the commercialization of advanced biofuels. The US$200 million plant is by far the biggest plant dedicated to biofuels in the U.S., and it will specialize in the creation of world-leading enzymes, a key technology component in the existing and advanced biofuels markets. The new plant will create 400 construction jobs and 100 career positions. “Advanced biofuels are taking off. With private investments like those demonstrated here, biofuel plants are opening around the world – and we’re proud our Blair facility is prepared to supply enzymes to some of the first advanced biorefineries, as well as to the existing industry,” said Peder Holk Nielsen, Novozymes executive vice president. Nielsen views the new plant as a critical component of the company’s global production chain, a noteworthy addition to its existing plants in China, Brazil, Denmark and the United States. Nielsen explained the choice for Nebraska as the site for its new plant: “The United States is the world’s largest biofuels market today and many of the new advanced biofuels plants will be located in the U.S. Midwest…” In addition to Novozymes’ plant, other advanced biofuels plants are scheduled to open all over the world until next year: Shengquan will open one in China, Beta Renewables is all set to open its plant in Italy, Brazil’s GraalBio and Fiberight in the United States will also be inaugurating their plants in the near future. In 2012, global production capacity of advanced biofuels is expected to reach 15 million gallons and estimates are high for 2014, with a projected 250 million gallons. (May 30, 2012)