Renewed Energy: Sugarcane could Fuel the Military Jets?
In the fields of lower Alabama, sugar cane may soon become the new cash crop, harvested to fuel the U.S. Air Force.State leaders and privately held Amyris Biotechnologies envisage a $500 million-$600 million venture that would not only grow sugar cane but also refine it to fill up military jets. Officials hope the first gallon could be sold by 2012 or 2013.
The Amyris project - still in its preliminary stages - is staking its success on the Air Force, whose entire fleet is mandated to have the capability of running on a 50-50 mix of petroleum and alternative fuel. Montgomery, Ala., is home to a large Air Force base. Amyris also aims to supply the Air Force with 30% of its alternative fuel needs nationwide, Chief Executive John Melo said this week.
Most biofuels made in the U.S. are in the form of ethanol distilled from corn, which can be grown over large swaths of the country. Sugar cane can also be used to produce ethanol, but Amyris uses centrifuges to separate the hydrocarbons from water, in much the same way that milk is separated in dairy farms. Amyris plans to find partners to build and operate a refinery that would convert sugar cane to jet fuel.
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The Amyris project - still in its preliminary stages - is staking its success on the Air Force, whose entire fleet is mandated to have the capability of running on a 50-50 mix of petroleum and alternative fuel. Montgomery, Ala., is home to a large Air Force base. Amyris also aims to supply the Air Force with 30% of its alternative fuel needs nationwide, Chief Executive John Melo said this week.
Most biofuels made in the U.S. are in the form of ethanol distilled from corn, which can be grown over large swaths of the country. Sugar cane can also be used to produce ethanol, but Amyris uses centrifuges to separate the hydrocarbons from water, in much the same way that milk is separated in dairy farms. Amyris plans to find partners to build and operate a refinery that would convert sugar cane to jet fuel.
see more
Labels: biofuels
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