15-03-2021

Euglena, CLG and ARA announce successful production of Euglena based renewable jet fuel

Euglena Co. Ltd, Chevron Lummus Global, and Applied Research Associates Inc, are pleased to announce the successful production of renewable jet fuel from a blendstock of microalgae "euglena"-derived lipids, the first in the world to meet ASTM International D7566 Annex 6 standards.

The recently produced renewable jet fuel was examined and certified to meet ASTM D7566 Annex 6 standards by a third-party analysis organization. ASTM standards are the most authoritative international fuel standards for aviation turbines produced from bio-based feedstocks. ASTM, the American Society for Testing and Materials, specify the means and testing methods for a wide variety of industrial materials.

Euglena, CLG, and ARA successfully produced the renewable jet fuel using a blendstock of "euglena" (microalgae-derived lipids) and used cooking oil (UCO) at Euglena's biofuel manufacturing demonstration plant in Yokohama, Japan. The plant utilizes a proprietary Biofuels ISOCONVERSION process, a unique technology for producing renewable fuels compatible with petroleum-based fuels from bio-based feedstocks, jointly developed by Chevron Lummus Global (CLG) and Applied Research Associates (ARA).

The demonstration plant is Japan's first renewable jet and diesel production facility. Upon completing the plant in 2018, Euglena declared their vision of "GREEN OIL JAPAN", aiming to make Japan a leading producer of renewable fuels. Euglena achieved yet another milestone in March 2020 by producing a supply of renewable diesel, and now with the recent jet fuel addition, they are steadily expanding their renewable products to buses, delivery cars, ferries, and tugboats and finalizing arrangements with air transport providers and the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB).

In August 2020, Japan's national research organization, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) selected Euglena's demonstration unit as a public-offering model project to develop and disseminate the microalgae-based jet-fuel production technology and the building of a supply-chain model. Euglena is currently developing a biofuel supply chain with the intent to operate a biofuel manufacturing commercial plant by 2025.

Euglena believes this renewable jet fuel production milestone will be a significant step towards a more circular economy and the first renewable jet fuel flight in 2021.