Project name : Alpha

Feedstock : Energy Grasses

Plant Capacity (Cellulosic Ethanol) : 20 Mil Gallon /year

Ground breaking: Q2 2016

Planned Plant start-up: Q3 2018

Biochemtex is planning to build an integrated bio-refinery in Clinton, North Carolina, USA, using the PROESA™ technology. The plant will produce 75 million litres / year of second generation bioethanol from cost-advantaged non-food feedstock including high yielding energy grasses grown on under-utilized acreage that is abundantly available in the local area.

In August 2012 the Alpha Project received a conditional loan guarantee for 99 million dollars from the U.S. Department of Agriculture under its 9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program. The project has also received support in the form of BCAP monies to support local landowners and farmers with the establishment costs for selected perennial grasses.

The project is expected to create approximately 70 new direct jobs and 250 indirect jobs in North Carolina. It will also support the State’s objective in replacing 10% of all of its transportation fuels with a renewable and non-food based component.

This is the first commercial scale cellulosic ethanol project in the U.S. premised on purpose-grown non-food feedstocks. This model will support the development of the biofuels industry through cost competitive supply chains, new jobs and revenue in rural areas needing re-vitalization.