Shell builds biofuels pilot plant in Texas

Shell has built a drop-in biofuels pilot plant in Texas, based on Virent's bioforming technology.

Shell invested in Virent in June 2010, aiding the opening of the Virent 'Eagle' demonstration plant, producing 10,000 gallons per year of the drop-in renewable fuel, biogasoline.

The biofuels pilot plant has been constructed at Shell's Westhollow Technology Center in Houston, USA, and will produce drop-in biofuels rather than ethanol. It uses a thermo-catalytic process technology licensed from its commercial partner Virent.

The plant is set to explore a range of feedstocks, starting with sugars. An expansion that is currently under way, will later also allow for exploration into non-food cellulosic alternatives. This will lead to the production of a range of products, including petrol, diesel and jet fuel.

'This allows us to explore further biofuels options as we continue to actively manage our advanced biofuels pathways to identify a feasible set of commercial solutions,' says Luis Scoffone, Shell Alternative Energies VP.