US agri-business Green Plains Inc. (GPRE) has announced that it has begun commissioning of the York, Nebraska (NE), demonstration facility combining Fluid Quip Technologies’ (FQT) precision separation and processing technology (MSC) with Shell Fiber Conversion Technology (SFCT). The new facility combines fermentation, mechanical separation and fiber conversion technology into one platform.
This facility will demonstrate the potential to liberate all available renewable corn oil currently bound in the fiber fraction of the corn kernel, generate cellulosic sugars for the production of low-carbon fuels, and further enhance and expand the production of Ultra-High Protein feed ingredients for global animal feed diets.
We believe that pairing together FQT’s best-in-class mechanical separation technology with Shell’s cutting-edge chemical process solidifies our path to revolutionizing the grain processing and biofuels landscape as we’ve known it. This collaboration has the potential to transform how we process agricultural products – maximizing the availability of low-carbon feedstocks for fuels and high-value animal nutrition markets, said Todd Becker, President and CEO of Green Plains.
Product and market development for the Ultra-High Protein feed ingredients is already underway, with active involvement from potential customers.
Potential commercial deployment
Following a successful demonstration of the combined technology at York, and subject to positive final investment decisions, Green Plains and Shell will look for a potential opportunity to take this technology platform forward through full commercial deployment, beginning with one of Green Plains’ existing MSC facilities.
Green Plains will market and distribute protein products through the company’s animal nutrition platform, and Shell will manage the energy-based low-carbon feedstocks and products for various uses within its global platform.
I am delighted to see this innovative partnership of sustainable technologies achieve this important milestone. This was accomplished through close collaboration with our partners at Green Plains and as a result of the dedication and hard work of the joint project team. The SFCT + MSC process is an exciting development for our Low Carbon Fuels business and brings us one step closer to delivering additional sustainable products for our customers, said Sinead Lynch, SVP of Low Carbon Fuels, Shell.
