Research Alliance formed to advance
biofuel development
Chevron Corporation and the United States Department
of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL),
announced an alliance to advance the development of renewable transportation
fuels.
Chevron Technology Ventures LLC (CTV), a subsidiary
of Chevron Corporation, and NREL signed a five-year agreement to
research and develop new production technologies for biofuels. Researchers
from CTV and NREL will collaborate on projects to develop the next
generation of process technologies that will convert cellulosic
biomass, such as forestry and agricultural wastes, into biofuels
such as ethanol and renewable diesel.
“Our goal is to further diversify the world’s
energy sources in order to help meet the growth in future energy
demand,” said Don Paul, vice president and chief technology
officer, Chevron Corporation.“
CTV also will fund research that complements DOE-sponsored
work at NREL on bio-oil reforming, a process by which bio-oils derived
from the decomposition of biological feedstocks are then converted
into hydrogen. This research may expedite the development of a feed-flexible,
distributed-reforming process for renewable hydrogen production
as well as provide the hydrogen necessary in some potential biofuels
conversion technologies.
“We believe that for the next generation
of biofuels production to become commercially viable there must
be flexibility to diversify the feedstocks, and the processes by
which the biofuels are produced must also increase in efficiency
and effectiveness, said Rick Zalesky, vice president, Biofuels and
Hydrogen, CTV. |
