National Marine Manufacturers Association endorses use of Gevo's isobutanol in the marine fuel market

Gevo has received an endorsement for the use of its renewable isobutanol by the marine industry, following support and recommendation for the use of isobutanol by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) as an effective, less damaging, more suitable biofuel alternative than ethanol for powering various types of marine and recreational boat engines.

The NMMA is an association representing the recreational boating industry in North America. Its member companies produce more than 80% of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers throughout the US and Canada.

Over the last five years, the NMMA has worked together with Gevo, the US Department of Energy (DOE), Argonne National Laboratory, the US Coast Guard and others on the testing of isobutanol in a variety of marine engines. During this time, the NMMA has gathered a large amount of data supporting the viability of isobutanol as the preferred renewable fuel blendstock for petrol-fuelled marine engines.

The studies showed that isobutanol fuel blends are a preferable power source for the marina markets. Isobutanol solves concerns that many boaters have with ethanol-blended fuels, which can damage internal engine parts. In the studies several advantages of isobutanol-blended fuel were apparent, including: provides higher energy content; prevents moisture absorption and phase separation; and reduces engine corrosion.

'We believe that the marine industry will be an important market for Gevo's isobutanol. We are pleased to have provided, from our plant in Luverne, the isobutanol needed to make the 16% isobutanol blended fuels that the studies required, for both on-water tests and in the laboratory,' says Patrick Gruber,Gevo's CEO. 'Isobutanol has proven to be an effective, highly compatible biofuel for the recreational boating industry.'