Abengoa, the international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainability in the energy and environment sectors, has been selected by Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc., to build the first biorefinery using gasification technology to convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into syncrude that will be upgraded into jet fuel. The contract is worth approximately US$200 million. Abengoa will be responsible for the turnkey execution of the plant including engineering, design and construction as well as a participating significantly in the development of the project. This project is expected to generate more than 500 jobs during the construction phase and 100 more jobs during plant operation. The biorefinery is located in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, approximately 20 miles east of Reno, Nevada (USA).
This initiative provides a sustainable alternative for the large volumes of municipal solid waste generated in the area every year, which would otherwise be disposed of in a landfill. The process of converting MSW into renewable transportation fuels will significantly reduce the number of landfills, a growing concern in the USA because of the chemical pollutants released into the air and seeping into the groundwater. This poses an increasing problem because, as the US population grows, the amount of waste generated is increased proportionately. In addition, thanks to the use of this sustainable fuel, the dependence on foreign energy and the carbon footprint of the aviation industry will be reduced. Abengoa employs more than 4,000 people in the US, which is reflected in the 17 % annual growth during the last two years.
Abengoa has been present in the US for more than a decade, shown in the development of Abengoa’s landmark projects; such as Solana and Mojave, both thermosolar plants with 280 MW each located in Phoenix and California; the 200 MW photovoltaic plant located in California; the water supply project in San Antonio, Texas; and Hugoton, one of the first plants producing second generation bioethanol from biomass for commercial operation, located in Kansas.
For more information, visit www.abengoa.com