The French government has awarded Global Bioenergies EUR 16.4 million – in the form of a subsidy (60%) and a repayable advance (40%) – to help fund construction of the world’s first bio-sourced isobutene plant. The start-up specializes in the conversion of plant-derived resources into chemical compounds.
The new plant, which is due to start operating in 2027, will be capable of producing 10,000 tonnes of isobutene and derivatives per year. In August, Global Bioenergies announced that it was accelerating the ramp-up of its production capacities to respond more quickly to demand from the cosmetics industry before moving on to the production of aviation fuels.
Indeed, the technology developed by Global Bioenergies for producing isobutene from natural resources and thus biosourced and renewable and isododecane and isohexadecane.
In addition to allow the cosmetics industry to increase the naturalness of its formulas, the technology should also help the aviation industry to gradually reduce its dependence on oil, without sacrificing performance and without the need to adapt existing equipment and facilities.
“This support from the government is essential and represents the cornerstone of the overall financing arrangements for the plant, which we hope to finalise by mid-2024. Located in France, the plant will contribute towards adding value to the region’s abundant resources, reviving local industry and establishing a totally new economic sector,” said Marc Delcourt, co-founder and CEO of Global Bioenergies.
