Mitsubishi ZEBREX™ Technology To Be Implemented By Aemetis To Reduce Energy Use And Lower Carbon Intensity Of Biofuel
Cupertino, CA (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - via NEWMEDIAWIRE - Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX) and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) announced today that Aemetis will be implementing the Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation ZEBREXTM membrane dehydration system at the 60 million gallon per year Aemetis fuel ethanol plant in Keyes, California. The sales transaction involves a subsidiary of MCC, Mitsubishi Chemical America, Inc. The Aemetis plant upgrade is the first ZEBREXTM system installation in North America and is the largest implementation of the ZEBREXTM system worldwide.
The upgrade from the traditional Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) dehydration process to the ZEBREXTM system can reduce energy consumption in the production of biofuels by up to 25%, increasing production capacity while reducing the usage of fossil fuel-based energy and lowering the carbon intensity (CI) of ethanol produced at the plant. The unit will be designed and fabricated for Aemetis by ICM, Inc., headquartered in Colwich, Kansas, a leading ethanol technology provider. The Aemetis plant upgrade is the first ZEBREXTMinstallation delivered by MCC’s strategic engineering partner, ICM, in North America.
“Aemetis is a leader in the innovation and adoption of new technologies in both traditional and advanced biofuels,” stated Hiroyuki Kakiuchi, Manager of the ZEBREXTM product line at Mitsubishi Chemical Company in Tokyo, Japan. “The ZEBREXTM system will allow the ethanol produced by Aemetis to use significantly less natural gas; reduce carbon emissions by approximately 16,000 tons per year; and provide increased ethanol production, achieving a lower carbon intensity biofuel that supports the goals of the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and the US Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).”
“The implementation of the Mitsubishi ZEBREXTM technology at the Aemetis Keyes plant is an excellent example of how the biofuels industry is utilizing advanced technology to reduce production costs and lower carbon emissions while increasing revenue per gallon and expanding capacity at both traditional and advanced ethanol production plants,” said Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis.
The ZEBREXTM system has been installed in approximately 70 alcohol production plants worldwide. The system is a state-of-the-art, continuous membrane dehydration technology to separate water from ethanol for purification into fuel quality biofuel at lower cost than the energy-intensive PSA units commonly used at ethanol plants.
About Aemetis
Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis is an advanced renewable fuels and biochemicals company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of innovative technologies that replace traditional petroleum-based products by the conversion of ethanol and biodiesel plants into advanced biorefineries. Founded in 2006, Aemetis owns and operates a 60 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in California’s Central Valley, near Modesto. Aemetis also owns and operates a 50 million gallon per year renewable chemical and advanced fuel production facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin for customers in India, the US and Europe. Aemetis operates a research and development laboratory, and holds a portfolio of patents and related technology licenses for the production of renewable fuels and biochemicals. For additional information about Aemetis, please visit www.aemetis.com.
About Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
Established in 2017 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) was formed by the merger of Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation; Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc.; and Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. MCC is Japan’s largest chemical company and offers a wide variety of products and solutions in the business domains of performance products and industrial materials. MCC believes “sustainability”, “health” and “comfort” are key words in 21st century society. MCC aims to amalgamate its products and technologies to use the power of “chemistry” to help reduce carbon emissions and to greatly contribute to solving the problems that face our global society. For additional information about Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation please visit https://www.m-chemical.co.jp/en/.
For additional information related to ZEBREXTM please email: mayumi_kiyono@m-chem.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events or other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements relating to the production or effectiveness of the demonstration facility, the construction and operation of the cellulosic ethanol facility, and the size of government mandates on, and prices of, cellulosic and other sources of ethanol. Words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “showing signs,” “targets,” “will likely result,” “will continue” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and predictions and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results or events could differ materially from those set forth or implied by such forward-looking statements and related assumptions due to certain factors, including, without limitation, competition in the ethanol, biodiesel and other industries in which we operate, commodity market risks including those that may result from current weather conditions, financial market risks, customer adoption, counter-party risks, risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation, and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We are not obligated, and do not intend, to update any of these forward-looking statements at any time unless an update is required by applicable securities laws.
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Source: Aemetis, Inc.