News

The bioethanol plant in Pischelsdorf/Lower Austria has been officially opened following a start-up phase spanning several weeks on July 2nd. At the opening ceremony, Environment Minister Josef Pröll highlighted the important role played by the plant in improving Austria´s climate balance given that every litre of bioethanol represents a saving of around 50% in terms of CO2 emissions when compared to petrol.

For the Bioethanol plant of AGRANA in Pischelsdorf, Pörner provided the general planning for the plant, having an overall investment value of EUR 125 million and a maximum capacity of 240,000 m3/a bioethanol. Starting from project development incl. support of technology selection, procurement as well as all engineering work from civil/structural engineering (performed by Pörner + Partner ZT GmbH) through mechanical, piping, electrical and control systems up to complete partial units has been performed.

The extraordinary project development and -processing of Pörner led to record times: an authority approval in only 7 months and an on-time commissioning in only 14 months. At the beginning of October 2007 the test run was successfully completed. Agrana decided to shut down the plant afterwards until the commissioning. The decision was reached in response to the upward surge in prices for wheat and corn (maize) in international commodity markets. Now prices are back to average and the production started without any problems.