Shell Collaboration in Biofuels
Codexis has a long term collaboration with Royal Dutch Shell plc to develop enhanced methods of converting biomass to biofuels. Codexis is using its biocatalytic approach to find critical pathways for developing economically feasible alternative transportation fuels from renewable resources. Shell has been involved in developing biofuels for more than 30 years and believes it is the largest distributor of biofuels in the world today.
Conversion of biomass to transportation fuel is an area of active research as nations and energy companies seek ways to reduce dependence on oil by supplementing the transportation fuel pool with biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel produced from renewable, sustainable sources. For this to be viable, however, it is essential to develop non-food biomass conversion methods and high performance biofuels that can compete with petroleum-based fuels on both a cost and quality basis.
If successful, these methods may reduce dependence on petroleum currently required to produce these products as well as reducing energy consumption, waste generation and CO2 production.