Best Project (pilot) Award: Gevo, Virent, Avantium \u2014 renewable paraxylene<\/a><\/p>\nMajor Investors<\/b><\/p>\n
Royal Dutch Shell
\nCargill Ventures
\nHonda Strategic Ventures
\nVenture Investors LLC
\nStark Investments<\/p>\n
3 Top Past Milestones<\/b><\/p>\n
1. Virent and Shell start production at the world\u2019s first biogasoline demonstration plant in Madison, Wisconsin. The plant produces up to 10,000 gallons per year of biogasoline.
\n2. Virent produces biogasoline from corn stover and pine harvest forest residuals, as a recipient of the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s (DOE) February 2010 grant to the National Advanced Biofuels Consortium (NABC).
\n3. Virent produces Paraxylene from plant sugars, producing the missing 70% needed to create 100% renewable PET packaging. IN 2011, Virent and Coca-Cola announce partnership to use Paraxylene to make 100% plant-based bottles.<\/p>\n
In May 2013, Virent announced the delivery of 100 gallons of its bio-based jet fuel to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for testing purposes. Product testing will begin at Wright Patterson Air Force Base to validate Virent\u2019s jet fuel against the standards required for qualification and approval of new aviation turbine fuels established by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The validation plan includes fit-for-purpose, fuel system and combustor rig testing.<\/p>\n
The jet fuel was produced at a new Virent demonstration plant built to produce drop-in jet and diesel fuels from 100% renewable plant sugars.<\/p>\n
The plant was constructed at the company\u2019s facility in Madison, Wisconsin under a $1.5 Million award received in 2011 from the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, and commissioned in January. It has the capacity to produce up to 5,000 total gallons of fuel per year.<\/p>\n
3 Major Milestone Goals for 2014\u201016<\/b><\/p>\n
1. Improve our biomass deconstruction capabilities of corn stover, wood and bagasse to demonstrate cost effective conversion to chemicals and drop-in fuels.
\n2. Form additional strategic partnerships in the chemical supply chain to accelerate commercialization.
\n3. Gain necessary financial and partnership commitment to construct and commission initial commercial plant.<\/p>\n
Business Model:<\/b>
\nOwner\/operator and licensing within strategic relationships.<\/p>\n
Competitive Edge(s):<\/b>
\nVirent\u2019s BioForming technology provides numerous competitive advantages:<\/p>\n
Premium Liquid Fuel Products:
\nVirent\u2019s renewable hydrocarbons can be used as chemicals or blended to make premium quality gasoline, diesel and jet fuels with global market acceptance. Virent\u2019s fuel products can readily enter the market using existing pipelines and fuel pumps to power today\u2019s vehicles at high blends.<\/p>\n
Feedstock Flexibility:
\nUnlike other biofuel companies which are limited to using a small number of conventional feedstocks, Virent is able to use a wide variety of cellulosic feedstocks. Sugar mixtures, including 5 and 6 carbon sugars, disaccharides, and other water soluble polysaccharides derived from sugar and energy crops, as well as agricultural and forestry residues, are possible feedstocks. This flexibility translates into more biomass options and lower input costs.<\/p>\n
Robust Catalytic Process:
\nCatalysts provide increased productivity due to faster chemical reactions, proven process reliability, reduced energy requirements, and demonstrated scalability to large production volumes. In contrast to biological processes, which depend on living enzymes or microbes, using catalysts allows Virent the capability of utilizing variable feedstocks and of producing a range of fuel and chemical products.<\/p>\n
Cost-Competitive Biorefinery Solution:
\nFeedstocks and end products can be optimized based on local market conditions. This fast and continuous (versus batch) process lowers capital expenditures, while low energy requirements reduce operating costs. Together, these attributes provide a biorefinery solution with a broad mix of high value products and attractive market returns.<\/p>\n
The BioForming process is a practical biorefinery alternative that can speed the use of nonfood plant sugars as an energy source in place of petroleum, thus decreasing dependence on fossil hydrocarbons while minimizing the impact on global water and food supplies. Virent\u2019s ability to produce hydrocarbon products that are both sustainable and economical is truly transformative.<\/p>\n
Research, or Manufacturing Partnerships or Alliances<\/b><\/p>\n
Strategic Partners: Shell began collaborating with Virent on liquid fuels research and development in 2007 and invested in Virent in 2010, positioning the BioForming process for commercial deployment. In parallel, Coca-Cola has been funding development of the Virent process since 2011 for cost effective manufacture of Paraxylene. Cargill has provided key input on feedstocks for the BioForming process since its original investment in 2007. Finally, Honda has provided engine testing services and guidance of their requirements and outlook on transportation fuels and related policy issues.<\/p>\n
Other Partners on Government Grants: Virdia, NABC, NREL, Catchlight Energy, Iowa State University, BP, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Washington State University, Pall Corporation, Albemarle, and TESORO.<\/p>\n
Strong Intellectual Property Portfolio
\nVirent has a strong intellectual property folder, with over 45 issued patents and over 150 pending patent applications, covering 28 different technology families. These patents, coupled with a strong trade secret portfolio, protect every phase of Virent\u2019s technology, including methods, processes, the systems in use, and the activities undertaken to produce products. The ongoing issuance of patents, along with prudent management of new and existing filings, is vital to Virent\u2019s competitive advantage. The strength of Virent\u2019s IP portfolio is confirmed by the industry knowledgeable strategic collaborators that have funded Virent both through investment and development dollars.<\/p>\n
Stage<\/b> (Bench, pilot, demonstration, commercial)
\nPilot\/Demonstration<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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