Multi-raw-material plant: initial project
Multiple feedstocks
The concept of a multi-raw-material plant, in a way, originated in Europe from an idea initiated by Alcosuisse. The advantages of this system are:
- ability to produce all year round with renewable feedstocks
- year-round production without the need to stock raw materials for 8 or 10 months
- choice of several different raw materials and lower risk in the event of strong price fluctuation or supply problems.
Initial project
Initially, Alcosuisse considered a 100% Swiss production process based on agricultural wastes, surpluses and downgrades. There are only limited quantities of these products and they already have marketing outlets of some form or another. A feasibility study was carried out on the Alcosuisse concept, and the production plant got as far as the preliminary project stage. The idea at the time was to target a niche market, with production costs projected at around CHF 1.20-1.30/litre.
It was never Alcosuisse’s idea to build a production plant itself, but rather to set up the framework conditions and sell a conceptualized project. However, this initial project never materialised, because the framework conditions were not set up to offer sufficient guarantees for investors.
