BP, DuPont pursuing ethanol substitute

DesMoinesRegister.com
by PHILIP BRASHER & DAN PILLER • business@dmreg.com • November 1, 2009

An official with oil company BP says the company is moving forward with the development of butanol as an alternative fuel to ethanol. Butanol costs more to produce but has some key advantages to ethanol, including a higher energy content. Cars can get more miles per gallon on butanol.

DuPont and BP have formed a joint venture called Butamax to develop the fuel. Susan Ellerbusch, president of BP Biofuels North America, told the House Agriculture Committee last week the companies plan to have the production technology commercially available in the United States by 2012 or 2013.

A demonstration plant is being built in Britain.

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