Johnson Matthey (JM), a global leader in sustainable technologies, and bp, an international energy company, today announced that their co-developed, award-winning Fischer Tropsch (FT) CANS™ technology has been selected by Strategic Biofuels for their project which aims to produce the world’s lowest carbon footprint liquid fuel.
The technology has been licenced to Strategic Biofuels, a leader in developing negative carbon footprint biofuels plants, for the company’s Louisiana Green Fuels project (LGF) in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana. Located on a 327-acre site at the Port of Columbia, the LGF plant plans to convert 1 million tons of forestry waste feedstock into cleaner-burning renewable diesel and is projected to produce 31.8 million gallons of biofuels per year once in operation. The aim is to increase production to over 165 million gallons per year of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels over 10 to 12 years.
The LGF plant currently aims to be operational by early 2027 and is expected to produce about 87% renewable diesel and 13% bionaphtha. The renewable diesel could be used as a blend component in conventional diesel or as a 100% paraffinic diesel finished fuel and the bionaphtha can be blended into the gasoline pool.
Strategic Biofuels is planning to utilize carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology at its LGF plant to further drive down carbon emissions. This technology captures and stores carbon dioxide formed in the process so that it is not emitted into the atmosphere. With the use of this technology, the Carbon Intensity (CI) of the LGF project, according to Life Cycle Associates, a leading analytical firm for the California Air Resources Board, would score at minus 294 (-294 gCO2e/MJ).
FT CANS technology, which will be leveraged at the LGF plant, was jointly developed by bp and Johnson Matthey to deliver environmental and operational benefits. It converts synthesis gas (syngas), generated from sources such as industrial emissions, direct air capture, municipal solid waste or other biomass, into long-chain hydrocarbons suitable for the production of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels.
In 2022, JM announced its refreshed strategy. with an ambition to be the number one player across the syngas value chain, with an addressable market to 2030 in the order of £3-12 billion. As a largescale project, this licence to Strategic Biofuels hits one of JM’s ten milestones.
Jane Toogood, Chief Executive of Catalyst Technologies at JM, says: “As a leader in syngas, which produces synthetic fuels, Johnson Matthey is continuing to develop innovative technologies to help our customers significantly reduce their carbon footprint. Projects like these demonstrate just how critical synthetic fuels will be to the net zero transition.”
“Johnson Matthey and bp’s Fischer Tropsch technology is a critical and enabling component for our Louisiana Green Fuels project,” said Dr Paul Schubert, CEO of Strategic Biofuels. “We are eager to access the full strength and technical excellence that these partners bring to our project as we approach the homestretch toward achieving final investment decision.”
Noemie Turner, VP technology development and commercialisation at bp, said: ‘’This project highlights one of the diverse range of feedstocks possible for our innovative FT CANS technology and I am proud it has been selected by Strategic Biofuels as a key enabler to support them in their efforts towards developing a negative carbon footprint renewable fuels plant.’’
About Johnson Matthey
Johnson Matthey is a global leader in sustainable technologies that enable a cleaner and healthier world. With over 200 years of sustained commitment to innovation and technological breakthroughs, we improve the performance, function and safety of our customers’ products. Our science has a global impact in areas such as low emission transport, pharmaceuticals, chemical processing and making the most efficient use of the planet’s natural resources. Today about 15,000 Johnson Matthey professionals collaborate with our network of customers and partners to make a real difference to the world around us. For more information, visit www.matthey.com. Inspiring science, enhancing life.
About bp
bp’s purpose is to reimagine energy for people and our planet. It has set out an ambition to be a net zero company by 2050 or sooner and help the world get to net zero, and a strategy for delivering on that ambition. For more information, visit bp.com for further information.
About Strategic Biofuels
Strategic Biofuels LLC is a team of energy, petrochemical and project development experts focused on developing a series of negative carbon footprint plants in northern Louisiana that convert waste materials from managed forests into renewable diesel fuel and bionaphtha. The fuel qualifies for carbon credits under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard program and under California’s Low Carbon Fuels Standard.