ANDRITZ to supply refining technology for cellulosic ethanol pilot plant in the U.S.
SAFFiRE Renewables has selected ANDRITZ to supply key refining technology for its new pilot plant in Liberal, Kansas that will convert agricultural residues into cellulosic ethanol.
The project supports the scale-up of low-carbon fuel production for some of the hardest sectors to decarbonize, such as on-road, heavy duty, rail, marine and air transport, and reflects ANDRITZ’s strategic focus on engineering solutions that enable the green transition.
The order value will not be disclosed. It is included in ANDRITZ’s order intake for the fourth quarter of 2025.
The pilot plant will serve as a demonstration site for SAFFiRE’s innovative approach to producing ethanol from corn stover and other biomass feedstocks. This cellulosic ethanol can be an ultra-low-carbon alternative in existing markets or be further upgraded to products like sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), bio-materials, or bio-chemicals. ANDRITZ will supply two refiners to mechanically pre-treat the biomass for conversion into ethanol.
“At SAFFiRE, we are committed to scaling technologies that can unlock sustainable, domestic feedstocks for next-generation fuels and materials,” said Marykate O’Brien, CTO at SAFFiRE. “ANDRITZ’s refining technology is a key component of our pilot plant setup and supports our goals of utilizing domestic feedstocks to produce ethanol that can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by over 100% when compared to conventional gasoline or jet-fuel.”
Jacob Hyland, Director Sales & Application Fiber at ANDRITZ, said: “Enabling the green transition through advanced technologies is core to ANDRITZ’s strategy. By supporting SAFFiRE in developing sustainable fuel production, we are helping accelerate the shift toward low-carbon transportation. Our refining solutions provide a reliable foundation for utilizing agricultural residues and scaling next-generation fuels.”
ANDRITZ’s scope of supply comprises a single-disc high-consistency refiner and a CompaDisTM CDI low-consistency refiner with a capacity of 10 t/d. Start-up is planned for the first quarter of 2027.
SAFFiRE Renewables, part of Conestoga Energy, develops ultra‑low‑carbon ethanol and intermediates using the Deacetylation and Mechanical Refining (DMR) pre-treatment technology. Conestoga Energy, headquartered in Liberal, Kansas, is a renewable energy company focused on producing low‑carbon biofuels and related bio‑alcohol solutions. The company operates two ethanol plants with current annual output of over 175 million gallons (660 million liters) in Southwest Kansas. It has more than 15 years of CO₂ capture and sequestration experience. Conestoga is active in both corn- and sorghum-based ethanol as well as cellulosic biofuel production (D6, D5 and D3 categories of the US Renewable Fuel Standard).
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