BP and Johnson Matthey license innovative waste-to-fuels technology to biofuels producer Fulcrum BioEnergy
- BP and Johnson Matthey announce the signing of the first licensing deal for their innovative, award-winning Fischer Tropsch technology
- This technology will support Fulcrum’s production of biojet fuel from municipal waste
BP and Johnson Matthey (JM) have signed an agreement with Fulcrum BioEnergy to license their Fischer Tropsch (FT) technology to support Fulcrum’s drive to convert municipal solid waste into biojet fuel.
BP and JM have developed a simple-to-operate and cost-advantaged FT technology that can operate both at large and small scale to economically convert synthesis gas, generated from sources such as municipal solid waste and other renewable biomass, into long-chain hydrocarbons suitable for the production of diesel and jet fuels. Fulcrum will use the BP and JM technology in their new Sierra BioFuels Plant located in Storey County, Nevada, approximately 20 miles east of Reno.
The Sierra plant will be the first commercial-scale plant in the US to convert municipal solid waste feedstock, or household garbage that would otherwise be landfilled, into a low-carbon, renewable transportation fuel. When the plant begins commercial operation, planned for the first quarter of 2020, Sierra is expected to convert approximately 175,000 tons of household garbage into approximately 11 million gallons of fuel each year: equivalent to the fuel needed for more than 180 return flights between London and New York.
Angelo Amorelli, BP’s technology vice-president of group research, said: “Through our partnership with Johnson Matthey, we have developed a robust high-quality technology built on great science and great engineering. Our technology can help deliver innovative low carbon fuels that can play an important role in the energy transition. We see this first licence as a stepping stone to other similar opportunities.”
Eugene McKenna, Business Development and Innovation Director at JM added: "JM is a leader in science that makes the world cleaner and healthier and in bringing this latest technology to market, we continue to apply our expertise to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. We are delighted that Fulcrum has selected this technology to support their ambitions in supplying renewable fuels at significant scale. This is an important step in decarbonising transportation fuels and we will continue to use our science and engineering skills to facilitate wider adoption of this technology."
Both BP and JM have been developing FT technology for over 30 years and in 1996 joined forces to incubate and further develop the technology. Together they have developed a system that delivers three times the productivity of a conventional multi-tubular fixed bed reactor and halves the capital expenditure when compared to traditional FT reactors. The technology also delivers significant environmental and operational benefits.
Working together, BP and JM won both the Research Project Award and the Oil and Gas Award at the prestigious IChemE Awards in November 2017 for their work on FT technology.
“We have been following BP and Johnson Matthey’s progress for several years, including the demonstrated performance and reliability of their innovative design. We are pleased to partner with them and license this improved FT technology for our Sierra BioFuels Plant,” said Jim Macias, Fulcrum BioEnergy President and Chief Executive Officer. “The BP/JM technology enhances the value of Fulcrum’s process for converting waste to low-carbon, drop-in fuels. We look forward to working with BP and JM as we build out our large development program.”
Further information
Contacts
BP press office, London: +44 (0)207 496 4076, bppress@bp.com
Johnson Matthey: Rebecca Williams, +44 (0)207 269 8400, Rebecca.Williams@matthey.com
About BP
- BP is committed to a lower carbon future, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its operations, improve its products and services to help customers lower their emissions, and create new low carbon businesses.
- Technology is ever-present in all that we do – from safely discovering and recovering oil and gas, to renewable energy, digital, and lower carbon fuels and products. We seek innovations that help to make our operations and products more efficient and sustainable.
- We have scientists and technologists at eight major technology centres in the US, UK, Asia and Germany. We complement our comprehensive research capability with external collaborations that provide a cross-cutting range of specialisms, supported by innovative academic programmes.
- For more information, please visit: www.bp.com/technology
Notes to editors
- Johnson Matthey is a global leader in science that enables a cleaner and healthier world. With over 200 years of sustained commitment to innovation and technological breakthroughs, we improve the function, performance and safety of our customers’ products. Our science has a global impact in areas such as low emission transport, pharmaceuticals, chemical processing and making the most efficient use of the planet’s natural resources. Today more than 14,000 Johnson Matthey professionals collaborate with our network of customers and partners to make a real difference to the world around us.
- For more information, please visit: www.bp.com/technology
About Fulcrum
- Based in Pleasanton, California, Fulcrum is leading the development of a reliable and efficient process for transforming municipal solid waste into transportation fuels including jet fuel and diesel. The company’s plants will provide customers with low-carbon drop-in fuel that is competitively priced with traditional petroleum fuel. Fulcrum, a privately held company, has aligned itself with strategic feedstock, technology and fuel offtake partners to further strengthen and accelerate the company's innovative approach to commercially producing large volumes of renewable fuel from municipal solid waste. For more information, please visit www.fulcrum-bioenergy.com
Notes to editors
- While fuel is generally blended, the Fulcrum bio-product has 80% less GHG emissions than a standard jet fuel. (Figures based on Fulcrum’s analysis)
- Approximately 1 ton of waste can produce 1 barrel of jet fuel.
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