WILMINGTON, Del., June 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels, LLC, welcomes today's announcement by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) in support of the use of fuels blended with up to 16 percent biobutanol in recreational marine engines. This decision follows five years of evaluation performed by NMMA with the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), under the direction and guidance of the U.S. Department of Energy and Argonne National Laboratory. Specifically, biobutanol was identified as a safe and compatible option for growing the use of renewable fuels in marine engines. It complements the extensive body of work sponsored and published by Butamax on the value and compatibility of 16 percent biobutanol blends with automotive engines and refueling infrastructure.
Jeff Wasil, BRP-Evinrude Engineering Manager for Emissions Testing, Certification & Regulatory Development and a key contributor to the NMMA biobutanol evaluation, noted, "BRP-Evinrude and the marine industry appreciate the technical expertise Butamax provided to NMMA's marine engine evaluation program, as well as Butamax's long-term efforts to bring biobutanol to the fuels market for our customers."
Biobutanol-blended fuels are especially valuable for use in marine engines, as they are highly resistant to phase separation in the presence of water and have been demonstrated to offer a high level of compatibility with the materials commonly employed in engines and fuel-handling equipment. Applicable for use in marine, automotive and other gasoline-fueled engines, 16 percent biobutanol blends offer a valuable option for growing the use of renewable fuels beyond what is achieved with 10 percent ethanol blends, moving the market toward the long term goals of the U.S. Renewable Fuels Standard.
Paul Beckwith, Chief Executive Officer of Butamax added, "The extensive work by NMMA and its partners, which enabled today's announcement of support for 16 percent biobutanol blends, strengthens to the body of data supporting the value of biobutanol in the transportation fuels market. Butamax is continuing its work to secure required EPA and UL approvals for use of 16 percent biobutanol blends with existing road vehicles and dispensing infrastructure. The broad distribution which those approvals would enable will be key to making these blends widely and economically available for marine use."
About Butamax
Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels, LLC was formed to develop and commercialize biobutanol as a next generation renewable biofuel and chemical. The company benefits from the synergy of DuPont's proven industrial biotechnology experience and BP's global fuels market knowledge. Butamax's proprietary technology offers a cost-advantaged manufacturing process for isobutanol with value from field to end use. For more information, visit www.butamax.com.
Butamax™ is a trademark of Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels, LLC.