Advanced Biofuels get organized: Low Carbon Synthetic Fuels Association forms; Masdar, SAFUG, Boeing, UOP join on salt-tolerant feedstocks initiative

Salicornia - a solt-tolerant (halophyte) biofuels feedstock

Advanced biofuels are organizing for the long-term.

Today, Boeing and UOP announced an initiative, with the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group consortium and the Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi, to examine the overall potential for sustainable, large-scale production of biofuels made from salicornia bigelovii and saltwater mangroves – plants known as halophytes.

The halophyte study will evaluate aquaculture management and practices, land use and energy requirements and identify any potential adverse ecological or social impacts associated with using halophytes for energy development, specifically for aviation biofuel development.

Masdar Institute is an independent, non-profit, research-driven graduate institution established with the support and cooperation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, recognized as one of the world’s premier scientific institutions. Yale University’s School of Forestry & Environmental Studies will also participate in the study. The results are expected to be available in late 2010.

Meanwhile, TRI, Rentech Inc., Velocys, Choren, Flambeau River Biofuels/Johnson Timber, AP Fuels and World GTL among other companies have banded to form the Low Carbon Synthetic Fuels Association to represent the biomass to liquid fuel industry using the Fischer-Tropsch process to produce synthetic renewable diesel and renewable jet fuel. The Association will focus on lobbying for advanced biofuels, and have received support from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, Auburn University, Audi America, Chemrec AB, Mercedes Benz USA, Pacific Renewable Fuels, Renewable Energy Institute International, and Volkswagen in comments delivered to the EPA on the importance of advanced drop-in biofuels that do not require infrastructure changes.

More about halophytes

Biologists writing in Science, and citing the work of University of Arizona plant biologist Robert Glenn, say that up to 63 billion gallons of ethanol could be produced on non-foodstock lands by using halophytes.

Jatropha, algae, camelina and halophytes are the feedstocks of choice for aviation: Boeing

Pilot farm grows salicornia in Mexico using seawater; potential biodiesel feedstock is brine-tolerant

More on Fischer-Tropsch fuels

ASTM aviation fuel subcommittee OK’s synthetic Fischer-Tropsch jet fuel

Biofuels Digest Special Report on Gasification & Pyrolysis

Airlines and military aviation turn to biofuels; South Africa’s Sasol in lead as jet synfuel producer

Biofuels Digest Special Report on Aviation Biofuels: Feedstocks

Rentech: 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy candidate profile

Dynamic Fuels: 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy candidate profile