Biofuel developer Alternative Energy Technology Center has acquired biofuel processing system provider Meridian Biorefining.
According to Alternative Energy Technology Center (AETE), Meridian’s vertically integrated biorefining system focuses on using non-food cellulosic feedstocks to produce ethanol, gasoline and biocrude which can be further processed to produce a wide range of transportation fuels, chemicals and other compounds.
AETE said that while most other biofuels companies use single product processes designed to produce end products such as ethanol or biodiesel, Meridian’s technology is built on the vertically integrated processing model of petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants.
AETC noted that the entire value of its biological feedstocks is used to produce a wide range of end products, the production of which is determined by seasonal and market-driven demands. This reportedly maximizes output, eliminates waste products and increases the profitability of the refining operation.
Brown Marks, CEO of AETE, said: The acquisition of Meridian advances our work at AETE by bringing us cutting-edge cellulosic processing technology. We expect to complete our commercial scale research facility in the first quarter and be ready to begin producing biofuels during the second quarter of this year.