Rentech: 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy candidate profile

Rentech
Based in: California
2008-09 ranking: Unranked

Business: The Company’s Rentech-SilvaGas biomass gasification process is the technology used in the only biomass gasifier operated at commercial scale in the United States. It can convert multiple biomass feedstocks into synthesis gas (syngas) for renewable power production, and can be integrated for conversion of syngas into complex hydrocarbons by the patented Rentech Process based on Fischer-Tropsch chemistry. The final products after upgrading are ultra-clean synthetic jet and diesel fuels, specialty waxes and chemicals

Model: Rentech’s business model encompasses being:
•   a developer/owner/operator of synthetic fuels and power facilities (particularly renewable energy facilities)
•   a developer of synthetic fuels and power facilities
•   a licensor of energy conversion technologies of biomass gasification and/or Fischer-Tropsch for the production of synthetic fuels and power facilities from renewable and fossil resources as well as a licensor of biomass gasification technology for repowering coal-fired power plants for production of renewable electricity.

Past milestones:

1. Agreement with eight major airlines to purchase up to 1.5 million gallons per year of renewable synthetic diesel fuel for use in ground service equipment at Los Angeles International Airport.
2. In August 2009, ASTM International’s full governance committee unanimously approved modifying the specifications for commercial aviation jet fuel to include up to a 50/50 blend of synthetic Fischer-Tropsch jet fuel.
3. Acquisition of 100% of SilvaGas Corporation and its commercially proven biomass gasification technology
4. Development of the Rialto Renewable Energy Center, which is anticipated to be the first of its kind commercial facility in the country that will convert urban green waste such as yard clippings and tree trimmings into approximately 9 million daily gallons of the clean diesel fuel.
5. 25% strategic investment in ClearFuels Technology Inc., a biomass gasification and project development company. ClearFuels owns a proprietary flexible biomass gasification technology platform that converts multiple rural cellulosic biomass feedstocks such as sugarcane bagasse and virgin wood waste into clean syngas suitable for integration with synthesis gas-to-liquids technologies.

Future milestones:

1.   Achieve development milestones for the proposed Rialto Renewable Energy Center:
a.   complete front-end engineering and design,
b.   file permit applications necessary for construction
c.   apply for Loan Guarantee with the U.S. Department of Energy
2.   License technologies for commercial deployment.
3.   Identify additional sites for development of clean energy projects.

Metrics: 2009: Revenue for the last twelve months ended June 30, 2009 is $233 million. 2008: $211 million. 2007: $132 million. Our Rentech-SilvaGas biomass gasification technology operated at a commercial scale of 400 tons per day. Our Product Demonstration Unit is a demonstration scale plant that produces 10 barrels per day of synthetic jet and diesel fuel. It is the only operating integrated synthetic fuels plant operating in the U.S. today.

Rentech quotable quotes:

“Depending on the feedstock, the fuels produced by Rentech’s technologies can have a lifecycle carbon footprint of near zero. The Company’s Rialto Renewable Energy Center, currently under development, is expected to produce diesel fuel from green woody waste, diverting the waste from landfills, and producing fuels with near-zero lifecycle CO2 profile.”

“RenJet, our military and commercial jet fuel, has all of the positive environmental and efficiency benefits of RenDiesel. Moreover, our jet fuel reduces aircraft particulate matter emissions by 96% in engine idle, a major source of ground level pollution. In addition, the lower density of RenJet fuel could enable aircraft to have a lower take-off weight, which conserves fuel and, therefore, lowers fuel consumption and operating costs. Alternatively, the lower density of RenJet fuel could allow aircraft to carry heavier payloads with the same volume of fuel when compared to traditional jet fuel.”

The Hot 50 for 2009-10 will be released Tuesday, 12/1. Between now and then, you’ll see profiles of potential candidates in the Digest, and you’ll have a chance to vote for your favorites. Reader response will count for 50 percent of a company’s overall score in the preparation of the rankings. The remaining 50 percent i

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