We are developing a comprehensive licensing package that will supply current ethanol operations with new technology enabling the production of biobutanol. We are also developing refining customers for biobutanol, and will offer a secure, high-value market for biobutanol produced with the technology. In addition, we’ll provide a full range of services to enable successful ethanol plant retrofits, including ongoing consultancy and technical support.

In 2011, Butamax announced the formation of the Early Adopters Group (EAG) and named the biofuel company Highwater Ethanol as the founding member. The Early Adopters Group is designed as a collaborative effort among leading biofuel production facilities to introduce biobutanol to the market and match production volumes to demand. Currently, the Early Adopters Group consists of seven companies representing 10 facilities and nearly 750 million gallons per year in production volume.

Partnering with Early Adopters Group members, Butamax is launching commercial production of biobutanol in the United States. On October 2, 2013, Butamax announced that we had begun Phase 1 of a retrofit of Highwater Ethanol’s plant in Lamberton, Minnesota for the production of biobutanol. The cutting-edge separation technology package includes a novel corn oil removal system and is an integral part of a full retrofit to biobutanol production. Construction is now complete and the facility is in full operation. After the successful operation of the first facility, Butamax will begin retrofitting multiple facilities simultaneously to match production to market demand.

In addition to industry partnerships, Butamax leverages the capabilities of its shareholders BP and DuPont, two world-class industrial and biotechnology companies.