Genecor hosted a private tour of its Bay Area Research and Development headquarters showcasing the recently announced collaborations for developing sustainable fuels, chemicals, and other products that will reduce carbon emissions and contribute to energy independence by using renewable raw materials.
The event profiled three Genencor initiatives launched in the past 10 months – its joint venture, DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE); collaboration with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to make BioIsoprene™ (a synthetic rubber alternative); and collaboration with Huntsman Textile Effects on a biobased bleaching process.
“We’re joining forces with major industry players to tackle today’s most pressing global challenges – how to use renewable raw materials to make the fuels and materials advanced societies need,” Genencor CEO Tjerk de Ruiter says. “In doing this, we are pointing to exciting new opportunities for growing American, and global, prosperity in the green economy.”
“The initiatives with DuPont and Goodyear are pointing the way to a new economy,” says Genencor’s Executive Vice President of Business Development Philippe Lavielle. “This includes delivering a reliable supply of fuel made from biomass and a renewable biobased alternative to a key petrochemical in synthetic rubber production. We’re meeting the technical milestones to get these projects to demonstration scale for fast-track commercialization. They represent the vast potential for biorefineries.”
“DDCE’s Vonore, Tennessee, demo plant is on track for completion in 2010,” said DDCE CEO Joseph Skurla. “Within two to three years people will be fueling their tanks with ethanol made from corn cobs and switchgrass.”