Cellulosic ethanol plant in Romania breaks ground

Swiss chemicals company Clariant has officially started construction of the first large-scale commercial sunliquid plant for the production of cellulosic ethanol made from agricultural residues. At the flagship facility, the sunliquid technology developed by the company is being used on an industrial scale for the first time.

The occasion was marked with a traditional groundbreaking ceremony in Podari near Craiova in southwestern Romania, which was attended by official representatives of the Romanian government, the Swiss Ambassador Urs Herren, and a Clariant representation headed by Christian Kohlpaintner, Member of the Executive Committee.

At full capacity, the plant will process around 250,000 tons of wheat and other cereal straw sourced from local farmers to 50,000 tons of cellulosic ethanol annually. By-products from the process will be used for the generation of renewable energy with the goal of making the plant independent from fossil energy sources. The resulting cellulosic ethanol is therefore an advanced biofuel that is practically carbon-neutral.