Amyris, Total form alliance on renewable fuels

US-based Amyris and France-based Total have formed Total Amyris BioSolutions, a 50-50 joint venture that now holds exclusive rights and a license under Amyris's intellectual property to produce and market renewable diesel and jet fuel from Amyris's renewable farnesene. 

In the announcement made Thursday, Total said it would be Amyris's largest investor, holding approximately 18% of its outstanding common stock.

"The joint-venture Total Amyris Biosolutions is a first step towards the commercialization of our renewable diesel and jet fuels," said Philippe Boisseau, president of marketing services and new energy for Total, and a member of the company's executive committee. 

"We are in the phase of scaling-up the industrial process and we expect to start commercialization within the next few years, once our joint research and development goals are met," he continued.

 "As far as commercialization is concerned, the new joint-venture will benefit from the know-how and customer access of Total, which operates in more than 130 countries and is aiming to become a key supplier in renewable fuels."

Both companies noted that they are deeply committed to the development of next-generation renewable fuels from biomass.

"The formation of this joint venture, anticipated by our streamlined collaboration agreement signed last year, paves the way for us to initiate our fuels commercialization efforts globally, building on Amyris experience with renewable diesel in Brazil and the growing demand for lower-emission jet fuels worldwide," said John Melo, CEO of Amyris. 

"Total has been a strategic partner for Amyris for the last three years and a model of how global companies can leverage our inspired science to deliver sustainable solutions for a growing world," Melo added.