Alternative Fuel Sources - Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: Advances in Transportation and Power - page 87

In the oil industry, biofuels interest has been growing. BP, Royal
Dutch Shell and others are viewing these fuels as a possible future re-
placement for gasoline and are spending millions on research and product
development. Along with Chevron and ConocoPhillips, they are develop-
ing alternatives such as solar, wind, geothermal and hydrogen as well as
biofuels.
Oil and natural gas are their primary products, but many are invest-
ing in wind, geothermal and biofuel. Although these investments are a
small percent of their total business, but, in terms of alternative energy
spending, they are significant. Between 2002 and 2006, Chevron spent
about $2 billion on alternative and renewable energy technologies, includ-
ing geothermal, hydrogen, biofuel, advanced batteries and energy effi-
ciency improvements. By the end of 2009, the company will have spent
$4.5 billion on alternative energy. Chevron has invested in Galveston Bay
Biodiesel LP, a Texas firm, building a large biodiesel plant that will use
soybeans and other renewable feedstock. Chevron has also partnered with
the Weyerhaeuser Company in the production of biofuel from wood waste
and funded research at the Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels,
Georgia Institute of Technology, University of California and Texas A&M,
directed at developing cellulosic and hydrogen transportation fuels.
BP has investments in an ethanol plant with DuPont and Associated
British Foods. It is also investing in cellulosic ethanol research and devel-
oping jatropha as a biodiesel feedstock. BP and DuPont are planning a
biobutanol demonstration plant and BP would like to eventually convert
their ethanol plant to biobutanol production. BP has a $400 million in-
vestment with Associated British Foods and DuPont to build a bioethanol
plant in the U.K. that may be converted to biobutanol. It has spent $500
million over 10 years at the Energy Biosciences Institute in California to
research future biofuels and $9.4 million over 10 years to fund the Energy
and Resources Institute (TERI) in India to study the production of biodie-
sel from Jatropha curcas. It also has a $160 million joint venture with D1
Oils to develop the planting of Jatropha curcas.
Royal Dutch Shell has invested in cellulosic ethanol company Iogan
and Germany's Choren Industries, which is building a demonstration bio-
mass-to-liquids plant using wood feedstock. Royal Dutch Shell has also
partnered with Codexis in exploring biomass energy production.
Shell has spent about $1 billion on renewable fuels since 2000. Shell
has invested largely in next generation cellulosic biofuel which is a long-
term commitment.