Chevron and Texas A&M form biofuels alliance

and the Texas A&M BioEnergy Alliance have entered into a strategic research agreement to accelerate the production and conversion of crops for manufacturing ethanol and other biofuels from cellulose.

Chevron Technology Ventures, a division of Chevron USA, will support research initiatives over a four-year period through the Texas A&M BioEnergy Alliance, a formal partnership combining the collective strengths of The Texas A&M University System's two research agencies in agriculture and engineering: the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (TAES) and the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES).

According to a statement, the research initiatives will focus on several technology advancements including identifying, assessing, cultivating, and optimising production of second-generation energy feedstocks for cellulose and bio-oils with a focus on non-food crops; and developing advanced biofuels processing technologies.

‘Chevron believes that biofuels will fill an important role in diversifying the nation's energy sources by providing a source of low-carbon transportation fuel,’ said Don Paul, vice president and chief technology officer, Chevron Corporation. ‘Bringing biofuels to large-scale commercial production is an enormous challenge that requires the combined efforts of industry, universities and research institutions, and governments. It is through partnerships like this that biofuels will be a viable part of meeting the energy challenges of tomorrow.’