LanzaTech has already shown its proprietary gas fermentation platform works to convert biomass syngas at laboratory scale and says a demonstration facility will be operational by the second half of 2012.
LanzaTech and Yankuang Group, one of China’s largest coal producers, have joined forces to produce fuels and chemicals using the kiwi firm's biological fermentation process and synthesis gas from Yankuang’s coal gasification unit.
The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding in front of US Ambassador Gary Locke as part of a US Trade Mission to Shandong Province, which included James Zhang, LanzaTech’s VP of Business Development.
LanzaTech has already shown its proprietary gas fermentation platform works to convert biomass syngas at laboratory scale and says a demonstration facility will be operational by the second half of 2012.
Dr Zhang says the agreement with Yankuang highlights China’s commitment to the development of clean energy solutions. “Deployment of this technology throughout China presents an exciting opportunity for promoting sustainable industry and we see China’s lead in this as reflective of its continued commitment to green growth,” he says.
As the world’s largest producer and consumer of coal, LanzaTech says China is an ideal location for its coal-fuels and chemicals technology.
Founded in New Zealand in 2005, LanzaTech developed a gas-liquid fermentation process that produces fuels and chemicals from gas resources. Backed by global investment, LanzaTech has a technical team based in the USA, China and New Zealand and a growing patent portfolio. The company has international agreements in the steel, coal, refining and chemicals sectors and its technology is being scaled to commercial production.
Yankuang Group, established in 1976, is headquartered at Jining, Shandong. It is one of the coal mining, state-owned enterprises in People's Republic of China.
