World Energy ties up with Vertimass to produce renewable fuels

World Energy will collaborate with Vertimass LLC, based in Irvine, California, U.S.A., to develop and produce renewable fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

World Energy is exploring integrating Vertimass’ proprietary alcohol to renewable fuel technologies for the production of SAF, biomass-based diesel, green gasoline, renewable naphtha, and other renewable fuel products.

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., World Energy operates production and distribution facilities throughout the U.S. and Canada. In Southern California, it operates the world’s first and North America’s only commercial-scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility. 

Through the agreement, the two companies will jointly develop projects to convert alcohols into hydrocarbon fuels using Vertimass’ technology. World Energy may subsequently license Vertimass technology for commercial production. 

Vertimass’ technology sustainably produces vital fuels and chemicals from methanol, ethanol, and other renewable alcohols with high yields that can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to sourcing these products from petroleum. The simplicity of this single reaction stage results in low capital and operating costs. The technology originated from Oak Ridge National Laboratories, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A., which is operated by UT-Battelle. Vertimass obtained worldwide exclusive rights to this technology in 2014.

“We’re grateful to be working with the excellent team at Vertimass on what stands to be an important new process for converting a new source of feedstocks for our products,” said Gene Gebolys, CEO, World Energy. “Fats, oils, and greases have gotten biomass-based diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel off the ground and will allow us to grow. But on land, rail, and sea, the need keeps growing for ever-more access to low carbon fuels. To provide that, we will need to be continuously collaborating and innovating to find new and better solutions. To that end, we’re thrilled to be doing this work with Vertimass.”

“Partnering with World Energy will create a mutually beneficial relationship for the two companies, ultimately allowing for increased production of low carbon fuels,” said Vertimass President and CEO Charles Wyman.

“As the demand and need for sustainable fuels can only continue to increase, we are delighted to develop this relationship with World Energy so we can work together to make a significant impact on reducing carbon emissions and reducing aviation’s impact on global climate change,” Vertimass Chairman Bill Shopoff added.