Futurol will be getting a new participant in its second-generation bioethanol research and development project as French oil major Total has announced it will be coming onboard. The eight-year project, estimated to cost an approximate €74 million, will develop a process to produce bioethanol by fermenting non-food lignocellulosic biomass and verify its industrial viability.
In addition to providing Futurol with technical expertise and financing, Total brings to the table its industrial expertise in blending biocomponents with existing automotive fuels.
Futurol supplements Total’s effort in the field of bio-dimethyl ether (bio-DME) conducted at the European Union level with Volvo, as well as Group research and development to develop thermochemical production — involving conversion by heating and chemical reaction — of second-generation biofuels.