IBN-One – A Joint Venture to build a bio-isobutene plant
Global Bioenergies, one of
the few companies worldwide that is developing a process to convert renewable
resources into hydrocarbons through fermentation, has just taken a great leap
forward after starting the commercialization of its technology. The company was
founded in 2008 jointly by Marc Delcourt (a biotechnologies entrepreneur) and
Philippe Marlière (the program’s creator) and it has matured through several
stages:
Stage
1: Proof of concept. Laboratory-scale prototype.
Stage
2: Refinement of the process on a laboratory scale.
Stage
3: Industrialization. An industrial
pilot with an isobutene production capacity of 10 tonnes per year was set up at
the Pomacle-Bazancourt
agro-industrial site close to Reims.
Stage
4: Commercialization.
Figure
1. IBN-one Logo
This
fourth stage (launching the technology in the marketplace) is only just
beginning. Global Bioenergies and Cristal Union announced in May that they had formed IBN-One, a joint venture to build and operate the
first plant in France converting renewable feedstock into isobutene. In fact, Global
Bioenergies has granted IBN-One a non-exclusive license to use its isobutene
process for a 50,000 tonnes capacity plant to be located in France. IBN-One is
expected to fund the cost of the engineering work with a financing round
scheduled for 2016. In this sense, Global
Bioenergies communicated on June 11 having been already granted a “Zero Percent
Interest Innovation Loan” (Prêt à Taux Zéro Innovation) from Bpifrance to adapt its isobutene process to
certain specific industrial environments. This financing is structured in the
form of a 1.4 million euro interest free loan over seven years.
Construction and start-up of the plant will require additional funding. Ahead of IBN-One’s formation, Global Bioenergies and Cristal Union have conducted a preliminary design study at several potential industrial sites. Looking at the medium term, Global Bioenergies states in its web that the tax incentives for biofuels existing in Europe and the USA would enable it to achieve profitability at its first few plants at oil prices above $50 per barrel.
Construction and start-up of the plant will require additional funding. Ahead of IBN-One’s formation, Global Bioenergies and Cristal Union have conducted a preliminary design study at several potential industrial sites. Looking at the medium term, Global Bioenergies states in its web that the tax incentives for biofuels existing in Europe and the USA would enable it to achieve profitability at its first few plants at oil prices above $50 per barrel.
