Shell and Iogen Increase Investment to Accelerate Commercialization of Cellulosic Ethanol

6 June 2010

Royal Dutch Shell plc and Iogen Corporation have made a further investment in Iogen Energy, their jointly owned subsidiary, for the purpose of accelerating the commercial deployment of Iogen Energy’s process for making cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residue.

As part of the ongoing joint development agreement between Shell, Iogen Corporation and Iogen Energy, Shell has made a significant incremental commitment to fund research and development activities at Iogen Energy until mid-2012.

Iogen Energy is currently operating its Ottawa demonstration plant on a continuous basis using its proven R7 technology release. Over the last 12 months, Iogen Energy has produced more than 170,000 gallons of cellulosic ethanol from wheat straw using the R7 technology. Shell’s additional funding will be used to develop and demonstrate Iogen Energy’s next two major technology releases, R8 and R9, which will significantly reduce the capital and operating costs per gallon of cellulosic ethanol.

The collaboration with Iogen Corporation in Iogen Energy is a key part of Shell’s strategic investment and development program in next generation biofuels using non-grain feedstocks. The fuel is made from raw materials such as wheat straw and promises to reduce CO₂ emissions by greater than 80% compared to gasoline.

Iogen Energy, a 50-50 joint venture between Shell and Iogen Corporation, is a leading biotechnology firm specializing in cellulosic ethanol, which it has been producing from wheat straw at its Ottawa demonstration plant since 2004.