Shell joins the energy majors in building up its green energy profile

Biofuels International
25 March 2010

The Netherlands-based energy major Shell has started up its biopetrol demonstration facility in Madison, Wisconsin, US.

The plant is the outcome of a joint biopetrol research and development effort between Shell and Wisconsin’s Virent Energy Systems.

The plant is billed as the world’s first demonstration plant converting plant sugars into petrol and petrol blend components as an alternative to ethanol.

The plant has the capacity to produce up to 10,000 gallons of the fuel each year, which will be used for engine and fleet testing.

The new biofuel can be blended with petrol in high concentrations for use in standard petrol engines. The new product has the potential to eliminate the need for specialised infrastructure, engine modifications, and blending equipment necessary for the use of petrol containing more than 10% ethanol.

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