Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ:GEVO) reported that it has closed production of the globe’s first cellulosic renewable jet fuel, intended for commercial flights. The company adapted its patented technologies to change cellulosic sugars into renewable isobutanol, which was further changed into Alcohol-to-Jet fuel.
This ATJ fulfills the ASTM D7566 specifications enabling it to be deployed for commercial flights. The reconsiderations to the ASTM D7566 description, which happened earlier this year, covers ATJ from renewable isobutanol, irrespective of the carbohydrate feedstock.
The highlights
Gevo produced more than 1,000 gallons of the ATJ. Alaska Airlines is anticipated to fly the first commercial flight utilizing this cellulosic jet fuel in coming months. The company is of view that it would be the first commercial flight operated on a cellulosic renewable jet fuel. It comes on the back of the 2 commercial flights flown by Alaska Airlines on ATJ in June 2016. The ATJ for these flights came from isobutanol manufactured at Gevo’s Luverne, MN, production center utilizing maintainable corn as the sugar feedstock.
This cellulosic ATJ was manufactured in conjunction with the NARA, the entity that supplies the sugars from forest residuals. Gevo manufactured the cellulosic renewable isobutanol at its MO demonstration facility that it jointly runs with ICM Inc. The renewable isobutanol was later transported to biorefinery facility in TX that company runs with South Hampton Resources.
The management view
Dr. Patrick Gruber, the CEO of Gevo, said that production of cellulosic ATJ eliminates all concerns regarding if cellulosic sugars can be turned into isobutanol using company’s technology. ATJ technology then dependably changes isobutanol into renewable jet fuel, irrespective of the sugar source. The CEO said that he is looking forward to witnessing this fuel power in Alaska Airlines flight in coming period.
He congratulated NARA members and team at Gevo, along with the National Institute of Food & Agriculture and U.S. Department of Agriculture, who provided funds for the work. Adding to it, Sir Richard Branson said that they have long championed the advancement of commercial jet fuel formed from renewable sources. He is delighted that the first commercial aerospace consuming cellulosic jet fuel is to be run by Alaska Airlines.
