Making Fuel From Straw Is About to Become a Thing in Europe

  • Swiss chemicals maker wants to license its fuels technology
  • Clariant technology could be used in chemicals and aviation
Photographer: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg
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Turning bales of straw into ethanol is about to become a highly profitable venture in Europe, according to a firm that just opened a production site in the continent.

Clariant AG, a Swiss chemicals maker, just opened a facility in Romania to make so-called advanced biofuels, which use agricultural waste or non-edible crops to make fuels that can be blended into gasoline and diesel. That’s environmentally better than so-called first-generation ethanol currently on the market, which is made from foodstuffs like sugar or corn.