From wood waste to fuel

03-09-2009: Second-generation biofuels company Range Fuels has formed a strategic relationship with Emerson Process Management to help bring online the first commercial cellulosic biofuels plant in the United States. Range Fuels selected Emerson as its main automation contractor for the new Soperton, Ga., plant, which will use non-edible biomass such as timber and wood waste generated by nearby forest industry operations to produce more than 100 million gallons of ethanol and methanol annually. Emerson also is the main automation contractor for Range Fuels’ existing pilot plant in Denver, which was designed to optimize the proprietary and patented thermo-chemical process that converts timber and wood feedstock into fuel.

“We expect to shorten our project cycles and ramp up to production target levels safely and efficiently with Emerson’s assistance,” said Bill Schafer, senior vice president, business development, Range Fuels. “Our intent is to replicate this plant and to strategically establish additional plants near feedstock sources in the United States."