First Ever Citrus Peel to Ethanol Plant

FPL Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of FPL Group (NYSE: FPL), announced on Thursday that it has signed a letter of intent with Citrus Energy, LLC, of Boca Raton, FL, to develop the first ever commercial scale citrus peel to ethanol plant. 

The cellulosic ethanol plant will be owned and operated by FPL Energy and is expected to produce four million gallons of ethanol per year.  It will be located on the grounds of a local Florida citrus processor.

"Citrus Energy's mission is to develop fuel ethanol that minimizes environmental impact and cost by using citrus waste and other biomass.  FPL Energy, as the largest renewable energy generator in the U.S., is the ideal partner," said David Stewart, president of Citrus Energy.

FPL Energy said that ethanol from citrus peel could result in a new Florida industry producing over 60 million gallons of fuel per year, which could replace about one percent of Florida's annual gasoline

Comments

[Thomas Marihart]

Yet another example of sources of animal feed turning to fuel.

I really hope guys like BlueFire really take off and put these other food/feed based fuel makers out of business.

Food, Feed, Fuel...we need them all domestically, not one at the expense of the other, and not from places like China.

[David]

The distillers peels, equivalent to distillers grains in corn ethanol, is still made into animal feed. The net result is an animal feed with less sugar (fermented into ethanol) and more protein (from the yeast). Citrus waste is primarily used as a low grade animal feed with high fiber content and is mixed in 10% concentration with higher protein feed based on corn or soy. The impact to the animal feed supply of citrus ethanol will be minimal.

[Mark]

I didn't really think about the food connection but can see it ought to be considered. I think the market can help push a product towards its highest and best use.

Having lived in FL the last 8 years in Indian River County, I've watched as business groups try to foster enticement of biotech industries. Thanks to the Energy Blog, I've seen a more natural enviromental possiblity in biofuels. I cannot understand why there is not a more aggressive pursuit of this economic possibility. One of the best uses of a wasted product would be turning all the dying and decaying unproductive citrus trees into biofuel. Then, the cleared land could be graded and turned into swtichgrass or some other related biofuel producer.

[scottsdale limo]

This is the upgraded version right? This works much better than the previous.