SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Oct. 10, 2016) – Six POET biorefineries in Ohio and Indiana are installing a new energy generation system using combined heat and power. These systems will reduce reliance on the electrical energy grid, recover waste energy for additional use in the plant and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The system will use steam in a turbine to generate electricity to run the plant and recover waste energy from the turbine to meet additional energy demands. This makes dual use of the energy used to power the ethanol process.

“This is very exciting for POET and renewable fuels. We are already much better than gasoline in overall emissions. Finding ways to make additional use of steam is a great opportunity to improve our environmental footprint even more,” POET CEO Jeff Broin said. “Ethanol today is a clean, renewable biofuel that reduces cancer causing aromatics in gasoline, and with upgrades like this we will continue to become even more environmentally friendly.”

POET already employs a number of strategies to lower energy use in its biorefineries. The patented BPX process uses enzymes instead of heat for fermentation. Additionally, heat is shared between processes such as distillation and evaporation to get maximum production with the minimum amount of energy use.

The plants installing these new systems are

Ohio

- POET Biorefining – Fostoria
- POET Biorefining – Marion
- POET Biorefining – Leipsic

Indiana

- POET Biorefining – Alexandria
- POET Biorefining – North Manchester
- POET Biorefining - Portland

All of the upgrades are expected to be complete in 2017.

About POET

POET, one of the world’s largest ethanol producers, is a leader in biorefining through its efficient, vertically integrated approach to production. The 29-year-old company has a production capacity in excess of 1.7 billion gallons of ethanol and 9 billion pounds of high-protein animal feed annually from its network of 27 production facilities. POET, through its joint venture with DSM, also operates a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa. For more information, visit http://www.poet.com.