DuPont is partnering up with Genera Energy and the University of Tennessee to work with local farmers on producing cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass and other plants to ease dependence upon the non-renewable resource of fossil fuels. These collaborators are working to produce a sustainable fuel for local consumers, and demonstrating a model that can be scaled for use around the world. As the technology evolves, different crops — suitable for different regions — could be used to create renewable biofuels.
DuPont also partnered up with BP for a joint venture, Butamaxâ„¢ Advanced Biofuels,which has developed an innovative biobutanol production technology offering a low-cost, high-value drop-in biofuel for global transportation fuels supply. Butamax technology is designed to convert the sugars from various biomass feedstocks, including corn and sugarcane, into biobutanol using existing biofuel production facilities.