Today's News by Jack Nerad for Driving Today

Fueled by Paper

Thursday, March 4, 2010

For the first time in U.S. history, a vehicle fueled by government office wastepaper and cardboard has driven the streets of Washington D.C.  

You might call that the answer to an unasked question -- and a good use of governmental paperwork -- but it does demonstrate that sources of energy are where innovative people find them.

A biotech company called Novozymes partnered with Maryland-based Fiberight to provide the demonstration fuel. During the ride-and-drive event, government VIPs and members of the media got the chance to test-drive a flex-fuel Chevrolet HHR at the Washington Convention Center, while in the exhibition hall, a flex-fuel Ford F150 also fueled with the wastepaper-based biofuel was put on display. Both vehicles run on E85, a blend of 85 percent biofuel and 15 percent gasoline.

“The advanced biofuels showcased here today demonstrate that the enzyme technology is ready for market,” said Adam Monroe, president, Novozymes North America. “What we need now is commercialization and deployment of advanced biofuels in order to help meet our country’s most pressing energy and environment challenges.”

Novozymes multi-year research and development efforts have resulted in an enzyme cocktail that can be used to make advanced biofuel from agricultural residues, municipal waste and energy crops. After a sequence of pulping, pre-treatment and wash, enzymes from Novozymes turn the paper and cardboard waste into sugars that are then fermented into biofuel.

The company says advanced biofuels can deliver up to 90 percent CO2 emission reduction compared to gasoline, and it believes they are the most cost-efficient way of reducing carbon dioxide in the transport sector. In 2009, the deployment of Novozymes’ technologies in all industries resulted in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions totaling approximately 27 million tons, the equivalent of taking seven million cars off the road.

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