The Westbury plant is Enerkem's first commercial-scale biofuels and biochemicals plant. It will be the world's first ethanol plant to use negative-cost and unconventional materials - treated wood from used electricity poles. The plant is operated by a team of 13 individuals and will, at term, produce 5 million litres (1.3 million gallons) of second-generation ethanol annually.
Construction of the plant began in October 2007 and the premium gas island was mechanically completed in December 2008. The conditioned synthesis gas (syngas) island is in production. The plant operates 24 hours a day - 7 days a week. Production of methanol will begin in the spring of 2010 followed by the production of ethanol.
The premium syngas island serves as the chemical production platform from which the methanol and ethanol production modules will be added progressively. Once these gas-to-liquid modules are bolted to the syngas island, Enerkem will become the first commercial producer of liquid fuels and green chemicals to use renewable, non-food, waste- feedstock.
Westbury plant construction received financial support from Sustainable Development Technology Canada and the Quebec Natural Resources and Wildlife Ministry.
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Gasifier and Syngas Conditioning Equipment
Plant Site
