BP and DuPont to develop biofuels
Posted: 26 June 2006
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BP and DuPont formed their partnership to develop, produce and market a next generation of biofuels to help meet increasing global demand for renewable transport fuels.
The two companies have been working together since 2003 to develop advanced biofuels with properties that can help overcome the limitations of existing biofuels. That work has now progressed to the point where they are able to bring the first jointly developed product to market.
The companies' joint strategy is to deliver advanced biofuels that will provide improved options for expanding energy supplies and accelerate the move to renewable transportation fuels which lower overall greenhouse gas emissions.
The companies are leveraging DuPont's biotechnology and bio-manufacturing capabilities with BP's fuels technology expertise and market know-how.
By pooling their knowledge and expertise, the two companies aim to be the world leaders in the development and production of advanced biofuels, driving the growth of biofuels, which today account for less than two percent of global transportation fuels.
Current projections show that biofuels could become a significant part of the transport fuel mix in the future – possibly up to 20-30% in key markets.
The first product to market will be biobutanol, which will be introduced in the United Kingdom as a gasoline bio-component. Initial introduction is targeted in the UK in 2007 where BP and DuPont are working with British Sugar, a subsidiary of Associated British Foods plc, to convert the country's first ethanol fermentation facility to produce biobutanol.
Additional global capacity will be introduced as market conditions dictate and a feasibility study in conjunction with British Sugar is already underway to examine the possibility of constructing larger facilities in the UK.
Biobutanol's low vapour pressure and its tolerance to water contamination in gasoline blends facilitate its use in existing gasoline supply and distribution channels. It has the potential to be blended into gasoline at larger concentrations than existing biofuels without the need to retrofit vehicles and it offers better fuel economy than gasoline-ethanol blends, improving a car's fuel efficiency and mileage.
Biobutanol also enhances the performance of ethanol blends in gasoline by, amongst other things, reducing ethanol's impact on vapour pressure, one of the issues which hampers a wider use of ethanol in existing gasoline distribution channels.
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