Audi beefs up collaboration with French Biotech to extend biofuels scope

Car giant Audi is entering a renewed collaboration agreement with French renewable energy firm Global Bioenergies to promote the development of biofuels.

The two companies recently announced the delivery by Global Bioenergies to Audi of a first batch of isobutene-derived isooctane (using biomass products such as wood chips), a premium drop-in fuel for gasoline engines.

Global Bioenergies had produced isobutene using its pilot plant located on the agri-business site of Pomacle, France. The isobutene was then shipped to Germany and converted into isooctane.

The initial collaboration, expected to end in 2016, also encompasses the delivery of larger batches that will allow Audi to run comprehensive engine testing and thus validate the specifications of Global Bioenergies' isooctane. Global Bioenergies will use its Demo plant, presently under construction on the site of the Leuna refinery, to produce these batches.

The now signed extension and enhancement of the collaboration agreement between the two companies focuses on making Global Bioenergies' technology accessible for non-biomass derived carbon sources such as CO2 or CO and energy sources such as green hydrogen produced from wind or solar energy.

Reiner Mangold, Audi's head of sustainable product development, said: "The two principal next steps we see on the path towards commercialisation of Audi e-benzin consist in upscaling Global Bioenergies' technology towards the demonstration scale, which is on its way in Leuna, as well as ensuring the technology can work with non-biomass derived feedstock according to Audi's e-fuel strategy."

Marc Delcourt, CEO at Global Bioenergie, added: "Isooctane is a premium gasoline, displaying both a high octane rating and a low volatility. Targeting its large scale production will benefit from extending our process compatibility to various feedstocks that do not compete with neither the food nor the feed production."

This new agreement includes the payment of upfront and milestone fees, as well as the possibility for Audi to acquire shares of Global Bioenergies corresponding to less than 1% of its capital.