Gevo and Praj team up to commercialize renewable isobutanol, jet fuel and isooctane in India



Type of post: NEWS.

Gevo, Inc. (Gevo) and Praj Industries Ltd (Praj) keep a longstanding partnership based on their shared vision of the utilization of renewable resources and renewable energy to decarbonize transportation fuels. In November 2015, they entered into a license agreement and a joint development agreement to enable the licensing of Gevo’s isobutanol technology to processors of non-corn based sugars, including the majority of Praj’s global customer base consisted of ethanol plant owners. Pursuant to those agreements, Praj adapted Gevo’s technology to use sugar cane and molasses feedstocks and, in July 2017, they confirmed that the adaptation was ready.

Figure 1. Gevo and Praj Industries to commercialize renewable isobutanol, jet fuel and isooctane in India

The partnership continues to take concrete steps and Gevo has just announced the signing of three new agreements with Praj:
1. A binding, definitive Construction License Agreement (product of the aforementioned development agreement) to commercialize the production of renewable isobutanol using sugary-based feedstocks, such as juice, syrup and molasses made of sugarcane and sugar beets. Praj will provide engineering procurement and construction services to certain third party customers using a Process Design Package (PDP) that incorporates Gevo’s proprietary isobutanol biocatalyst and is designed for use with sugary-based feedstocks. The PDP is jointly owned by Gevo and Praj.
2. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to commercialize Gevo’s renewable hydrocarbons products in India, including Gevo’s renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) and renewable isooctane derived from Gevo’s renewable isobutanol. The MoU contemplates two phases.  In phase one, Praj will implement a pilot plant in India for the purpose of introducing Gevo’s technology to potential customers.  Following phase one, Praj and Gevo expect to enter into a commercial license agreement for the production of renewable hydrocarbons. Together, Gevo and Praj expect to scale up quickly and be ready for the Indian market as early as 2020.
3. A new Joint Development Agreement and a new Development License Agreement to continue their joint development efforts to produce isobutanol using: sugarcane juice, syrup and molasses; sugar beet juice, syrup, molasses and pulp; cassava; rice; wheat; sorghum; bagasse; rice straw; wheat straw; corn stover; cotton stalk; empty fruit bunches. Gevo and Praj are nearing the completion of work to develop a process design package to use agricultural residues. These second generation biomass feedstocks are the lowest cost feedstocks in some markets and have the additional benefit of having a very low carbon footprint.
Press release: “Gevo to Work With Praj Industries to Commercialize Renewable Isobutanol, Jet Fuel and Isooctane in India”, 9/4/2019.

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