DEERFIELD, IL,
June 18, 2009
(Market Wire) -
Biomass-to-energy company Chemrec was named among Europe's most innovative and promising technology companies at this week's European Tech Tour Cleantech Summit. The company's U.S. subsidiary, Chemrec USA, based in Deerfield, IL, is developing biomass biorefinery opportunities in North America.
The European Tech Tour organizes conferences to bring together growth companies like Chemrec and key European, U.S. and Asian investors and professionals who can assist in their global expansion. From a pool of more than 300 applicants, Chemrec was one of just 24 firms invited to present its technology to a delegation of cleantech investors and professionals from across Europe at the June 17-18 event in Geneva, Switzerland. Chemrec was chosen due to the maturity of its technology, attractive niche focus, flexible bioproducts output and its seasoned management team.
Chemrec CEO Richard J. LeBlanc presented the company's innovative business model which transforms pulp and paper mills into biorefineries. Based on Chemrec's patented gasification technology, the company develops biorefineries that convert the black liquor byproduct of a pulp mill into renewable biofuels, biochemicals or power. Earlier this year Chemrec was selected as one of the Nordic 50 cleantech firms.
Chemrec's second-generation biorefinery technology based on black liquor gasification has been in development for a number of years. Its development plant in Piteå, Sweden -- the only gasification plant in the world producing high-quality synthesis gas based on 100% renewable non-food-crop feedstock -- recently reached 10,000 accumulated operating hours. The syngas will be used to produce second-generation green motor fuels.
The results achieved in the Chemrec plant are being used in the current scale-up of the technology to full-scale commercial size gasifier units for 500 metric tons of black liquor solids per day. The full-scale technology has in several independent evaluations been shown to provide uniquely high greenhouse gas emission reductions, high energy efficiency and provide an opportunity for substantial second-generation biofuels production.
"Chemrec has successfully proven its gasification technology with long run-time at our development plant and is now ready for global expansion," LeBlanc said. "While other firms are trying to complete pilot testing, we are developing full-scale facilities."
To facilitate its ability to ramp-up commercial scale black liquor gasification biorefineries at U.S. pulp mills, Chemrec is actively pursuing U.S. federal and state grants and loan guarantees. When full developed, Chemrec technology also will help revitalize the paper industry and create green jobs.
For more information, contact Rick LeBlanc, CEO, Chemrec, at rick.leblanc@chemrec.se .
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