The renewable fuels produced by this process are fungible replacements for petroleum-based jet and diesel fuel. The Biofuels ISOCONVERSION process includes patented Catalytic Hydrothermolysis (CH) reactor technology, developed by Applied Research Associates (ARA), which utilizes water as a catalyst to quickly and inexpensively convert plant and algal oils into stable intermediate oil products, which are very similar to petroleum crude oil. The intermediate oils are processed with hydrogen using CLG’s ISOCONVERSION catalysts to produce renewable jet fuel and diesel.

This agreement includes a Master Services Agreement for CLG and ARA Engineering Services and expands the use of this unique, low cost refining process beyond North America to global jet and diesel fuels production, including the upgrade of the existing 50 million gallon per year Aemetis biodiesel plant in Kakinada, India and other Aemetis projects worldwide.

—Leon de Bruyn, Managing Director of Chevron Lummus Global

Aemetis owns and operates a 55-million-gallon renewable fuels plant in California; and built, owns and operates a 50-million-gallon capacity renewable chemicals and advanced fuels production facility on the east coast of India. Aemetis operates a research and development laboratory at the Maryland Biotech Center, and holds five granted patents and nine pending patents on its Z-microbe and related technology for the production of renewable fuels and chemicals.

The company is developing a consolidated bioprocessing approach using the Z-Microbe to produce isoprenes, monoterpenes and fuels from sugars. The licensing of the CLG ISOCONVERSION process opens up another major pathway for the company for the production of renewable fuels.