Increasing energy consumption, diminishing oil reserves, and climate change are making the world's need for sustainable fuel even greater. Bioenergy can help meet this challenge by boosting energy independence, creating domestic jobs, and reducing the use of fossil fuels. Novozymes supports the sustainable production of bioenergy and continues to deliver innovation to the ethanol industry.
A better glucoamylase
Novozymes Spirizyme® Excel is the most advanced saccharification solution available for starch ethanol. It converts even the most difficult starch fractions, even across variable mash conditions and production processes. And greater starch conversion leads to more ethanol and more profit.
Many factors can affect fermentability: mash characteristics, plant process design, pH and temperature, backset usage rate, etc. Our research at more than 40 dry-grind ethanol plants confirmed that a significant amount of ethanol potential is left behind in today's production process. In fact, we saw a greater than 1% yield increase in three out of four mashes tested using Spirizyme Excel.
Spirizyme Excel also increases fermentation efficiency by improving back-end performance. It capitalizes on differences in feedstock, production processes, and plant parameters, and maximizes yeast performance. This unique enzyme provides higher ethanol yields while decreasing the cost of corn per gallon, increasing overall plant profitability. It is the latest example of our efforts to build a stronger and more sustainable industry.
Unmatched customer support
Novozymes' commitment goes beyond providing quality enzyme solutions. Each customer has a dedicated plant support scientist who gives a full-time focus to both technical and training needs. We also offer a unique process review tool that serves as a diagnostic screening for virtually all areas of ethanol production. After reading process conditions such as pH, temperature, and enzyme dose, the tool gives a snapshot of the plant's current optimization level. Our Customer Solutions team can then make suggestions for improving plant performance. We provide this service to all ethanol producers, regardless of what enzymes they are currently using, because we know that it takes more than a "cookie cutter" approach to get the job done.
Active in the industry
Novozymes is a leader in the biofuel industry, not only as an innovative technology provider, but also as a participant in relevant political and regulatory discussions. We believe that our involvement is crucial to the industry, and our goal is to ensure that the best possible science is used when making far-reaching decisions.
We are currently participating in an expert work group that has been convened to help the California Air Resources Board (CARB) implement its mandate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the state's transportation sector by 10% before 2020.
Jesper Kløverpris, Life Cycle Analysis Specialist at Novozymes, is a member of the work group, which also includes representatives from POET and Chevron. The group will evaluate key factors impacting land use values for biofuels, including agricultural yield improvements, co-product credits, land emission factors, and food price elasticity. They will make recommendations to CARB by the end of 2010.