LanzaTech Produce Biofuel From Waste Gas Streams with Indian Oil

New Zealand based LanzaTech have partnered with IndianOil to implement its Bioethanol production technology that uses industrial waste gas as a feedstock. 

Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO, LanzaTech:

“Our goal is to show that there will be improved profitability and an overall reduction of the carbon footprint in IndianOil refineries. It will also enable IndianOil to comply with that country’s renewable fuel mandates. We are pleased to collaborate with IndianOil to bring a new, indigenous resource into India’s liquid transportation fuel pool.”

LanzaTech technology converts carbon monoxide into ethanol; first the waste gas is captured from industrial processes and prepared for being sent into a bioreactor, where microbes ferment the carbon source into ethanol. The interesting thing about the technology is that it not only consumes what would normally be polluting gas emissions, but converts the waste into something of commercial value giving extra incentive for companies to use the technology. The company claims that its technology can be used on any waste gas or biomass resource (such as household waste). Currently, LanzaTech is collaborating with several companies globally in the steel, chemicals and coal industries to implement its technology more widely. Another interesting point about LanzaTech’s process is that it isn’t limited to producing ethanol fuel; it can be used to produce industrial platform chemicals as well.

In a bid to cut its emissions, the Indian government has set a target for all gasoline in the country to be blended with 5% ethanol produced from sustainable sources that don’t compete for food production. As India’s largest oil company (and largest company of any kind), which puts this primarily on IndiaOil’s shoulders. IndianOil is exploring ways to meet this target.

The deal between the two companies could be the first step towards wide spread use of biofuel in one of the most populous countries in the world; the deal is initially for a demonstration of the technology, but if the demonstration succeeds it is likely that this will expand. After the demonstration, both companies will use the exercise to work on the economics and feasibility of scaling up the process for commercial use.