November 29, 2012
Auterra Receives NYSERDA Funding to Build ‘CURE’ Demonstration Unit
Malta, NY – November 29, 2012 – Auterra Inc., a clean energy company, has received an award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Auterra specializes in catalyst and process technology for energy efficient upgrading of heavy, sour crude oil and oil distillates. NYSERDA is providing $400,000 to Auterra to design and build a CURE (CO2 and Utility Reduction & Efficiency) Demonstration Unit.
Auterra has developed a proprietary chemical and process technology that significantly reduces the energy consumed by the oil industry, and consequently reduces CO2 emissions. The CURE Demonstration Unit uses air and two proprietary catalytic reactions to improve the quality of heavy, dirty oils used in oil refineries. Less energy is needed to refine upgraded oil into fuels.
New York State consumes nearly one million barrels of fuel every day, all imported from other states.
“In addition to key environmental benefits, New York State will benefit most from the significant revenue and jobs creation resulting from the full commercialization of Auterra’s technology,” said Eric Burnett, President & CEO of Auterra. “Significant clean technologies and industrial energy efficiency technologies need a collaborative effort between all stake holders to bridge the gap between lab and commercial success.”
The funding has been awarded through NYSERDA’s Innovation in the Manufacturing of Clean Energy Technologies program for projects that develop and demonstrate an innovative energy-efficient manufacturing process for Clean Energy Technology.
“Auterra’s technology offers important environmental and energy-saving benefits by reducing the energy consumed by the oil industry,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO, NYSERDA. “As we expand the State’s cleantech economy under Governor Cuomo, projects such as this one continue to build on the momentum the State has initiated through investments in promising new technology and support of projects that stimulate economic development.”
The total cost of the project is nearly $1.5 million with NYSERDA providing $400,000 and Auterra funding the remaining amount. The purpose of the project is to design, build and test the final lab scale testing unit. The CURE Demonstration unit will be constructed at the Auterra plant located in the Saratoga Technology + Energy Park facility in Malta NY.
Auterra’s staff of 15 clean energy professionals will conduct all of the work involved with the project. The project will take 10 months to complete, with an expected end date in summer 2013.
Auterra formed a strategic partnership with a heavy, sour oil producer earlier this year that will fund the next several levels of testing necessary to bring the Auterra technology to market. Successfully completing the CURE Demonstration Unit is required before engineering and construction work on the next level of testing can be started using larger units installed at an oil production facility. This activity is expected to start late in 2013 and will be funded by the oil company.
For information you can find us at www.AuterraInc.com or call 518.899.9600.
