The move marks a milestone in the US Administration’s support of clean energy technologies aimed to diversify energy portfolio and help transition the US toward a low-carbon future.
The biorefinery has capacity to produce up to 25 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year, which is enough to avoid 132,000 metric tons of CO2 annually and equivalent to taking 28,000 vehicles off the road.
The plant uses residual biomass solids from the ethanol conversion process to generate 21MW of electricity, which is enough to power itself and provide excess clean renewable power to the local Stevens County community.
The facility will feature an electricity cogeneration component to allow it to operate as a self-sufficient renewable energy producer.
US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said: "As part of the Administration’s all-of-the-above approach to homegrown American energy, the production of cellulosic ethanol creates economic opportunities for rural communities, helps diversify our energy portfolio, and moves us closer to a low-carbon energy future."
Abengoa CEO Manuel Sánchez Ortega said: "The Hugoton plant opening is the result of 10 years of technical development, roughly 40,000 hours of pilot and demonstration plant operation, and the support of the DOE."
