Audi and Global Bioenergies recently announced a milestone test for a renewable gasoline blend called “e-benzin” (e-gasoline) fuel containing isobutene-derived compounds produced by Global Bioenergies. Around 60 litres (15.9 gal) of the e-gasoline (essentially a liquid isooctane) were produced for Audi. In the first step, Global Bioenergies produces the gaseous bio-isobutene in a demonstration plant in Leuna, Germany, and then the Fraunhofer Center for Chemical Biotechnological Processes (CBP) in Leuna uses additional hydrogen to transform bio-isobutene into isooctane. The fuel is said to be free of sulfur and benzene, and is therefore low in pollutants when it burns.
Audi tested the e-gasoline at an A4 2.0 TFSI model provided by the carmaker at the Monthery speed ring. This event reportedly marked the launch of the next phase of commercial preparation: on-road testing using regular vehicles.
As a high-purity synthetic fuel with very good anti-knock properties, Audi said the e-gasoline offers the possibility to further increase engine compression and therefore boost efficiency. Over the medium term, Audi and Global Bioenergies will look to modify the production process so that it will only require CO2 and hydrogen produced from renewable resources as the feedstock source for the e-gasoline.
The e-fuel production capacity is expected to significantly increase in 2019 with the addition of a dedicated fuel production unit at the Leuna demo plant, which will allow the production of renewable gasoline batches.
Bio-isobutanol producer, Gevo, is also looking to develop the bio-isooctane markets in the USA and in Europe. Gevo recently noted during its quarterly earnings conference call that it is looking to expand or modify the hydrocarbon demo plant at South Hampton Resources in Silsbee, Texas, to increase capacity for its bio-isooctane, which uses isobutanol as feedstock. The vast majority of sales for Gevo’s bio-isooctane are expected to go into the European Union.
Early last year, Gevo entered a letter of intent with HCS Holding GmbH for a five-year offtake agreement on isooctane. In the first phase of the agreement, HCS will purchase isooctane produced at Gevo’s demo hydrcarbons facility in Silsbee. This phase was expected to continue until completion of Gevo’s future larger-scale hydrocarbon plant that is likely to be built either in Luverne or an expansion in Silsbee. In the second phase, HCS will agree to purchase around 300,000-400,000 gallons/year of isooctane coming from Gevo’s future hydrocarbons facility in Luverne under a five-year offtake deal. HCS is expected to market and distribute Gevo’s products globally on a non-exclusive basis.
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