BP Aiming for Two New Biofuels by 2014

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

 

British Petroleum, otherwise known as BP, could be helping to solve some of the sustainable energy transportation puzzle. The British oil and gas giant is trying out two new advanced biofuels in hopes that they will hit the market by 2014, according to a recent Bloomberg article.

BP has a working demonstration biobutanol plant in Hull, England.

BP is also planting grasses to support a proposed 36-million-gallon-a-year cellulosic ethanol plant in Florida, the article said.

For those who are looking for some background, Biobutanol is created by fermenting biomass. Biobutanol can mix with higher concentrated gasoline, while current bioethanol can be retrofitted to produce biobutanol, the article said.

Cellulosic ethanol, meanwhile, comes from various plants, grasses, or inedible plant parts. The article points to cellulosic ethanol being advantageous over sugarcane-based fuels because grass material needed for the fuel can be grown anywhere in the world, compared to sugarcane, which is limited to countries in the equator area.

Demand for biofuels will increase in the future. BP estimates that, by 2030, 9% of the world’s transportation fuel sources will come from biofuel, up from 3% now.

The Bloomberg article cites climate change, potential for increased market revenue for depressed farming communities, and energy security concerns as the driving catalyst for biofuels’ upward future trend. Philip New, CEO of BP’s biofuels unit, also states:

“If you believe that demand for transport fuels is going to grow significantly, if you believe that for the foreseeable future we’re going to carry on using internal combustion engines and liquid fuels, then biofuels are going to be the only complement to crude oil that’s out there.”

In the near future, BP is looking at Louisiana, Texas, and Florida, in which grass can be grown in order to support biofuel plants, New said. He also said BP, by 2024, is aiming to have barrel costs between $60 and $80, compared to today’s barrel value within the $140 to $150 range.

Sources: Bloomberg/ British Petroleum
Photo Credit: British Petroleum


Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

Latest CleanTechnica TV Video


Advertisement
 
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.

Adam Johnston

is expected to complete the Professional Development Certificate in Renewable Energy from the University of Toronto by December 2017. Adam recently completed his Social Media Certificate from Algonquin College Continuing & Online Learning. Adam also graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a three-year B.A. combined major in Economics and Rhetoric, Writing & Communications in 2011. Adam owns a part-time tax preparation business. He also recently started up Salay Consulting and Social Media services, a part-time business which provides cleantech writing, analysis, and social media services. His eventual goal is to be a cleantech policy analyst. You can follow him on Twitter @adamjohnstonwpg or check out his business www.salayconsultiing.com.

Adam Johnston has 305 posts and counting. See all posts by Adam Johnston