U.S. Military Mandate for Diesel and Jet Fuel From Renewable Feedstocks Underscores Accelergy and EERC Partnership

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Accelergy Corporation, a global leader in the production of high-value domestically sourced liquid fuels, today announced a strategic partnership with the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota. Under the terms of the agreement, Accelergy will license EERC’s proprietary technology as part of its Coal Biomass to Liquids (CBTL) process to accelerate the development of specialty liquid jet fuels used by the military from cleaner and non-petroleum sources.

“As global demand for transportation fuel grows, EERC’s scalable, feedstock-flexible process provides a crucial element to our hybrid process, enabling cost-effective, next-generation liquid fuels.”

This news comes on the heels of a recent $4.7 million contract between EERC and U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that will fund the development of the first completely renewable JP-8 jet fuel. The USAF currently uses JP-8 in all their aircraft, and has been researching alternative sources to petroleum-based fuels following a recent mandate to procure 50 percent of its fuel sources domestically and from greener sources.

“This partnership is good news for North Dakota and another Red River Valley Research Corridor success story,” said U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. “I’ve worked vigorously to help the EERC develop into a world-class research center. Clearly, the EERC’s cutting-edge capabilities are now in high demand.”

“For decades, the EERC has been dedicated to creating cost-effective environmental solutions for our country’s energy challenges, and we have long recognized that smart public-private sector partnerships are key to commercializing promising technologies,” said Gerald H. Groenewold, Director of the EERC. “We believe Accelergy’s integrated production process is paramount to the rapid adoption of domestically produced specialty fuels, and we fully expect to help drive this endeavor forward with our technology.”

With the capabilities to produce a cleaner, non-petroleum based fuel that exceeds JP-8 specs, Accelergy utilizes proprietary micro-catalytic conversion technologies licensed from Exxon Mobil Research and Engineering Company. Accelergy’s integrated CBTL process domestically produces a tunable range of low net-carbon fuels including premium gasoline, diesel, Jet-A, and military JP-5, JP-8, and JP-9 jet fuels. The CBTL process is unique in its ability to maintain a high overall thermal efficiency while significantly reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with comparable refining methods.

“Partnering with a demonstrated leader in clean energy research and technology uniquely positions Accelergy to domestically produce high volumes of cleaner fuels to meet ever-increasing needs for our nation’s military aircraft,” said Tim Vail, CEO of Accelergy. “As global demand for transportation fuel grows, EERC’s scalable, feedstock-flexible process provides a crucial element to our hybrid process, enabling cost-effective, next-generation liquid fuels.”

About Accelergy

Accelergy is a global leader in producing ultra-clean fuels, promoting energy security by using domestic resources. Our proprietary micro-catalytic technology significantly increases the efficiency of the Coal-Biomass-to-liquid process (CBTL) while significantly reducing greenhouse emissions. Based in Houston, Texas, Accelergy has established an international presence in partnerships with some of the world's leading energy companies. For more information, please visit www.accelergy.com

About EERC

The EERC is a research, development, demonstration, and commercialization facility recognized as one of the world’s leading developers of cleaner, more efficient energy technologies as well as environmental technologies to protect and clean our air, water, and soil. The EERC, a high-tech, nonprofit division of the University of North Dakota (UND), operates like a business and pursues an entrepreneurial, market-driven approach. The EERC currently employs over 330 people. Since 1987, the EERC has had nearly 1100 clients in 50 states and 51 countries.