The BP Verenium Biofuels plant in Jennings, Louisiana, is being offered for sale. The 1.4 MMgy demonstration-scale facility celebrated its grand opening in 2008, and was acquired by BP Biofuels North America in mid-2010.

On Jan. 30, Aaron Equipment Co., in conjunction with Reich Brothers and Phoenix Equipment Corp., announced it recently acquired the BP Verenium Biofuels plant, including more than 40 acres of real estate and equipment. The group said it plans to first offer the plant in its entirety and then by piece meal to the buying public.

Verenium Corp. held a grand opening for the demonstration-scale facility in May 2008. The facility was a joint venture with BP that was designed to validate cellulosic ethanol technology. In mid-2010, BP Biofuels North America acquired all of Verenium’s interest in the project for $98.3 million. The sale included pilot- and demonstration-scale facilities in Jennings, research and development facilities in San Diego and Verenium’s cellulosic enzyme technology. BP also became the sole investor in Vercipia Biofuels, a joint venture developed by the two companies to build a commercial-scale cellulosic plant in Florida. In 2012, BP cancelled plans to develop the Florida plant, noting it would refocus its U.S. biofuels strategy on research and development, as well as licensing its biofuels technology.

According to information released by Aaron Equipment, the liquidation sale began in January and will run through the end of the year. Among the equipment up for sale are 316 stainless steel fermenters, 316 stainless steel tanks, stainless steel reactors, shells, tubes, screw presses, decanter centrifuges and hydrolyzers, spiral and plant heat exchangers and an unused DAF system.

Additional details are available on the Aaron Equipment website.