Green Plains Renewable Energy And BioProcess Algae Complete Construction Of Phase II Grower Harvester(TM) Technology

OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 2, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:GPRE) announced today that BioProcess Algae has completed construction of Phase II of its commercial scale Grower Harvester ^TM bioreactors in Shenandoah, Iowa. The Grower Harvester bioreactors were successfully started up in January of this year. Housed in a 4,000 square foot facility, the Phase II bioreactors at the project site are 20 times larger than the successful Phase I bioreactors deployed in October 2009.  

"We are pleased to begin the algae production and testing process on our Phase II project in Shenandoah," said Todd Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Plains Renewable Energy. "As we have successfully moved from the lab beaker to the commercial scale bioreactors deployed at the project site, our focus has remained on efficiently and effectively growing and harvesting algae with little to no manual intervention, all while utilizing the carbon dioxide from our ethanol production process," continued Becker.  "The algae produced from our reactors have potential uses in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, biofuels and animal feed."

 "After achieving 100% uptime in Phase I of the project and exceeding productivity targets at varying harvest intervals, we are excited to have Phase II of this project deployed and fully functional," commented Tim Burns, Chief Executive of BioProcess Algae. "Our goal for Phase II is to satisfactorily demonstrate the commercial viability of our technology. We plan to utilize third-party verification for productivity, harvest densities and product value concerning lipid content and composition."

Since the Phase I launch in October 2009, BioProcess Algae has demonstrated the scalability of the Grower Harvester technology to make possible this second phase of the project.  BioProcess Algae plans to have a public unveiling of the project in the near future.  More information and photos of the Phase II project can be found at www.gpreinc.com/BioProcess-Algae.

About Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc .

Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:GPRE) is North America's fourth largest ethanol producer, operating a total of eight ethanol plants in Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska and Tennessee with annual expected operating capacity totaling approximately 657 million gallons. Green Plains also markets and distributes ethanol for four third-party ethanol producers with annual expected operating capacity totaling approximately 360 million gallons. Green Plains owns 51% of Blendstar, LLC, a biofuel terminal operator which operates nine blending or terminaling facilities with approximately 495 million gallons per year of total throughput capacity in seven states in the south central United States. Green Plains operates grain storage facilities and complementary agronomy and petroleum businesses in Iowa, southern Minnesota and western Tennessee.