Cellulosic ethanol, as an end fuel, is identical to ethanol but it can offer up to 90% less lifecycle CO2 [image-nocss] emissions than gasoline, the companies said. It is a key part of Shell's strategic investment and development program in sustainable biofuels.
"I am excited we are leading the pack in cellulosic ethanol production technology and, with this event, showing what is possible in the future," said Dr. Graeme Sweeney, Shell executive vice president of future fuels and CO2. "While it will be some time before general customers can buy this product at local service stations, we are working with governments to make large-scale production economic."
"We're proud of this world-first," said Brian Foody, CEO of Iogen. "Building a demo plant is one thing, but you then need to go through the process of operating the new technology at scale, learning, modifying and lowering costs. With the volumes we're producing today, we're confident about the future."Canada's transport and infrastructure minister John Baird, a longtime advocate of cellulose ethanol, added, "This one small retail station in Ottawa is one big step forward for advanced biofuels globally."Iogen, based in Ottawa, is a leading biotechnology firm specializing in cellulosic ethanol--a fully renewable transportation fuel made from agricultural residue that can be used in today's cars. The company has been producing cellulosic ethanol at its Ottawa demonstration plant since 2004.
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