日本経済新聞　2006/5/11

米エタノール産業拡大　株式公開で資金調達　精製所建設ラッシュ


　全米各地で精製所の建設ラッシュが始まった。ニューヨーク州では州政府が６００万ドルを補助し夏から建設に着手するほか、原料のトウモロコシの主要生産地であるイリノイ、インディアナなど中西部で活発だ。業界団体の米再生燃料協会によると、建設中の３５カ所を加えると約１３０カ所になり、一連の新増設が終わる来年半ばには年間生産能力は昨年末時点の４３億ガロンから６７億ガロンに増える見込み。
　米の約４分の１を生産する最大手アーチャー・ダニエルズ・ミッドランド(ADM)は農作物の加工が中心だったが、エタノールを中心とするエネルギー企業へと変身しつつある。最近、米石油大手シェブロンからパトリシア・ウォルツ上級副社長を最高経営責任者(CEO)に迎えた。
　生産量２位のベラサンエナジー、３位のアベンティン・リニューアブル・エナジーは先月、相次いで米証券取引委員会(SEC)に株式の新規公開を申請した。それぞれ１億５千万ドル、５千万ドルを調達し、精製所の建設資金に充てる。
　

エタノール関税　米で軽減策検討も　ガソリン高抑制期待

　米国の輸入の大半を占めるブラジル産エタノールには１ガロン当たり54セントの関税がかかる。ブラジルのエタノールはサトウキビから主に作られるが、米国産エタノールの原料はトウモロコシ。米国の関税には政治的にも一定の影響力を持つアイオワ、イリノイ両州などのトウモロコシ農家を保護する狙いがある。

米国　エタノール能力　（百万ガロン）2006/1 RFU
http://www.ethanolrfa.org/objects/pdf/outlook/outlook_2006.pdf

2005 World Ethanol Production - All grades, in millions of gallons　Source: F.O. Licht
USA 4264　Brazil 4227　China 1004　India 449　France 240　Russia 198　South Africa 103　Germany 114
Total 12150

Archer Daniels Midland
米カーギル(非上場)に次ぐ米国第2位の穀物商社。2002年､エタノール生産で競合していたミネソタ･コーン･プロセッサーズ(ＭＣＰ)を買収し､同事業で米国首位の地位を固めた。2006年5月､元シェブロン上級副社長のパトリシア･ウォルツをＣＥＯに招聘し､エネルギー関連事業強化を図る。

Corn processor merges with ADM　2002/7/12

Minnesota Corn Processors LLC has agreed to merge with a subsidiary of agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland in a move that would bolster ADM's market-leading ethanol production capacity.
MCP was ADM's chief competitor in the ethanol market, and the combined companies would control almost half the US production of ethanol. This hefty market share could benefit from a recently passed Senate energy bill which calls for a tripling in US ethanol production over the next decade.
MCP also produces corn sweeteners and starch products for sale in the beverage and food industries, and owns and operates 19 corn sweetener distribution terminals nationwide.
The company also produces starches for sale to the paper industry, as well as feed products.

VeraSun Energy
サウスダコタ州に本拠地を構える同社は、トウモロコシからエタノールを製造する企業だ。エタノールはアルコール の一種で、他の材料と混ぜて燃料として利用したり、一部では車の主燃料として使われている。同社は現在、年間2億3000万ガロン（約8億7000万リットル）を生産している。計画段階にある工場が完成すれば、2007年には年間3億4000万ガロン（12億9000万リットル）、2008年第1四半期には5億6000万ガロン（約21億2000万リットル）生産できるようになる。

Aventine Renewable Energy, Inc.
Aventine Renewable Energy, Inc. supplies more than 500 million gallons of the nation's growing ethanol needs as a leading producer and marketer of ethanol in the United States.
In 1998, Aventine Renewable Energy, Inc. began its bio-products division to produce dried brewer's yeast and other value added products. Aventine Renewable Energy, Inc. supplies much of the nation's ethanol needs through its wholly-owned plant in Pekin, IL, partially-owned Nebraska Energy plant in Aurora, NE, and business relationships and marketing alliances.

Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
2005年3月､社名をアクセシティから現社名へ変更。同年11月､マイクロソフトのビル・ゲイツ会長の個人投資基金カスケード・インベストメントが8400万ドルを投じて､普通株1050万株に転換可能な優先株を取得したことから注目された。資金調達の目的は米西海岸での燃料添加剤工場建設。
ビル・ゲイツの同社持株比率は28％となる。

Platts 2006/5/10

US' Archer Daniels Midland to build new ethanol plant in Iowa

Large US ethanol producer Archer Daniels Midland will build a dry corn milling plant with an annual capacity of 275 million gallons in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as part of a two-step project to boost its output of the gasoline additive, the company said Wednesday.

朝日新聞　2006/6/12

ガソリン、バイオエタノール混合に転換　３０年まで

　環境省は、国内で使用される自動車のガソリンの全量を、２０３０年までに植物資源からつくるバイオエタノール１０％混合（Ｅ１０）に切り替える方針を決めた。京都議定書の約束期間（０８〜１２年）に、ガソリン車の新車すべてをＥ１０対応とするための関係法令も整備する。５月末の「新・国家エネルギー戦略」で運輸エネルギーの脱石油化を打ち出した経済産業省と連携し、来年にも見直す京都議定書目標達成計画に政府方針として盛り込む。

　計画ではまず、約束期間中に、ガソリン需要の最大２分の１程度を３％混合させたガソリン（Ｅ３）に切り替える。２０年にはＥ１０の供給を始め、３０年には全量のＥ１０化を目指す。これに伴うＣＯ２削減量は全量転換時までに約１千万トンと試算。３０年時点のバイオエタノール導入量は、原油換算で２２０万キロリットルを見込む。

2006/06/20 日揮

米国でバイオエタノール生産事業に参画
-- 廃木材原料エタノール生産の事業開発基本協定を締結 --

　日揮株式会社(代表取締役会長兼CEO 重久吉弘、横浜本社 横浜市西区みなとみらい2-3-1)は、米国で廃木材を原料とする自動車燃料用バイオエタノール製造・販売事業を実施するため、このほど米国の事業パートナーとの間で事業開発基本協定を締結しましたのでお知らせします。事業計画の詳細は以下の通りです。

　当社は以前より農作物の茎や芯、廃木材などの木質系残渣等バイオマス資源の燃料化技術に着目し、アルケノール社との独占提携により同社が所有するバイオエタノール製造特許技術の商業化実証研究を続けてきました。2002年には鹿児島県出水市の(独)新エネルギー・産業技術総合開発機構(NEDO)出水アルコール工場内に、NEDOの委託事業としてパイロットプラント(実証装置)を建設し、当社が持つプロセス技術・開発技術の工業化ノウハウを組み合わせることで本技術の商業化への技術蓄積を行なってきました。

日本経済新聞　2006/6/24 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　セルロースからのエタノール

欧州石油大手　バイオ燃料投資本格化
　BP、技術開発に5億ドル
　シェル欧米で量産体制

　BPはバイオ技術に優れる英米の有力大学と提携、バイオ燃料開発の専門研究所を創設する。植物原料からバイオ燃料への効率的な生産技術や燃料に転換できる新たな植物の研究を急ぐ。ジョン・ブラウン社長は「医薬品分野を大きく変えたバイオ技術はエネルギー分野でも重要な役割を果たす」と強調する。
　BPは昨年、太陽光や風力の発電など代替エネルギー分野に１０年間で８０億ドルを投資する計画を決定した。今回のバイオ燃料への投資は追加案件で、バイオ燃料の研究だけで５億ドルの投資はエネルギー業界で最大規模だ。２０日には米デュポンとバイオ燃料の量産などの事業化で提携することも発表した。
　シェルはカナダのバイオ燃料大手企業であるイノゲン（正しくは Iogen)と欧米で合弁生産に乗り出す方針だ。イノゲンはトウモロコシの茎など植物の非食用部分を燃料に転換する技術を持ち、低コストの生産が可能。シェルは２００７年にもイノゲンが北米で建設する量産工場に投資し、年１．５億−２億リットルの生産分の大半を自社向けに調達する考えだ。イノゲンとは欧州工場の新設でも協力する。
　スペインの石油大手レプソルYPFは家庭の廃食油などから生産するバイオディーゼル燃料で世界最大規模の生産拠点を建設する。０９年までに３億ユーロ(４４０億円)を投資し、スペイン内に６カ所の工場を立ち上げる。欧州では新車登録台数のほぼ５割がディーゼル車で、潜在需要は大きいと判断した。

2006/6/14　BP

BP Pledges $500 Million for Energy Biosciences Institute and Plans New Business to Exploit Research
http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7018719

As part of its continuing drive to find longer term commercial alternatives to oil and gas, BP is to fund radical research aimed at probing the emerging secrets of bioscience and applying them to the production of new and cleaner energy, principally fuels for road transport.

The company plans to spend $500 million over the next ten years to establish a dedicated biosciences energy research laboratory attached to a major academic centre in the US or UK, the first facility of its kind in the world.

Chief executive Lord Browne said BP had begun discussions with several leading universities to identify which could host the BP Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI), with the aim of launching early research programmes by the end of 2007.

2005/11/28 BP

BP Forms BP Alternative Energy 　
http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=2012968&contentId=7012352

BP today announced that it plans to double its investment in alternative and renewable energies to create a new low-carbon power business with the growth potential to deliver revenues of around $6 billion a year within the next decade.

Building on the success of BP Solar - which expects to hit revenues of $1 billion in 2008 - BP Alternative Energy will manage an investment programme in solar, wind, hydrogen and combined-cycle-gas-turbine (CCGT) power generation, which could amount to $8 billion over the next ten years.

CCGT 複合サイクルガスタービン:
In a CCGT plant, a gas turbine generator generates electricity and the waste heat from the gas turbine is used to make steam to generate additional electricity via a steam turbine, this last step enhances the efficiency of electricity generation. Most new gas power plants are of this type.

Browne said the first phase of investment would total some $1.8 billion over the next three years, spread in broadly equal proportions between solar, wind, hydrogen and CCGT power generation. Investment will be made step by step, and will depend on the nature of opportunities and their profitability.


BP currently has more than 100 megawatts of solar manufacturing capacity in the US, Spain, India and Australia, with a plan to double its capacity before the end of next year. BP recently signed a strategic joint venture to access China’s expanding solar market and provide local manufacturing capacity and is exploring similar opportunities elsewhere in the region.

Investment in hydrogen fuels will include the world’s first commercial project - at Peterhead, in Scotland - to turn natural gas into hydrogen by stripping out carbon dioxide and pumping it into depleted oil reservoirs.

The hydrogen will be used at a power station in Peterhead to generate 350 megawatts of ‘clean’ electricity, and the carbon dioxide re-injected into the offshore Miller field. BP is looking at a similar sequestration scheme to make hydrogen from low-value coke by-products at a US refinery which would be used to generate 500 megawatts at an adjacent new-build power plant.

Investment projected for wind represents a significant step up in this area of power generation for BP. The company currently runs two wind farms alongside existing oil plants in the Netherlands. It also owns industrial land in open, high-wind regions of the US, away from residential areas, providing the possibility to build the first large-scale US wind farm generating up to 200 megawatts in 2007. The company has identified enough US sites to accommodate wind turbines with a total capacity of 2,000 megawatts.

Projected investment in CCGT will be spent mainly in the US where the company already has significant co-generation capacity and is currently finalising plans for a new $400 million scheme at one of its major plants that will deliver 100 megawatts of power to the plant, and 420 megawatts to the local electricity grid.

BP Alternative Energy will be based in Sunbury, Middlesex and initially employ some 2,500 people around the world. It will be headed by Steve Westwell, reporting to Vivienne Cox, chief executive of BP’s Gas, Power & Renewables division.

Renewable energy- ethanol
Production  (Thousand tonnes of oil equivalent)

http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/publications/energy_reviews_2006/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/pdf/table_of_ethanol_production_2006.pdf

About Iogen
http://www.iogen.ca/

Established in the 1970s, Iogen Corporation has become one of Canada's leading biotechnology firms. Iogen is an industrial manufacturer of enzyme products with a focus on products for use by the pulp and paper, textile and animal feed industries. It also is the world leader in technology to produce cellulose ethanol, a fully renewable, advanced biofuel that can be used in today's cars.

Iogen is a privately held company, based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, with a rapidly growing work force. Public and private investment in Iogen has totaled approximately $130 million over the past 25 years. Major investors include the Royal Dutch/Shell Group, Petro-Canada and the Government of Canada. Iogen employs a staff of approximately 180 people, with over half involved in research and development, and engineering; one fifth in manufacturing; and the balance in sales, marketing, and administration.

Cellulose ethanol can significantly:
・lower overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
・reduce reliance on imported oil and increase energy security
・help build rural economies and improve farm income

Cellulose ethanol is one of the most cost effective ways to reduce GHGs and gasoline consumption in road transport and can deliver benefits similar to improved vehicle efficiency.

Iogen built and operates the world's only demonstration scale facility to convert biomass to cellulose ethanol using enzyme technology. This facility is located in Ottawa. Iogen is currently assessing potential locations for the world's first commercial prototype cellulose ethanol plant.

In the long-term, Iogen intends to commercialize its cellulose ethanol process by licensing its technology broadly through turnkey plant construction partnerships. License fees and the supply of enzymes to the licensees' plants will generate income.

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Partners
Iogen has several partners that benefit from the company´s enzyme expertise. Active research and business relationships include:

The Royal Dutch/Shell Group
In 2002, after a worldwide search for the leading options in biofuels, Royal Dutch/Shell Group selected Iogen as a development partner. Shell invested C$46 million in Iogen, and the two companies are cooperating on commercialization. Shell is one of the world's largest integrated oil companies, and is committed to expanding its sustainable development practices.

Goldman Sachs & Co
In 2006, Goldman Sachs & Co. of New York became the first major Wall Street firm to make a commitment to cellulose ethanol by investing C$30 million in Iogen’s cellulose ethanol technology, giving it a minority stake in Iogen. The funds will be used to accelerate Iogen’s commercialization program. Goldman Sachs & Co. is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm and is a leading investor in renewable and alternative energy.

Petro-Canada
In 1997, Petro-Canada signed a partnership with Iogen to further develop cellulose ethanol technology. With a $15.8 million investment from Petro-Canada, Iogen built the company's pre-commercial demonstration plant. In December 2003, Petro-Canada extended it's investment in Iogen´s EcoEthanol? program. Petro-Canada is one of Canada's largest integrated oil companies.

Government of Canada
The Government of Canada has been a development partner of Iogen's for several years through different Canadian federal government departments. These include the National Research Council (NRC), Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN), and Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC). Iogen partnered with the NRC in 1994 to develop unique enzymes for the pulp and paper industry. In April 1997, Iogen released the world's first improved xylanase using biotechnology for pulp bleaching. In January 1999, Iogen entered into a partnership with TPC and secured a $10-million loan to help build its ethanol demonstration facility in Ottawa.

DSM
Since 1991, DSM (formerly Roche Vitamins) has had a supply agreement with Iogen for the exclusive manufacture and distribution of animal feed enzymes sold under the brand name Roxazyme G2. These enzymes enhance the performance of animal feeds in poultry and swine diets. DSM is the world's largest maker of vitamins and a major supplier to the animal feed industry.

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2006/1/8　Volkswagen, Shell and Iogen

Volkswagen, Shell and Iogen to Study Feasibility of Producing Cellulose Ethanol in Germany

Volkswagen, Shell and Iogen Corporation announced today that they will conduct a joint study to assess the economic feasibility of producing cellulose ethanol in Germany. This advanced biofuel produced by Iogen can be used in today’s cars and can cut CO2 emissions by 90% compared with conventional fuels.
Iogen’s cellulose ethanol is a fully renewable advanced biofuel made from the non-food portion of agriculture residue such as cereal straws and corn stover, and is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in road transport. Iogen’s cellulose ethanol technology is the result of more than 25 years of research and development. The company operates the world’s only cellulose ethanol demonstration-scale facility and made the first commercial shipments of this fuel in April 2004.

2004/4/22 Shell

Shell’s Iogen venture now producing cellulose ethanol fuel

Today, Shell Global Solutions International B.V. confirmed that Iogen Corporation (Iogen), a world-leading bio-fuels technology company, is successfully producing the world’s first cellulose ethanol fuel available for commercial use.

Replacing part of the fossil-derived transportation fuel with biomass-derived products can be an effective way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions - thus contributing significantly to sustainable solutions.

Shell Global Solutions have world-leading expertise in fuel research, technology implementation, project execution, manufacturing, distribution and blending. Working together, Shell Global Solutions and Iogen are combining Shell’s expertise with Iogen’s innovative cellulose ethanol technology to ensure commercial success for this venture.

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Bio-fuels
http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=royal-en&FC3=/royal-en/html/iwgen/what_we_do/oil_products/biofuels_0316.html&FC2=/royal-en/html/iwgen/what_we_do/oil_products/zzz_lhn.html

Fuel-ethanol is used in large quantities in Brazil, where it is produced from sugar cane, and in the USA, where it is made from corn. Sugar cane may replace well over 10 percent of all gasoline used in tropical regions, where it is grown. Corn and cereals are less productive, more expensive and in competition with the food industry.  Greater potential exists in new technologies that convert the cellulose contained in plant residues, such as straw and stems, into sugars.  One of the most advanced companies in this field is IOGEN. Shell has formed a partnership with this Canadian-based company, to bring this technology to the benefit of consumers.

2006/2/2 Shell

Meeting the energy challenge - Shell’s commitment to alternative energy
New developments in Biofuels, Wind, Solar and Hydrogen announced

Royal Dutch Shell plc provided an update of its activities in alternative energy including Biofuels, Wind, Solar and Hydrogen. Shell has now invested over US$1 billion in alternative energies, making it one of the world’s leading companies in the sector.


In partnership with Iogen of Canada, cellulose ethanol Biofuels are being successfully produced from plant waste. By producing Biofuels from plant waste instead of food crops, the potential stress on the food chain is alleviated. The Iogen process produces a fuel which can be used in today's cars, cutting CO2 lifecycle emissions by 90% compared with conventional fuels. Shell recently announced a Memorandum of Understanding with Volkswagen and Iogen to explore the economic feasibility of producing cellulose ethanol in Germany. Shell Canada has been working with Iogen to develop a viable commercial framework for a facility in Canada.

These projects complement Shell’s existing partnership with CHOREN Industries of Germany. CHOREN have a patented Biomass-gasification process that converts biomass - such as woodchips - into ultra-clean synthetic gas that can then be converted for use in diesel through Shell’s Gas- to-Liquids technology. CHOREN is preparing construction for the world’s first commercial biomass-to-liquids facility in Freiberg, Germany.

Wind is currently one of the most promising sources of renewable energy.

Shell also announced a Memorandum of Understanding today outlining plans to explore the potential for wind energy developments in China in partnership with Guohua Energy Investment Corporation of the China Shenhua Group, a leading national energy supplier.

In the area of Solar energy, Shell has been progressing the next generation of technologies, including CIS ‘thin-film’. Shell believes that non-silicon based technologies such as CIS are more likely to become competitive with retail electricity in the coming years. Shell’s CIS technology is supported by four years of manufacturing and marketing experience. The technology recently achieved a 13.5% world record efficiency for thin-film products, and is supported by International Electrotechnical Commission certification.

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CHOREN 　http://www.choren.com/en/choren/company/
is one of the world’s leading gasification technology companies for solid biomass and oil based residue feedstock.

The center-piece of the technology is the patented Carbo-V^® process that made the production of tar-free synthetic combustion gas possible and provided the breakthrough for the conversion of biomass to energy.

The Carbo-VR Process is a three-stage gasification process involving the following sub-processes:
　low temperature gasification,
　high temperature gasification and
　endothermic entrained bed gasification.

During the first stage of the process, the biomass (with a water content of 15 - 20 %) is continually carbonized through partial oxidation (low temperature pyrolysis) with air or oxygen at temperatures between 400 and 500 °C, i.e. it is broken down into a gas containing tar (volatile parts) and solid carbon (char).

During the second stage of the process, the gas containing tar is post-oxidized hypostoichiometrically using air and/or oxygen in a combustion chamber operating above the melting point of the fuel’s ash to turn it into a hot gasification medium.

During the third stage of the process, the char is ground down into pulverized fuel and is blown into the hot gasification medium. The pulverized fuel and the gasification medium react endothermically in the gasification reactor and are converted into a raw synthesis gas. Once this has been treated in the appropriate manner, it can be used as a combustible gas for generating electricity, steam and heat or as a synthesis gas for producing SunDiesel.

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CIS太陽電池とは

CISとは主原料である銅(Copper)インジウム(Indium)セレン(Selenium)の頭文字をとった薄膜系の太陽電池です。
このCIS太陽電池の特長は以下の4点です。
1)従来型の結晶シリコン系太陽電池とは異なる全く新しい構造の薄膜化合物系太陽電池です。
2)シリコンを使用しないので、結晶系で危惧されている原料不足問題に影響されません。
3)鉛やカドミウムなどの物質を使用していない環境対応型商品です。
4)外観は結晶系とは異なり、黒一色の落ち着いたデザインとなっています。

日本経済新聞　2006/6/25

エネルギーの理科　植物資源
　森林を"油田"に変える　酵素で糖に分解 アルコール燃料

　中国地方の山あい、幽玄なヒノキの森に囲まれた真新しいアルコール工場がある。木くずからエタノールなどアルコールをつくる国内唯一の施設だ。三井造船と新エネルギー・産業技術総合開発機構(NEDO)が昨年６月に建設した三井造船真庭バイオエタノール実証プラント（岡山県真庭市)。ここで、森林を"油田"のようなエネルギー源に変える壮大な実験が進んでいる。　工場ではヒノキの木くずを硫酸で処理し、酵素の入ったタンク内で分解する。木くず成分のほとんどを占めるセルロースは糖が鎖状に長く連なった分子構造。酵素がハサミのように鎖を切り、ばらばらの糖にする。
　できた糖は別のタンクで酵母を混ぜ、発酵させてアルコールに変える。この反応は酒を造るのと同じだ。約４日で乾燥重量１トンの木くずが２３０キログラムのエタノールになる。できたエタノールはガソリンに混ぜ、自動車の燃料に使っている。
　そもそも、燃料にする植物資源は大きく２つに分かれる。１つは、最初から、でんぷんなど発酵が容易な糖分として採取される部分を使う方法で、トウモロコシなら実の部分にあたる。現在盛んな燃料化はほとんどがこれ。ただし、食料をわざわざ燃料にしている側面がある。
　もう１つはセルロースを使う方法で、トウモロコシなら軸や葉、茎の部分。ほとんどエネルギー利用は進んでいない。しかし、木くず、稲わら、麦わら、建築廃材、紙くず、果ては雑草まで、世界はセルロースの廃棄物であふれている。なぜ、あり余る資源を利用しないのだろうか。

　ヒントはヤギ。人間は紙を食べても消化できないが、ヤギは紙のセルロースを糖に変え、消化できる。胃の中にセルロース分解酵素を放出する微生物を住まわせているからだ。微生物の反応ならエネルギーは少ない。三井造船などの実証プラントの分解酵素も、微生物から得たものだ。

NEDO　木質系バイオマスを主原料とするエタノール製造技術実証試験事業 　　　　　　「酵素を利用したセルロースの糖化」技術 　　　　　　「Ｃ５糖、Ｃ６糖の同時発酵が可能な遺伝子組換え菌を利用する発酵」技術
	�@ 原料チップの供給 　原料貯蔵ホッパに重機で供給 �A 1次糖化（ヘミセルロースの糖化） ・ 糖化反応槽に原料チップ、水、硫黄系酸触媒を供給 ・ スチームを槽内に供給し、160℃、0.8〜1MPa程度で加圧保持しへミセルロースをＣ５糖に糖化 ・ 処理後のスラリーはフィルタープレスで固液分離 分離液にはＣ５糖や酸触媒等の可溶化物、 固形分にはリグニンとセルロース �B 2次糖化（セルロースの糖化） ・ 固形分を酵素糖化槽に供給し、セルロースをＣ６糖に糖化 �C 発酵 ・ Ｃ５糖およびＣ６糖の糖液を醗酵槽に供給 ・ 発酵菌として遺伝子組換え操作をしたＣ５糖、Ｃ６糖の同時発酵が可能な酵母を利用 ・ Ｃ５糖発酵、Ｃ６糖発酵は、それぞれ約24時間のバッチ処理 �D 蒸留 ・ 発酵液を蒸留塔へ供給 ・ 蒸留塔で、およそ85％の濃度にエタノールを濃縮 �E 膜脱水 ・ 濃縮エタノールを膜脱水装置（高機能膜ゼオライト膜装置）に供給し、無水エタノール（99.5%以上）を回収 �F リグニンの回収 ・ 廃液に含まれるリグニンをフィルタープレスで分離回収 ・ 脱水したリグニン（含水率50〜60%）は、近隣の製材所等で材木乾燥用ボイラー燃料に利用す る予定

July 7, 2006 U.S. Department of Energy

DOE Publishes Roadmap for Developing Cleaner Fuels
Research Aimed at Making Cellulosic Ethanol a Practical Alternative to Gasoline

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today released an ambitious new research agenda for the development of cellulosic ethanol as an alternative to gasoline. The 200-page scientific “roadmap” cites recent advances in biotechnology that have made cost-effective production of ethanol from cellulose, or inedible plant fiber, an attainable goal. The report outlines a detailed research plan for developing new technologies to transform cellulosic ethanol?a renewable, cleaner-burning, and carbon-neutral alternative to gasoline?into an economically viable transportation fuel.

“Cellulosic ethanol has the potential to be a major source for transportation fuel for America’s energy future,” Under Secretary for Science Raymond L. Orbach said. “Low production cost and high efficiency require transformational changes in processing cellulose to ethanol. DOE’s Genomics: GTL program is poised to help do just that.”

The roadmap responds directly to the goal recently announced by Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman of displacing 30 percent of 2004 transportation fuel consumption with biofuels by 2030. This goal was set in response to the President's Advanced Energy Initiative.

The roadmap identifies the research required for overcoming challenges to the large-scale production of cellulosic ethanol to help meet this goal, including maximizing biomass feedstock productivity, developing better processes by which to break down cellulosic materials into sugars, and optimizing the fermentation process to convert sugars to ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol is derived from the fibrous, woody and generally inedible portions of plant matter (biomass).

The focus of the research plan is to use advances in biotechnology -- first developed in the Human Genome Project and continued in the Genomics: GTL program in the Department’s Office of Science -- to jump-start a new fuel industry whose products can be transported, stored and distributed with only modest modifications to the existing infrastructure and can fuel many of today’s vehicles.

The new roadmap was developed during a December 2005 workshop hosted jointly by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research in the Office of Science and the Office of the Biomass Program in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The success of the plan relies heavily on the continuation of the partnership between the two offices established at that workshop.

“Biofuels represent a tremendous opportunity to move our nation toward a reduced dependence on imported oil,” DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander Karsner said. “We fully intend to use all of our resources and talent to support the President’s goal of breaking our addiction to oil, while also enhancing our energy security.”

The report, “Breaking the Biological Barriers to Cellulosic Ethanol: A Joint Research Agenda,” and a fact sheet on the report may be viewed at 　http://www.doegenomestolife.org/biofuels/.

2006/9/14 ホンダ

ＲＩＴＥとＨｏｎｄａ、セルロース系バイオマスからのエタノール製造新技術を共同開発

　財団法人 地球環境産業技術研究機構（RITE）とHondaの研究開発子会社である株式会社 本田技術研究所（以下Honda）は、植物由来の再生可能資源であるソフトバイオマス※1からエタノールを製造する技術に関する共同研究の成果を発表した。


　既存の技術では、主にソフトバイオマスからセルロース類を分離する工程で副次的に生成される醗酵阻害物質が、糖をアルコールに変換する微生物の働きを妨げ、エタノールの収率が極めて低くなる。これが、ソフトバイオマスからのアルコール製造の大きな障害になっており、解決する策は今まで見出されていなかった。

　今回、RITEの開発した糖をアルコールに変換する微生物であるRITE菌を使い、Hondaのエンジニアリング技術を活用し、醗酵阻害物質による悪影響を大幅に減少させるRITE-Hondaプロセスの開発に成功、従来のセルロース系バイオエタノール製造プロセスと比較してアルコール変換の効率を飛躍的に向上させることが可能となった。

2006年11月13日　朝日新聞　　　

輸入義務米をバイオ燃料に　農水省、エタノール化推進

　農林水産省は、在庫が積み上がっている政府の最低輸入義務（ミニマムアクセス）米を、ガソリンの代替燃料として期待されるバイオエタノールの原料として活用する方針を固めた。米や麦などからエタノールを生産する民間工場で、原料が足りなくなった場合に利用する。年間２００億円を超える輸入義務米の保管費用削減との一石二鳥を狙っているが、売却価格は買い入れ価格を下回り、損失が出るのは確実とみられる。

　最低輸入義務にもとづく輸入米の在庫は、今年３月末時点で２０３万トン（玄米換算）に上り、主食用国産米の年間需要の４分の１にあたる。全国各地の倉庫で保管する費用は、今年度は２１７億円に上る見込みだ。

　政府は９３年にコメ自由化を受け入れ、高関税を課す代わりに一定量の輸入義務を受け入れた。現在は米国、豪州、中国、タイなどから年間約７７万トン輸入している。

日本経済新聞　2006/11/16 　　　　

帝人、バイオ燃料に参入　欧州に生産会社　25%出資　軽油代替、現地企業と組む

　
生産会社はバイオメタノールケミホールディング(オランダ)で、帝人は２５%に相当する１５００万ユーロ(約２２億５千万円)を出資した。新会社には現地でバイオ燃料の開発・供給を手掛けるイーコンサーン(オランダ)が約３５%出資したほか、現地の投資会社２社も出資した。

各社のバイオ燃料への取り組み
三井物産
　・ブラジル国営石油会社ペトロブラスと同国での生産・輸出拡充に向けた事業化調査
　・ペトロブラス、ブラジル鉄鉱石大手リオドセと同国でのエタノール物流効率化に向け事業化調査
丸紅
　・07年からサッポロビール、月島機械とタイでサトウキビを原料にエタノール生産
　・07年から大成建設、サッポロビールなどと堺市で建設廃材を原料にエタノール生産
伊藤忠商事
　・ブラジル政府系企業などと同国東部でバイオエタノール、バイオディーゼルの生産工場を建設、２０１０年めどに対日輸出

トヨタ自動車
　・07年春にブラジルでエタノールだけで走る「カローラ」投入
　・08年にも北米で混合比85%まで対応の小型トラック発売へ
ホンダ
　・ブラジルで混合比20-100%対応の「シビック」「フィット」を年内に発売
　・稲わらや茎などからエタノールを製造する技術をRITEと共同開発。2-3年内に量産技術を確立

日産自動車
　・欧米でエタノール車投入を準備中
デンソー
　・エタノールによる腐食などを防ぐ部品の開発強化
新日本石油
　・トヨタ自動車とバイオディーゼル燃料を共同開発

Asahi 2007年01月25日 　

新燃料、日米アクセル　経産省・業界が作業着手

　甘利経済産業相は２４日、日本自動車工業会、石油連盟両首脳との懇談会を開き、バイオ燃料など次世代自動車燃料の普及に向けた官民共同作業に着手した。米国ではブッシュ大統領が、代替燃料利用などでガソリン消費を今後１０年間で２割減らす新方針を表明。活発化する日米の石油代替エネルギー政策の背景には、安全保障や環境対策の強化に加え、自動車業界などの戦略もある

日本経済新聞　2007/4/18

バイオ燃料　直接混合か化合物利用


直接混合では蒸発で光化学スモッグの原因物質が増え、水分が混入しガソリンと分離すると自動車部品の腐食につながるとの意見がある。一方でETBEは安全性の確認が必要との指摘もある。

海外でのバイオエタノールの利用

Platts 2008/5/16

Bill Gates investment vehicle slashes Pacific Ethanol stake

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has been selling off his stake in beleaguered West Coast ethanol producer Pacific Ethanol, slashing the shares held by his Cascade Investment company to 1.4 million from 10.5 million over the last six months, according to securities filings.

High corn costs and planned new capacity is weighing down US ethanol industry stock prices.

---

May 06, 2008 CNN:

Gates beneficially owns, through his investment firm Cascade Investment LLC, 9.5 million shares, or an 18.5 percent stake based on 41.8 million shares outstanding as of April 23. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Cascade owns 7.5 million shares upon conversion of 3.75 million shares of Series A preferred stock and another 2 million shares directly.

Previously, Gates reported owning about 10.5 million shares, or a 21 percent stake in the Sacramento, Calif.-based ethanol producer.

ethanolproducer.com 2008/5/8

According to a filing May 5 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates has reduced his holdings in Pacific Ethanol Inc. to 9.5 million, down from 10.5 million, out of 41.8 million shares outstanding. As a result, Gates’ stake is reduced from 21 percent, or 10.5 million shares, to 18.5 percent in the Sacramento, Calif.-based corn ethanol producer and marketer.

Cascade owns 21 percent of Pacific Ethanol and has lost approximately $60 million on the stock since August. Cascade invested $84 million in the company in 2005.

According to a March SEC filing by Pacific Ethanol, “based on our current number of shares of common stock outstanding, Cascade Investment LLC has approximately 19 percent and Lyles United LLC has approximately 13 percent of all outstanding voting power as compared to approximately 8 percent of all outstanding voting power held in aggregate by our current executive officers and directors.”

---

Pacific Ethanol has ethanol plants in Madera, Calif.; Boardman, Ore.; and Burley, Idaho and has an additional plant under construction in Stockton, Calif.

　

Pacific Ethanol was an up-and-coming pioneer in the West Coast biofuels movement when Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft Corp., agreed in November 2005 to buy $84 million worth of preferred stock. Shares in the company, then based in Fresno, jumped 10 percent on the news.

The past year has brought tough times. Profits have been depressed by a supply glut and the rising price of corn - the main ingredient in ethanol - and the company was staggered by millions in construction cost overruns. In March, Pacific Ethanol reported a $14.7 million fourth-quarter loss and was forced to sell $40 million in preferred shares to a contractor to ease a cash squeeze.

Nonetheless, the company has said it's still optimistic about ethanol's long-term outlook and is forging ahead with a plan to lock up the Western U.S. market. It recently opened its third wholly owned plant, in Idaho. A fourth plant, in Stockton, is under construction.

　

----------
International Herald Tribune 2007/11/19

Gates's investment fund to sell shares in ethanol producer

Cascade Investment, a company owned by Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, is preparing to sell its shares in Pacific Ethanol, which has lost almost two-thirds of its market value this year.

Cascade, which owns a 21 percent stake in the company, will convert its preferred stock to 10.5 million common shares and offer them to the public, according to a Pacific Ethanol filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. At the closing price Friday, Gates has lost $24 million on the investment. He paid $84 million for his stake in 2005.

Pacific Ethanol, based in Sacramento, California, has fallen 63 percent this year in Nasdaq composite trading, as the burgeoning 急成長する supply of the fuel additive drove prices down 25 percent. The company reported a third-quarter loss last week of $4.8 million.


Pacific Ethanol produces about 80 million gallons, or 190 million liters, of the additive annually at its plants in Madera, California, and Boardman, Oregon. The company owns a 42 percent stake in a 48 million-gallon plant in Windsor, Colorado.


There are 131 ethanol distilleries in the United States, with the capacity to produce seven billion gallons of the fuel annually, according to the Renewable Fuels Association in Washington. Seventy-two plants under construction will almost double current production.

POET of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is the largest U.S. ethanol producer. Archer Daniels Midland, based in Decatur, Illinois, is the second biggest.

http://www.ethanolrfa.org/industry/locations/

Company		Current Capacity (mgy)	Under Construction/ Expansions (mgy)
POET		1,253	282
Archer Daniels Midland		1,070	550
Pacific Ethanol	Madera, CA	40
	Boardman, OR	40
	Burley, ID	60
	Stockton, CA		50
	(Total)	(140)	(50)
Front Range Energy (Pacific Ethanolが42%保有）	Windsor, Colorado	48

April 29, 2008 　Pacific Ethanol, Inc., the largest West Coast-based marketer and producer of ethanol, today announced start-up is complete at its Magic Valley production facility in Burley, Idaho. 

The 60 million gallon per year Burley facility is located on 177 acres, with access to the Union Pacific Railroad, Eastern Idaho Railroad, and Interstate 84. 

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ＮＥＤＯ海外レポート 2008.2.20

小規模バイオリファイナリー・プロジェクトにDOE が助成（米国）
―商業規模の1／10 サイズの設備に最大1 億1,400 万ドル―

　2008 年1 月、米国エネルギー省(DOE)サミュエル・ボードマン長官は、4 件の小規模バイオリファイナリー・プロジェクトに、4 年間(2007〜2010 予算年度)で最大1 億1,400 万ドルの助成を行うことを発表した。このプロジェクトは、コロラド州コマース・シティ、ミズーリ州セント・ジョセフ、オレゴン州ボードマン、ウィスコンシン州ウィスコンシンラピッズで実施される。2012 年までにコスト競争力のあるセルロース系エタノールを製造するというブッシュ大統領の目標を達成するため、商業規模の1／10 サイズのバイオリファイナリーで様々な原料を使用して新規変換技術をテストし、商業規模のバイオリファイナリーの稼動に必要なデータを取る。商業規模のバイオリファイナリーは平均で一日700トンの原料を処理し、年間約2,000〜3,000 万ガロンの生産量であるため、今回の小規模プラントでは一日約70 トンの原料処理で年間250 万ガロンの生産量を見込んでいる。

１）ICM 社（カンザス州Colwich）、DOE の助成予定額は最大3,000 万ドル
　ミズーリ州セント・ジョセフに建設予定であり、農業残渣物（トウモロコシの繊維や茎葉、スイッチグラス、ソルガムなど）を含む多様で今日的に意味のある原料を使用する予定である。

２）Lignol Innovations 社（ペンシルベニア州バーウィン）、DOE の助成予定額は最大3,000 万ドル
　コロラド州コマース・シティの石油の精製工場と同じ敷地内に併設予定であり、「biochem-organisolve（バイオ化学・有機溶剤）」と呼ばれる溶剤を使用して、硬木や軟木の廃材をエタノールや市販製品に変換する予定である。

３）Pacific Ethanol 社（カリフォルニア州サクラメント）：DOE の助成予定額は最大2,430万ドル
　オレゴン州ボードマンに建設予定であり、BioGasol 社が独自開発した変換プロセスを用いて農業残渣物と森林残渣物をエタノールに変換する。Pacific Ethanol社は米国西部でも有数の再生可能な低炭素燃料の製造業者である。カリフォルニア州サクラメントに本社を構える同社は、オレゴン州にある自社のトウモロコシ由来エタノール変換施設にセルロース系エタノールの変換能力を増設することを計画している。

４）Stora Enso North America 社（ウィスコンシン州ウィスコンシンラピッズ）、DOEの助成予定額は最大3,000 万ドル
　ウィスコンシン州ウィスコンシンラピッズに建設予定であり、森林廃棄物を用いてフィッシャー・トロプシュ法 によるディーゼル燃料への変換が計画されている。