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Great news from the LIGNOFLAG project: the construction of our sunliquid^® flagship plant in Podari (Romania) is finished and production has officially started on 14 June with the first drops of commercial cellulosic ethanol received! The biofuel produced here will play a key role in reducing our carbon footprint. Find out more details in this edition of our newsletter, and read about the positive impact of our project, the by-product vinasse and much more! And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter: @sunliquidPlant!

• Operational start of the sunliquid^® plant
  In October 2021, the LIGNOFLAG project reached its most significant milestone so far: the construction of the world’s first full-scale commercial sunliquid^® plant for the production of cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues was successfully finished! The plant will process approximately 250,000 tons of straw into 50,000 tons of cellulosic ethanol per year. Find out more.
• Impact of the LIGNOFLAG project
  The first commercial-scale sunliquid^® plant marks a new era for sustainable fuels and has a positive impact on the European society, the industry, as well as on the Podari region. The cellulosic ethanol produced in the flagship plant is an almost carbon neutral advanced biofuel and will make a great contribution to decarbonize the EU transport sector. Find out more.
• LIGNOFLAG at the International Sustainable Economy Forum (ISEF)
  The LIGNOFLAG project and the advantages of the sunliquid^® technology will be presented at the International Sustainable Economy Forum in Munich (Germany) on 27–28 June 2022. The event brings together all stakeholders contributing to a sustainable economy and joining forces to transform the economy from fossil to sustainable. The topics of the forum range from raw materials, environmentally friendly production methods to sustainable products. Using the code „ABO22“, you’ll get 50 % discount on the original ticket price.
• How to use the by-product vinasse
  Two by-products are derived from the sunliquid^® process which converts agricultural residues such as straw into cellulosic ethanol: a solid one, lignin, and a liquid one, vinasse. Today, we are taking a closer look at vinasse: What is vinasse? What can it be used for? Find out more. 
• Advanced biofuels are key to achieving climate neutrality by 2050
  With the European Climate Law as part of the European Green Deal, the EU has set itself the ambitious objective of becoming climate neutral by 2050. As the transport sector is responsible for 25 % of the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), it has to make a major contribution and reduce its GHG emissions by 90 % by this date. But there is no one single solution for the transport sector to substantially reduce CO₂ emissions. What is needed is a broad portfolio of sustainable solutions and advanced technologies that are necessary to make the transport sector greener. Find out more on how Clariant’s sunliquid^® technology can contribute to achieving the EU’s goals in terms of CO₂ emission reductions in the European Energy Innovation Magazine – winter 2021 edition.
• CBE JU succeeds BBI JU
  On 30 November 2021, the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking was launched and will support a competitive bioeconomy in Europe for the next ten years. CBE JU is the successor of LIGNOFLAG’s funding body BBI JU. The new €2 billion partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium will fund projects advancing competitive circular bio-based industries in Europe. CBE JU is operating under the rules of Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme, for the 2021–2031 period. The partnership is building on the success of its predecessor, the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), while addressing the current challenges facing the industry. The work of CBE JU will contribute to the EU’s climate neutrality goal by 2050 and will support the implementation of EU policies working towards this objective under the motto “Building a greener, safer and better Europe”.