HYPE

This project will approach developing a new process concept which integrates the most relevant achievements in the field of lignocellulosic ethanol and focuses on the reduction of the production costs of bioethanol. The overall aim is to accelerate the implementation of new second generation biofuels from lignocellulosic raw materials by overcoming the identified key bottle-necks presently hindering commercialization.

The aim is thus to accelerate the commercialization of lignocellulosic ethanol by developing novel consolidated bioprocessing technologies resulting in high yield and concentration of ethanol produced from lignocellulosic raw materials. The relatively high cost of enzymes will be addressed 1) by developing more thermostable enzymes with higher specific activity, 2) by reducing the amount of added enzymes by using an enzyme producing fermenting organism 3) by complementing the set of enzymes by additive activities and 4) by extending the service life of enzymes by avoiding a high temperature ethanol separation thus eliminating the need for a separate process for recycling the enzymes.

Partners:

University of Helsinki
Technical Research Centre of Finland
ROAL
Copenhagen University
Holm Christensen Biosystemer ApS
National Technical University of Athens
University of Tartu
Biogold Oy