France-based industrial biotechnology company Global Bioenergies (earlier post) has signed a new development contract with Shell Global Solutions (Deutschland) GmbH (“Shell”) further to develop low- carbon road fuels. While the previous phases of the collaboration, starting at the end of 2022, were dedicated to exploring different potential options based on proprietary Global Bioenergies’ technology, the aim now is to focus on one specific route.

The solution developed by Global Bioenergies is unique, and we are looking forward to carrying on our collaboration. By combining the experience of Shell with the innovation of a start-up, we are looking to enable solutions to offer our customers more lower-carbon products. These technologies can be a part of the mosaic of sustainable components to support the energy transition.

—Matthias Mundt, General Manager Fuels Tech Future Mobility Portfolio at Shell

Global Bioenergies substitutes products of fossil origin with products of natural origin. In their quest for naturalness without compromising on performance, the cosmetics players are the company’s first customers; L’Oréal is its largest shareholder, with a 13.5% stake.

By 2027, the Company will be operating its innovative process in a large-scale plant. By 2030, the Company plans to become a leader in the huge emerging market for sustainable aviation fuels.

The core of Global Bioenergies’ technology is a process that converts plant-derived resources into isobutene—a heavily used platform molecule that historically has been derived solely from oil. Isobutene represents a global market of 15 million tonnes and US$20 billion.

To achieve this, Global Bioenergies engineered a strain of bacteria that converts sugars into isobutene.