DowDuPont Inc (NYSE:DWDP) plans to sell its cellulosic ethanol plant in Nevada, Iowa, according to a company statement, cited by media.

The facility, with a capacity of 30 million gallons (114 million litres) per year, was opened only two years ago with an aim to demonstrate at commercial scale that non-food agricultural feedstocks can become an energy source. The plant, which cost over USD 200 million (EUR 172m), uses corn stover as raw material.

According to the statement, the recently merged company has decided that it is in its interests to find a strategic buyer for its cellulosic biofuel technology and the Iowa biorefinery. It would remain involved in the biofuels market by providing speciality offerings such as biofuel enzymes and engineered yeast products.

Operations at the plant have been suspended.

Article by Renewables Now: DowDuPont puts Iowa cellulosic ethanol plant up for sale