German automaker Audi and France-headed biochemical process developer Global Bioenergies have announced that a key milestone has been reached in their multi-year agreement – renewable gasoline components were produced and have been shipped to Audi for engine testing.
Using its Leuna Demo plant, Global Bioenergies has produced high-purity renewable isobutene, which was further converted by the Fraunhofer Institute into high-performance gasoline additives including isooctane, ethyl tert butyl ether (ETBE) and isododecane. These e-fuels will be used in engine testing by Audi, in complement to those already performed by Global Bioenergies.
Currently, a small part of Global Bioenergies’ one-tonne scale isobutene production is directed toward e-fuels, using Fraunhofer’s lab-scale conversion unit. From the e-fuel produced, a batch of 60 litres was delivered to Audi.
The objective of the partnership with Global Bioenergies is to develop sustainable e-benzin to our customers, as a voluntary contribution of Audi to reduce the automotive carbon footprint. We are very pleased with the progress and team work with Global Bioenergies, said Reiner Mangold, Head of Sustainable Product Development at Audi
The e-fuel production capacity will be significantly increased in 2019 with the addition to the Leuna Demo plant of a dedicated fuel production unit, which will allow the production of renewable gasoline batches.
We are proud to have met this milestone based on renewable isobutene-derived gasoline. Audi brings to our technology development a clear path to market perspective, said Marc Delcourt, CEO of Global Bioenergies