Global Bioenergies and Audi have struck a deal to collaborate as they look to broaden the feedstock flexibility of the company’s Isobutene process.
The company is currently developing a process to convert renewable resources into hydrocarbons through fermentation.
The move comes after the two companies announced the delivery by Global Bionenergies to Audi of a first batch of isobutene-derived isooctane, a premium drop-in fuel for gasoline engines.
The initial collaboration had been expected to end in 2016.
The new agreement includes the payment of upfront and milestone fees, as well as the possibility for Audi to acquire shares of Global Bioenergies corresponding to less than 1% of its capital.
Marc Delcourt, chief executive at Global Bioenergies adds: “Isooctane is a premium gasoline, displaying both a high octane rating and a low volatility.
“Targeting its large scale production will benefit from extending our process compatibility to various feedstocks that do not compete with neither the food nor the feed production.”
The signed extension and collaboration agreement between the two companies focuses on making Global Bioenergies technology accessible for non-biomass derived carbon sources such as CO2 or CO and energy sources such as green hydrogen produced from wind or solare energy.
Global Bioenergies will use its Demo plant, presently under construction on the site of the Leuna refinery, to produce these batches.
Reiner Mangold, Head of sustainable product development at Audi declares: “The two principal next steps we see on the path towards commercialization of Audi e-benzin consist in upscaling
Global Bioenergies’ technology towards the demonstration scale, which is on its way in Leuna, as well as ensuring the technology can work with non-biomass derived feedstock according to Audi’s e-fuel strategy.”
