Alternative Energy Technology Center Picks up Meridian

The Alternative Energy Technology Center, Inc. out of Houston has purchased Meridian Biorefining, Inc. Meridian is widely known for its vertically integrated bio-refining system which uses non-food cellulosic feedstocks to produce ethanol, gasoline, and bio-crude which can be further processed to produce a wide range of transportation fuels and chemicals.

Meridian’s bio-refining is different than most as other bio-fuels companies tend to use single product processes designed to produce end products such as ethanol or bio-diesel. However, with Meridian‘s technology, which is built on the vertically integrated processing model of petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants, a variety of fuels and chemicals can be produced.

"The acquisition of Meridian advances our work at the Alternative Energy Technology Center by bringing us cutting edge cellulosic processing technology," explained Brown Marks, CEO. "We expect to complete our commercial scale research facility in the first quarter and be ready to begin producing bio-fuels during the second quarter of this year," he noted. "Meridian‘s technology will make the processing of cellulose into fuels far more cost effective than any current technical models in development," he predicted.

"We expect to be producing commercial quantities of bio-fuel before the end of 2008," noted Marks.

No financial details on the deal were released.