US-based agri-business major Green Plains Inc. (GPRE) has announced that construction has commenced on the compression infrastructure for its carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative in Nebraska (NE), an important step in the company’s ongoing transformation to produce low-carbon, high value biofuels and ingredients.
The compression equipment will enable the permanent sequestration of approximately 800,000 tonnes of biogenic carbon dioxide (bioCO2) each year from Green Plains’ three Nebraska facilities in Central City, Wood River, and York, keeping the project on track for start-up in the second half of 2025.
Breaking ground at our sites for this project is another milestone in executing our ongoing ‘Advantage Nebraska’ strategy. With construction of the laterals for the Trailblazer CCS project underway and now with compression equipment beginning to be installed, we are positioned to be an early mover in sequestering biogenic CO2, unlocking significant value for our shareholders, said Chris Osowski, EVP of Operations and Technology.
Temporarily idle CST operations
Green Plains also announced that it will temporarily idle operations at its “Clean Sugar Technology” (CST) facility in Shenandoah, Iowa (IA), as the company focuses on optimizing its product mix to maximize current returns.
CST has already proven its ability to produce a high-purity dextrose with a lower carbon intensity and the company remains confident in its commercial potential.
The decision to temporarily pause operations presents an opportunity for Green Plains to further refine the dextrose production process while continuing to build significant commercial interest.
The innovative Clean Sugar Technology is proven, and customer interest remains strong. As we refine our commercialization strategy, we are focused on optimizing plant performance to ensure CST becomes a cornerstone of our long-term value creation strategy, said Chris Osowski.
