Novozymes launches enzymes to produce biofuel from waste

Novozymes said it has launched the first commercially viable enzymes for production of biofuel from agricultural waste. Novozymes’ new Cellic CTec2 enzymes enable the biofuel industry to produce cellulosic ethanol at a price below US$2 per gallon for the initial commercial-scale plants that are scheduled to be operational by 2011. “We have been working on this for the past 10 years and promised our customers and the market to be ready by 2010,” said Chief Executive Officer Steen Riisgaard. Cellic CTec2 has proven to work on many different feed stocks, including corn cobs and stalks, wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse and wood chips. A number of pilot- and demonstration-scale facilities are operational, while large-scale commercial facilities are under construction and scheduled to be operational in 2011. (February 16, 2010)