Comstock Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Comstock Fuels Corp. on Dec. 19 announced that Comstock Fuels’ biointermediate refining technology partner, RenFuel K2B AB, was awarded a Swedish Energy Agency grant of SEK 4.9 million (nearly US$480,000) to demonstrate an enhancement of RenFuel’s patented catalytic esterification processes to refine lignin co-products from paper production into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at increased yields compared to conventional methods.

“Breakthroughs in SAF availability are critical for achieving net zero aviation timely,” said Corrado De Gasperis, Comstock’s executive chairman and CEO. “While we are not directly participating in or receiving funds under RenFuel’s new grant, their work on this project should significantly increase the capabilities and value of RenFuel’s platform.” 

Comstock Fuels converts lignocellulosic biomass into Cellulosic Ethanol and proprietary Bioleum biointermediate blends at extraordinary yields exceeding 100 gallons per dry metric ton of biomass on a gasoline gallon equivalent basis (GGE), and market-leading, extremely low carbon intensity (CI) scores of 15. Comstock Fuels is already using RenFuel’s catalytic esterification technology to refine its proprietary Bioleum derivatives into Hydrodeoxygenated Bioleum Oil (HBO) for use by advanced biofuel refineries when blending with, diversifying, and extending conventional hydroprocessed fat, oil, and grease feedstocks that can simultaneously produce SAF and Renewable Diesel Fuel. Shifting the resulting product ratio in favor of maximizing sustainable aviation fuel yields using RenFuel’s technology is a primary objective of the work under this grant project.

De Gasperis concluded, “Comstock’s exclusive Americas license of the RenFuel technology has already expanded and accelerated our commercialization plans. RenFuel optimizing for increased Sustainable Aviation Fuel yields is a very timely and relevant consideration in many of our ongoing commercialization objectives, especially as we prioritize opportunities for the construction of our first commercial scale biorefinery. We look forward to their progress with this grant.”