ALLENTOWN, US: Air Products has been awarded a contract to supply onsite oxygen, compressed dry air and nitrogen to Ineos Bio’s joint venture project for the first-of-its-kind waste to ethanol facility in Vero Beach, Florida. Air Products will supply gaseous oxygen from a PRISM VSA Oxygen Generation System as well as bulk liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen delivered to the site by trucks. Operations are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2012.
Advanced biofuels plants, such as the Ineos facility, are based on production from non-food feedstocks. This commercial facility is designed to produce eight million gallons per year of bio ethanol fuel and six mw (gross) of renewable electricity from various wastes, including yard, vegetative and household wastes.
“Over the past few years, Air Products has seen growing interest in industrial gas supply for advanced biofuels projects. Participation in the growth of this segment supports Air Products’ clean energy and sustainability initiatives,” said Nelson Squires, VP, North America Merchant Gases, Air Products.
“This supply arrangement with Air Products is a key step in the commercialization of Ineos Bio’s advanced bioenergy technology. We look forward to working with Air Products as we bring this unique technology to the US and global markets to help address the world’s waste management challenges,” said Mark Niederschulte, COO of Ineos Bio.
Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS-2) in the United States are driving substantial project activity in the area of advanced biofuels. Many of these projects require industrial gases, particularly oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen. Global market demand for biofuels is likely to support significant growth in industrial gas use over the next 10 years.
(C) WOC News