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Welcome to our SUNLIQUID Newsletter. In this issue we would like to inform you about our progress in building a new commercial-scale plant for cellulosic ethanol made from agricultural residues, based on Clariant’s innovative sunliquid® technology. You will also find the latest news about EU policies and decisions relevant to the project.

• Current biofuel policy in the EU – A step forward on decarbonizing transportation
  With greenhouse gas emissions continuing to grow in the transport sector, EU institutions are looking at renewables such as biofuels to decarbonize the mobility sector. Currently, a number of directives regulate how to use biofuels in the EU, among them the “Renewable Energy Directive” (RED) and the “Fuel Quality Directive” (FQD). In November 2016, the European Commission proposed - as part of its energy and climate goals strategy - a revised Renewable Energy Directive (commonly referred to as REDII). The REDII stipulates that at least 27 % of all the energy used in the EU has to be produced from renewable sources by 2030. On 17th January 2018, the EU Parliament voted for a specific 12 % target for renewables in the transport sector by 2030. 10 % of those should come from modern biofuels such as waste-based biofuels. The vote of the European Parliament is only one step in the legislation procedure, yet an important one. It defines its position for the coming negotiations with the Council of Ministers and the European Commission. The revised Renewable Energy Directive will follow the existing regulation and take effect on 1st January 2021.
• Sunliquid® Technology – High yields at minimum costs
  Sunliquid® is an innovative, efficient, sustainable and economic process for the production of cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues such as cereal straw, corn stover or sugarcane bagasse. Tapping into the full potential of plants, the sunliquid® process makes use of currently underutilized non-food biomass. Furthermore, with its process-integrated enzyme production, the sunliquid® technology offers high yields at minimum costs.
  Find out more.
• Clariant's flagship sunliquid® cellulosic ethanol plant will be built in Romania
  The SUNLIQUID Consortium has been analysing the assets of around 20 regions in Eastern Europe in order to identify the most suitable site for building a first-of-its kind commercial flagship plant for the conversion of lignocellulosic feedstock to cellulosic ethanol using the sunliquid® technology. The requirements for the site were manifold. It included ample feedstock availability, a good transport and energy infrastructure, as well as qualified local staff.
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• Sustainable production of cellulosic ethanol To demonstrate that commercial production of cellulosic ethanol on the basis of the sunliquid® technology is technically viable and competitive, Clariant is building a new full-scale cellulosic ethanol plant. The first of its kind facility with an annual capacity of 50,000 tons of cellulosic ethanol will be located in the southwestern part of Romania.
  In support of this undertaking, the EU-funded project SUNLIQUID has been initiated. Within the scope of the project, the coordinator Clariant together with the project partners, carries out a detailed site selection process for the cellulosic ethanol plant and establishes a highly efficient feedstock supply and logistics system. This includes the contracting of local farmers and logistic providers for feedstock supply, transportation and storage as well as implementing a highly efficient handling and (pre-)treatment system for the feedstock within the plant.
  Clariant’s flagship site will bring substantial economic benefits to the region. By locally sourcing feedstock, greenhouse gas savings can be maximized and additional business opportunities arise in the region along the value chain. This will lay the foundation for an essential contribution to achieve a more sustainable energy infrastructure in Europe which at the same time is less dependent on imported fossil fuels and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
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• Sunliquid® - From Research to Commercialization
  Over the last decade, Clariant has developed a highly efficient,  economic and sustainable production process for cellulosic ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol is an advanced biofuel that is made from agricultural residues. By developing the sunliquid® technology, Clariant has cleared the way for supplying Europe with a more sustainable and climate-friendly fuel.
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  Contact
  Project Coordination
  Dr. Markus Rarbach
  Head of Business Line Biofuels & Derivatives
  Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH
  Semmelweisstr. 1
  82152 Planegg, Germany
  Phone: +49 (0)89 710661-0
  
  Press contact
  Emmanuelle Rouard
  Head of Public Relations
  Bavarian Research Alliance
  Prinzregentenstr. 52
  80538 Munich, Germany
  Phone: +49 (0)89 9901 888-111