Aug 13 2010
Cobalt Technologies, the leader in commercializing biobutanol as a renewable chemical and fuel, today announced it has signed an agreement with Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR), one of the world's largest publicly-owned engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance (EPCM) and project management companies.
Under the agreement, Fluor will provide engineering consulting services as Cobalt gears up to commercialize its biobutanol production technology. Additionally, Fluor will offer a broad range of EPCM services for Cobalt's demonstration and commercial-scale butanol production plants.
"We are very pleased to have Fluor as our strategic partner to help us design the most efficient, lowest cost system for producing our biobutanol," said Rick Wilson, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Cobalt Technologies. "Fluor's experience in designing and executing large projects, particularly refining projects, is unmatched in the world. We originally asked Fluor to provide an impartial analysis of our biobutanol production technology. Now, to have them sign a strategic agreement with us, truly validates our vision."
By partnering with Fluor, Cobalt Technologies ensures that best-in-class design, procurement and construction principles are applied to the design and construction of its upcoming demonstration plant and to its commercial-scale plants.
"We have examined many different biofuels technologies, and are choosing to work with those companies that we believe have the greatest potential to be commercialized economically and to make a major impact on achievement of the nation's alternative fuels goals," said John Hopkins, group executive of business development at Fluor. "We believe Cobalt's technology has great potential and are looking forward to helping them scale up rapidly."
Cobalt's technology converts non-food feedstock, such as forest waste and mill residues, into biobutanol. Cobalt's continuous butanol production system is based on advancements in microbial strain selection, bioreactor design and process engineering, resulting in a highly productive, capital-efficient, low-cost solution. This engineering foundation ensures the production process is able to scale up quickly while maintaining capital efficiency. Cobalt's technology reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% versus the production of gasoline.
The company recently demonstrated the conversion of beetle-killed lodgepole pine into a low-carbon, sustainable biofuel and chemical, which is currently being tested in engines by Colorado State University's renowned Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory.