Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV) and NREL yesterday announced they had signed a five-year agreement to research and develop the next generation of process technologies that will convert cellulosic biomass, such as forestry and agricultural wastes, into biofuels such as ethanol and renewable diesel.

Chevron vice president Don Paul said the company’s goal was to further diversify the world’s energy sources in order to help meet the growth in future energy demand.

“Through this public-private collaboration we hope to broaden the energy mix by accelerating the development of the next generation of process technologies that will convert cellulosic biomass into biofuels,” he said.

“Process efficiency and suitability for industrial-scale deployment, similar to today’s transportation infrastructure systems, are key success factors.”

NREL is taking part in the collaboration in an effort to support scientific and technological advancements in national, economic and energy security in the US.

Director Dan Arvizu said increasing the amount of fuels the country could make from its farms, forests and fields would greatly enhance the nation’s energy security and economy and help the environment.

CTV said it would also fund research that complemented DOE-sponsored work at NREL on bio-oil reforming – a process by which bio-oils derived from the decomposition of biological feedstocks are then converted into hydrogen.

This research may expedite the development of a feed-flexible, distributed-reforming process for renewable hydrogen production as well as provide the hydrogen necessary in some potential biofuels conversion technologies.

CTV vice president biofuels and hydrogen Rick Zalesky said the company believed that for the next generation of biofuels production to become commercially viable, there must be flexibility to diversify the feedstocks, and the processes by which the biofuels are produced must also increase in efficiency and effectiveness.

“This research will address both of these fundamental challenges,” he said.