Episode 4 | Farm Fuel | Genera Energy
For my biofuels episode, I knew I wanted to discuss cellulosic ethanol, a method of creating ethanol from grassy plants instead of food (like corn).
Ethanol production is similar to moonshine. There is a fermentation and distillation process when using corn and sugar cane. Cellulosic ethanol requires a preliminary step to break down fibers into sugars using enzymes. This process is called cellulolysis.
Cellulosic ethanol is still in its infancy, but companies like Genera are helping to expand the technology. They work with farmers to ensure they get the highest yields on their biomass feedstock crops, advise them where and what to plant, and evaluate if biomass crops are right for them.
I met with Dr. Sam Jackson, VP of Business Development for Genera. Sam, like Genera's president, Dr. Kelly Tiller, are former University of Tennessee faculty who transitioned into the business sector.
During our conversation, Sam and I discussed working with farmers, getting the economics right on biofuels, the state of cellulosic ethanol today, and the significance of working for a company led by a strong female leader.
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