Greentech Lead America: Biodico, a company that builds,
owns and operates sustainable biorefineries, has signed a new agreement with
the U.S. Navy for the development and evaluation of advanced biofuels and
bioenergy.
The partnership will jointly develop renewable fuel and
energy technologies that are appropriate for use at U.S. Naval and DoD
facilities worldwide. The collaboration between the Navy and Biodico
will optimize the operation of sustainable biorefineries producing renewable
petroleum diesel equivalent liquid fuels, bio-based products and energy using
renewable resources at Department of Defense (DoD) facilities.
The production process will also benefit the commercial
sector by providing a cost-effective process to produce renewable fuel and
energy in a sustainable manner. The collaboration is partially
supported by grants from the California Energy Commission.
The contract also includes a range of technologies
including but not limited to transesterification, gasification, gas to liquids,
hydrogenation, anaerobic digestion, catalysis, and the production and
processing of feedstocks and co-products.
The Navy was directed to reduce its dependence on
petroleum by 50 percent by 2020. By producing petroleum diesel
equivalent liquid fuels, bio-based products and energy on site, the Navy can
help meet this objective and provide better security for its energy supplies.
California State Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura
Hills), said, “This work is a direct result of California’s commitment to
reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The collaboration between
Biodico, the Navy and the California Energy Commission will enhance our
national security, provide new jobs and improve the environment.”
According to Pavley, the collaboration will demonstrate
and commercialize advanced biofuel and bioenergy technologies that will be
utilized throughout the world. The integration of sustainable
agriculture with renewable combined heat and power produced on-site will
produce inexpensive advanced biofuels.
“As part of this agreement we are building a
sustainable biorefinery at Naval Base Ventura County that will produce biofuel
and bioenergy at prices competitive with unsubsidized conventional fuel and
power. The facility is privately funded, with some of the
innovations supported by grants from the California Energy Commission. Sen.
Pavley’s landmark initiatives have helped make this project possible,” said
Biodico’s president and founder, Russell Teall.