ANDRITZ to supply refining technology for cellulosic ethanol pilot plant in the US

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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ANDRITZ GROUP
International technology group ANDRITZ provides advanced plants, equipment, services, and digital solutions for a wide range of industries, including pulp and paper, metals, hydropower, environmental, and others. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in Austria, the publicly listed group employs about 30,000 people at 280 locations in over 80 countries.

As a global leader in technology and innovation, ANDRITZ is committed to fostering progress that benefits customers, partners, employees, society, and the environment. The company’s growth is driven by sustainable solutions enabling the green transition, advanced digitalization for highest industrial performance, and comprehensive services that maximize the value of customers’ plants over their entire life cycle. ANDRITZ. FOR GROWTH THAT MATTERS.

ANDRITZ PULP & PAPER
ANDRITZ Pulp & Paper provides sustainable technology, automation, and service solutions for the production of all types of pulp, paper, board and tissue. The technologies and services focus on increased production efficiency, lower overall operating costs as well as innovative decarbonization strategies and autonomous plant operation.

The product portfolio also includes boilers for power generation, various nonwoven technologies, and panelboard (MDF) production systems. With waste-to-value recycling, shredding and energy solutions, waste and by-product streams from production are converted into valuable secondary raw materials as well as into sustainable resources for energy generation. State-of-the-art IIoT technologies as part of Metris digitalization solutions complete the comprehensive product offering.