Helena Tavares Kennedy (Biofuels Digest) … Some of these started with biofuels then went into chemicals, nutrition or protein and some are going back to their beginnings. What they all have in common, however, is they are transforming…as markets change, as the economy changes, as technologies change, they recognize that the only way to keep up with change is to change yourself.
#1 Velocys
Velocys pivoted in 2017 from “FT tech co” to “renewable fuels company.”
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#2 Amyris
The Digest just covered Amyris last week, “Same As It Never Was,” and their Novvi (Amyris’ JV with Cosan) and Chevron deal to bring to market novel renewable base oil technologies.
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#3 Virent
Virent started with fuels – biojet fuels, biogasoline, and biodiesel – then expanded to biofuels and biochemicals, then for a bit focused on biochemicals only, then both again with slightly more emphasis now on biofuels again thanks to rising oil prices.
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#4 Aemetis
Aemetis started in 2006 as a first generation ethanol and biofuels producer that then looked at biomass sorghum for feedstock, and now calls itself an advanced renewable fuels and biochemicals company that focuses on the conversion of first-generation ethanol and biodiesel plants into advanced biorefineries.
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#5 POET
POET pivoted from first generation to advanced biofuels via POET DSM. Just this April, the Digest reported that POET overtook ADM as the largest ethanol producer with about 2 billion gallons expected by 2019 and 1.9 billion gallons set for 2018. What’s even more interesting is POET-DSM’s cellulosic biofuels production breakthrough that eliminated a big bottleneck in pretreatment, as reported in The Digest in November 2017.
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#6 Codexis
Back in 2013, Codexis announced its departure from cellulosic enzymes and biofuels and critics wondered if they were headed for extinction like others were at that time. … Now they are a leading protein engineering company that applies its technology to the development of biocatalysts for the commercial manufacture of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals.
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#7 Heliae
Founded in 2008 as a biofuels company, Heliae switched to its current focus on nutraceutical ingredients and specialty products for agriculture and aquaculture in 2012.
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#8 Green Plains
Nebraska-based Green Plains Inc. is North America’s third largest producer of ethanol. It has grown rapidly, primarily through acquisitions, and today has operating segments throughout the ethanol value chain. While it started in 2004 as an ethanol and biofuel company, it has expanded from just ethanol production to various parts along the value chain as a way to mitigate the effects of changes in commodity prices.
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(I)ts food & ingredients segment generated more than 60 percent of the company’s EBITDA in Q1 2018. Yes, it’s a sign of the times. And their joint venture called BioProcess Algae to commercialize algae production technology is yet another example of a pivot made by Green Plains into things beyond biofuels like animal feed, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and more.
#9 ENI
This one may be unexpected because it didn’t start with biofuels. It started with fossil fuels, oil, petroleum. While it still is an oil and gas company in Italy, Eni has expanded into renewables with it’s Venice biorefinery. The former oil refinery was renovated by UOP to produce renewable diesel ….
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#10 REG
REG got its start in biomass-based diesel about 20 years ago and has since transformed into an advanced biofuels producer and renewable chemicals company focusing on biochemicals, oils and sugars. READ MORE