Pörner Ingenieurgesellschaft was entrusted by Agrana Bioethanol GmbH, a subsidiary of Agrana AG, with the general engineering for a bioethanol plant at Pischelsdorf/Austria. The largest industrial plant for renewable energies on Austrian soil covers a total investment of €125m. Based on the US Katzen process the plant produces 240,000 m³ bioethanol per year. Corn, wheat and syrup are used as feedstock to make bioethanol with an alcohol content of 99.5% added to petrol.

Ahead of that Pörner was responsible for preparatory activities including investment costs estimate, assistance in selecting the right technology and the entire permitting process. For permitting in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (UVP) Act the documentation submitted just two months after the final decision on the process had been taken covered 250 folders. It took not more than seven months for a definite decision. All statutory requirements and most of the neighbours’ requests could be fulfilled.

Pörner was awarded the general engineering contract in record time after receipt of the positive UVP decision.

The general engineering includes the civil project by Pörner + Partner ZT GesmbH, the entire detail engineering including tendering, procurement, construction supervision, project management and commissioning support. Construction is due to begin in autumn 2006 and last 15 months, and commissioning take place one year later.

With the general engineering for this large-scale project Pörner Ingenieurgesellschaft, Austria’s largest independent engineering office, entered new project dimensions. It is the largest project in Pörner’s history and the largest industrial plant currently under construction in Austria.