Chevron and Weyerhaeuser form biofuels joint venture

Chevron Corporation and forest products giant Weyerhaeuser Company have announced the creation of a 50-50 joint venture company focused on developing the next generation of renewable transportation fuels from nonfood sources.

The joint venture, Catchlight Energy LLC, will research and develop technology for converting cellulose-based biomass into economical, low-carbon biofuels. The formation of Catchlight Energy is the first milestone of a biofuels alliance announced by Chevron and Weyerhaeuser in April 2007 and reflects the companies’ shared view that nonfood biofuels will play an important role in diversifying the energy supply of the United States.

Michael Burnside of Chevron has been appointed chief executive officer of Catchlight. During his 33-year career with Chevron, Burnside has held a variety of positions in manufacturing, planning and analysis and finance, and has been involved with a number of joint ventures. W. Densmore Hunter of Weyerhaeuser has been named Catchlight’s chief technology officer. Since joining Weyerhaeuser in 1980, Hunter has held key research, technology and manufacturing positions and currently leads the company’s biofuels and bioproducts research and development efforts.

Both Chevron and Weyerhaeuser will contribute resources - including funding, background technology and employees - to Catchlight Energy. Catchlight’s initial focus will be on developing and demonstrating novel technologies for converting cellulose and lignin from a variety of sources into biofuels:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: ethanol :: lignocellulose :: forestry :: wood ::

Both Chevron and Weyerhaeuser already have separate research partnerships under way to accelerate the development of cellulosic biofuels. Chevron has forged alliances with the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of California at Davis, the Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels, and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Weyerhaeuser is collaborating with several research universities, national laboratories and technology-based companies in research on conversion of forest products into ethanol and other biofuels.

At Weyerhaeuser, we believe our timberlands hold solutions to important problems for people and the planet. Catchlight Energy represents an imaginative approach to releasing this potential as we work to develop a sustainable solution to the world's energy needs. - Miles Drake, senior vice president, Research and Development and chief technology officer for Weyerhaeuser

Catchlight Energy brings together two leaders in their industries and leverages their strengths – from feedstocks to fuel manufacturing to marketing – to create a sustainable, economic, nonfood biofuels business at commercial scale. - Mike Wirth, executive vice president, Global Downstream for Chevron

Chevron Corporation is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies with subsidiaries that conduct business across the globe. It explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and other energy products and services; manufactures and sells petrochemical products; generates power and produces geothermal energy; and develops and commercializes the energy resources of the future, including biofuels and other renewables.

Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world’s largest integrated forest products companies, was incorporated in 1900. In 2007, sales were $16.3 billion. It has offices or operations in 13 countries, with customers worldwide. Weyerhaeuser is principally engaged in the growing and harvesting of timber; the manufacture, distribution and sale of forest products; and real estate construction, development and related activities.

References:
Weyerhaeuser: Chevron and Weyerhaeuser form biofuels joint venture - February 29, 2008.

Weyerhaeuser: Chevron and Weyerhaeuser create biofuels alliance - April 4, 2007.