LANCASTER, PA — NewEnergyBlue has successfully acquired Inbicon biomass-conversion technology from Ørsted, a leading renewable energy company in Denmark. This strategic purchase extends NewEnergyBlue’s operational capabilities worldwide, granting them ownership of Inbicon’s international patent portfolio and global licensing rights, which were previously limited to the Americas.
Albury Fleitas, President of NewEnergyBlue, highlighted the vast potential of this acquisition by stating, “Corn stalks from America, wheat straw from Canada and Europe, sugar bagasse in Brazil and India—all over the world, billions of tons of botanical waste are left behind after annual harvests.” These biomass sources, along with emerging perennial grasses, present numerous opportunities to replace fossil fuels with next-generation renewables.
The Inbicon technology, developed in Denmark over 25 years ago, has demonstrated its effectiveness through several critical scale-ups. In 2009, the first Inbicon biomass refinery began operations in Kalundborg, Denmark, showcasing the commercial feasibility of producing second-generation (2G) ethanol from local wheat straw. This ethanol is instrumental in reducing carbon emissions in auto and aviation fuels.
NewEnergyBlue plans to open the New Energy Freedom biomass refinery in Mason City, Iowa, by 2026. This facility is designed to convert corn stalks into 2G bioethanol and clean lignin annually. The bioethanol will target low-carbon auto-fuel markets and be used in sustainable plastics production by Dow Chemical. Clean lignin, a valuable by-product, will serve as a replacement for oil-derived products in polymers and binders.
The acquisition has attracted attention from international companies and researchers eager to utilize the refineries’ commercial sugar and lignin streams for technological scale-up. Post-commissioning, NewEnergyBlue plans to establish a biomass tech campus to further explore these opportunities.
Fleitas emphasized NewEnergyBlue’s commitment to sustainability, stating, “We’re doing our part to take the fossil out of fuels, the oil out of plastics, and the heat out of the atmosphere.” By aligning with international partners who possess the financial strength and agility, NewEnergyBlue is well-positioned to advance this groundbreaking initiative.
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