Resource World Magazine

62 www.resourceworld.com A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 2 0 Green Technologies by Jane Foutz REPLACING FOSSIL FUELS WITH CLEANER ALTERNATIVES As reported in the Outlook 2020 issue of Resource World, renewable chemical and advanced biofuel company Gevo, Inc. [GEVO-NASDAQ], headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, is developing a product portfolio that replaces fossil- based fuels and harmful chemicals with low-carbon, cleaner alternatives. Gevo is commercializing the next generation of gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel fuel with the goal of achieving zero carbon emissions. The company is transparent with its sustainability practices and will be using the IBM Corp. [IBM-NYSE] Blocksize Capital blockchain technology to track its sustainable agriculture efforts. Blockchain technology enables everyone involved in a transaction to know with certainty what happened and when it happened. It con - firms all parties are seeing the same thing, without the need for an intermediary to provide assurance, and without the need to reconcile data afterwards. Gevo's commercialization process is advancing well. In December 2019, the company signed a Fuel Sales Agreement with Scandinavian Airline System (SAS) to produce and supply sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for use and distribution in low carbon fuel regions of the United States. With this new supply contract, Gevo will supply SAF to SAS from Gevo's expanded Luverne, Minnesota plant, which will be constructed over the next several years. Says Dr. Patrick Gruber, Chief Executive Officer of Gevo, "SAS is a pioneer in the use of sustainable aviation fuel, such as launching a new ancillary product that gives travelers the option to reduce their climate impact through the purchase of biofuel when booking a ticket, or at any time before departure. This agreement is another step in that innovative approach to sustainability." "SAS has ambitious goals in reducing its climate-affecting emissions by 25% in 2030. To do this and to bridge the gap to future zero emission aviation, we are determined to increase the use of biofu - els," says Lars Andersen Resare, Head of Sustainability, SAS. "This agreement is yet another important step for SAS transformation toward a more sustainable aviation." Gevo's global fuel supplier, Avfuel Corp. has delivered Gevo's SAF to Banyan Air Service at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE), Florida, where the com - pany reports that the fuel accounts for a 2-tonne reduction in lifecycle CO 2 emis- sions, furthering sustainability goals for Banyan Air Service and Avfuel. The fuel was allotted to operators via commitments prior to its delivery. "Avfuel continues to work diligently to source, test, blend, and ship Gevo's SAF, which continues to raise the awareness of SAF. These efforts are important because they show the viability of SAF and express to corporations that they have a choice when flying their corporate jets. This edu - cation shows other fixed-based operators what they provide their customers," stated Dr. Gruber. To supply the fuel, Avfuel acquires a concentrated SAF delivery from Gevo and blends it with petroleum-based jet fuel. This mixture is then tested for fuel qual - ity and to ensure it meets all standards associated with jet fuel. Created from corn starch, for every one million gallons of the concentrated SAF that is produced, approximately 10 million pounds of ani- mal feed and protein is sold into the food chain, and the final jet fuel product burns cleaner, reducing carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. In December 2019, Avfuel began deliv- ering Gevo's sustainable aviation fuel to business jet manufacturer, Bombardier Inc. [BBD.A, BBD.B-TSX] with administra - tive headquarters in Dorval Québec, for new customer aircraft deliveries in Canada. "We are committed to playing our role in making SAF a reality in the marketplace. One of the best ways to do that at the moment is by demonstrating its use," said C. R. Sincock, Executive Vice President for Avfuel. Sincock continued, "By capitaliz - ing on opportunities to work with leading OEMs, Avfuel can help business aviation attain its sustainability goals. We appreci- ate Bombardier for its collaboration in this initiative and for our continued partner- ship with Gevo." Also in December 2019, Delta Air Lines Inc. [DAL-NYSE] entered an offtake agree- ment with Gevo for 10 million gallons per year of sustainable aviation fuel in the future. "Long-term investments, such as our agreement with Gevo are critical to Delta's goal to lower our carbon footprint while planning for a more sustainable future," stated Graeme Burnett, Senior Vice President, Fuel Management at Delta Air Lines. "Fuel is an airline's biggest area of impact and therefore presents our great - est opportunity to drive solutions that care for the planet." The companies expect the sustainable aviation fuel will be produced upon com - pletion of the expansion to Gevo's existing advanced biofuel production facility in Luverne, Minnesota. Gevo is also part - nering with customers in the Pacific Northwest where the company was first to make and supply wood-based jet fuel for Alaska Airlines in 2016. In a related 2019 development, Gevo provided the City of Seattle advanced low carbon fuels for their fleet automobiles. "We have such great potential in our busi - ness system to break paradigms as to what

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