Virent, Inc
3571 Anderson Street , Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Virent is replacing crude oil. Our company creates the chemicals and fuels the world demands from a wide range of naturally occurring, renewable resources. Using patented catalytic chemistry, Virent converts soluble biomass-derived sugars into products molecularly identical to those made with petroleum, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and chemicals used for plastics and fibers. Virent has key strategic relationships in place with Andeavor, Royal Dutch Shell, Cargill, Honda and The Coca-Cola Company to add the vital resources and expertise required to accelerate commercialization of its technology.  Virent has received numerous honors, including the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer award, the ICIS Innovation Award, the Wisconsin Companies to Watch Award, the Red Herring Top 100 North America Award and the EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award.  By replacing crude oil, Virent is creating economic security, energy independence and a healthier world.

PRODUCTS

Virent is replacing crude oil. Our breakthrough technology transforms renewable plant sugars into the same range of hydrocarbon molecules historically made from refining petroleum. What takes nature millions of years to do, Virent is accomplishing in a couple of hours in Madison, Wisconsin.

Drop-In

Because our molecules are identical to those produced from crude, our products can be blended in high concentrations with no new infrastructure investment. Virent’s products are truly “drop-in” and ready to work in today’s chemical and fuel supply chains, including manufacturing facilities, pipelines, tanks and fueling stations. Our drop-in fuels are also fully compatible with current automobile, jet and diesel engines at high blend levels.

Breadth of Molecules

Key to energy security, Virent’s technology can replace over 90% of the products that come from a barrel of crude oil. The petro-chemicals and fuels our civilization has come to depend on now have a sustainable alternative. See how Virent is replacing crude oil with its high-value products made from plant sugars.

DIESEL FUEL

Diesel is a widely used petroleum distillate fuel that is in high demand around the world. As more and more cargo is moved by road, the traditional use of diesel in heavy goods vehicles is increasing. In addition, diesel is fueling more and more light passenger vehicles as people switch to diesel cars for better fuel efficiency. In some European countries today, the majority of new cars sold are powered by diesel engines. Automobile companies, commercial shipping fleets, rail operators, metropolitan transportation agencies and manufacturers of heavy equipment and military vehicles are just some of the sectors seeking to adopt sustainable diesel fuel alternatives.  Virent’s patented technology enables the production of diesel fuel from bio-based feedstocks. Our BioForming® process produces industry-ready molecules for high-performance diesel fuels. Our technology uses a wide variety of both cellulosic and conventional plant sugars, providing an economical route to sustainable bio-based diesel fuels that are identical to their existing petroleum-derived counterparts as shown below in these boiling point curves.

GASOLINE

Societies the world over are placing greater demands on the supply of gasoline. In the U.S. alone, over half of American families have two or more cars. As developing economies flourish and become increasingly reliant on personal transportation, access to affordable automotive fuel will become a critical issue. Reducing dependence on scarce fossil-fuel resources is important to our environment, to economic health and to political stability.  Virent’s patented technology enables the production of gasoline from bio-based feedstocks. Our BioForming® process produces the key aromatic molecules and paraffins that are the building blocks of gasoline. Our technology uses a wide variety of both cellulosic and conventional plant sugars, providing an economical route to sustainable biogasoline that is identical to its existing petroleum-derived counterpart.

JET FUEL

Air travel has changed our world for the better, enabling settlement of communities, fueling commerce, facilitating the exchange of goods and fostering relationships that could not have existed for previous generations. While air travel makes our world a smaller and better place, there are significant costs associated with the energy needed for flight. Passenger, cargo and military air transportation place significant demands on very specialized jet fuel derived (historically) from crude oil. Fortunately, there is significant movement to adopt sustainable jet fuel alternatives.  Virent’s patented technology enables the production of jet fuel from bio-based feedstocks. Our BioForming® process produces industry-ready molecules for high performance jet fuels. Our technology uses a wide variety of both cellulosic and conventional plant sugars, providing an economical route to sustainable bio-based jet fuels that are identical to their existing petroleum-derived counterparts as shown below in these boiling point curves.