Research and innovation

Advanced biofuels

We are working alongside scientists at universities, government laboratories and companies to progress the science needed to deliver advanced biofuels with environmental benefits.

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Investing in New Technologies

Meeting demand for increased energy supplies

Global demand for energy is projected to grow by about 25 percent through 2040. To expand supplies — while increasing efficiency and mitigating emissions — an integrated set of solutions will be required.

That is why ExxonMobil is funding a broad portfolio of biofuels research programs for new energy sources. ExxonMobil is focused on advanced biofuels that do not compete with food or water supplies. Examples include algae, corn stover, switchgrass or methane emitted from microbial activity in landfills. Among many other benefits, algae can be used to manufacture biofuels similar in composition to today’s transportation fuels.

Research and development highlights

~50%

lower life cycle greenhouse gas emissions will be produced by algal biofuels as compared to petroleum-derived fuel

~$250M

ExxonMobil investment in biofuels research in the last decade
We are targeting

1,500 gallons

fuel per acre per year potentially yielded from algae — five times more fuel per acre than from sugar cane or corn
ExxonMobil’s Role

Developing scalable biofuels

ExxonMobil is working to identify the best pathways to make these groundbreaking technologies available to consumers, working with a number of top partners. Through these partnerships, ExxonMobil is focused on the fundamental science and engineering so ultimately we can produce advanced biofuels that are affordable, sustainable and scalable. 

Advanced biofuels and algae research: targeting the technical capability to produce 10,000 barrels per day by 2025

News

ExxonMobil and Renewable Energy Group partner with Clariant to advance cellulosic biofuel research

ExxonMobil and Renewable Energy Group (REG) signed a joint research agreement with Clariant to evaluate the potential use of cellulosic sugars from sources such as agricultural waste and residues to produce biofuel, which has the potential to play a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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