OUR SUSTAINABLE FEEDSTOCK
The foundation of any truly sustainable and ethically produced biofuel lies in the responsible sourcing and utilization of its raw materials, or "feedstock." At Expander Energy, our unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship, economic viability, and global food security begins with our intelligent feedstock strategy. We have strategically engineered our advanced fuel production processes around cellulosic biomass – the abundant, non-food structural components of plants and wood – deliberately avoiding the challenges associated with first-generation biofuels.
WHY WE AVOID FOOD-BASED FEEDSTOCKS
Early biofuels rely on agricultural products (corn, sugar cane, vegetable oils) or processed fats. While convertible to fuel, their large-scale use for energy creates critical issues that Expander’s strategy directly addresses:
​
Food Security Risks: Diverting edible crops to fuel production competes with food and feed needs, potentially raising food prices, reducing availability for vulnerable populations, and posing ethical dilemmas.
Environmental Strain & Land Use Conflicts: Increased demand for food-based feedstocks can drive agricultural expansion into forests and grasslands, harming biodiversity and increasing resource consumption (water, fertilizers). Associated land-use change emissions can even offset any biofuel climate benefits.
Market Volatility & Economic Instability: Agricultural commodity prices are highly volatile due to weather, global markets, and policy, creating significant economic uncertainty and risk for fuel producers dependent on them.
Limited Scalability of Waste Oils/Fats: While preferable to food crops, the global supply of waste oils (like used cooking oil) and animal fats is finite and already in high demand, restricting their ability to meet large-scale fuel replacement needs.
OUR SOLUTION: CELLULOSIC FEEDSTOCK
​To overcome these critical limitations, Expander Energy's technology is specifically designed to process diverse cellulosic biomass. This refers to the complex carbohydrates (cellulose, hemicellulose) and lignin that form the structural material of plants and wood—the parts not typically consumed as food. This carefully selected biomass is the initial input for our patented ETI Tar-Free Gasifier, which begins its transformation into clean energy.
Our key cellulosic feedstock categories include:
​
Forestry Residues: Leftovers from sustainable forest management and timber operations (branches, bark, sawmill chips, non-lumber trees). Using these creates value from potential wildfire fuel or methane-releasing decomposing matter, supporting sustainable forestry.
​
Agricultural Residues (Ag Residues): Non-edible plant parts remaining after harvest (wheat straw, corn stover, rice straw). Converting these into fuel offers a value-added opportunity for farmers and reduces agricultural waste.
Construction & Demolition (C&D) Wood Waste: Uncontaminated wood debris from construction and demolition (untreated offcuts, pallets). Diverting this from landfills mitigates methane emissions and extends landfill capacity.
​
Used Railway Ties: Treated wooden railway ties, normally a disposal challenge for the rail industry. Our robust gasification technology safely transforms this problematic waste stream into valuable clean fuel feedstock.
