Chevron, Weyerhaeuser form Catchlight joint venture to develop advanced biofuels, sustainable from “forest to fuel”

In Washington State, timber colossus Weyerhaeuser and Chevron announced a joint venture to explore cellulosic ethanol technologies. The new joint venture, Catchlight, will be based near Seattle at Weyerhaeuser’s offices, and will have up to 40 staff working on the research effort to develop non-foodstock based fuel, and a sustainable business model from “forest to fuel”. Specifically, the partner referred to the difficult challenges in harvesting biomass, converting to biofuels, and distributing to the market. The joint venture is an outcome of a research partnership between the two companies that commenced in the spring of last year.

The joint venture is the second forest-products deal announced by Chevron in recent months. Chevron Technology Ventures recently partnered with Georgia Tech, C2 Biofuels, the Georgia Research Alliance and one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s new BioEnergy Research Centers to explore the production of biofuels from forest products.

Also, Chevron Corp. and the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory announced an algae-based biodiesel research project. The project will focus on development of high-lipid content strains of microalgae.

NREL closed down an 18-year algae research effort in 1996 after concluding that the technology was commercially viable, but increases in oil prices have changed their thinking.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

Mascoma, Chevron partner to produce ethanol, lignin

[caption id="attachment_13431" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Mascoma's pilot cellulosic ethanol plant in Rome, NY"][/caption] In New Hampshire, Mascoma announced that it has entered i...

Chevron Technology Ventures partners with C2 biofuels on forest product biofuel research

Chevron Technology Ventures has partnered with Georgia Tech, C2 Biofuels, the Georgia Research Alliance and one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s new BioEnergy Research Centers to explore the ...

Today in Biofuels: Chevron, Weyerhaeuser form next-gen biofuels venture; EPA’s vast powers under Energy Act; new Land Rover biodiesel-electric hybrid concept

Top Story: In Washington State, timber colossus Weyerhaeuser and Chevron announced a new partnership to explore cellulosic ethanol technologies. The new joint venture, Clearlight, will be based nea...

UOP, Ensyn form Envergent Technologies joint venture to make pyrolysis oils from biomass for power gen, heat and transport fuel

In Illinois, UOP and Ensyn announced the formation of a new joint venture, dubbed Envergent Technologies, that will market technologies and equipment for generating power, transportation fuel and heat...

Chevron

Website: www.chevron.com Tel: (925) 842-1000 Address: 6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon, CA 94583 Type: Producer - advanced biofuels research - investor - biodiesel Fin...

Australia’s Biofuels Partnership, Canada’s Pacific Cascade Minerals partner to develop, market BioCube biodiesel processors

In Australia, Biofuel Partnership Limited and Canada's Pacific Cascade Minerals have signed an LOI to form a JV to develop and market The Biofuel Partnership’s BioCube technology. The BioCube is a c...