LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sustainable Oils Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Clean Energy Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB:GCEH), has been issued a first-of-its-kind feedstock-only pathway by the California Air Resources Board for the production of Camelina-based fuels under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The pathway, when combined with a specific processors production profile, will produce the lowest carbon intensity (CI) virgin oil-based fuel available in the marketplace. Camelina-based biodiesel at a CI of approximately 19 g/MJ can be produced at a fraction of soy (83 g/MJ) or canola (63 g/MJ) based biofuels. Camelina's extremely low CI will allow obligated parties in California to meet their reduction targets using a fraction of the biofuel otherwise required. The pathway only applies to Sustainable Oils' US Patent and Trademark Office-registered seed varieties - no other Camelina seed or oil can be used to produce LCFS compliant fuel. The feedstock-only CI is 7.58 g/MJ. When combined with ARB's generic North American producer profile, the feedstock-only pathway produces biodiesel and renewable diesel at CIs of approximately 19.1 and 18.7, respectively. Lower CIs can be achieved by processors with more efficient production profiles.
Sustainable Oils is the only company with patented Camelina seed varieties, which are proven to produce higher and more consistent yields over wild-type varieties. Additional Sustainable Oils varieties currently in field trials mature in as few as 90 days, produce even more seed and oil per acre and exhibit greater agronomic flexibility. Leading environmental advocacy groups NRDC, NWF and the Union of Concerned Scientists submitted a letter of support for this pathway and the approach it represents to feedstock development, as did the leading biofuels sustainability standard, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB).
"This unique pathway approval, combined with our previous EPA RFS approval, lays the foundation for Sustainable Oils' Camelina to play an expanded role in meeting the ambitious carbon reduction requirements of the CA LCFS in the coming years," said Richard Palmer, SusOils CEO. "By producing fuel with a CI as much as 60 g/MJ lower than other biofuels, obligated parties are able to meet their reductions with a fraction of the volume otherwise required as well as generate valuable LCFS credits in the process"
Noah Verleun, GCEH's Director of Regulatory Affairs, continued, saying, "With its existing approvals, Camelina is the only scalable, non-food based crop that meets both California and federal fuel standards requirements. Several states are in the process of implementing LCFS-style fuel regulations, and we anticipate registering similar proprietary pathways once they establish the necessary mechanisms."
About Sustainable Oils
Sustainable Oils, Inc. is the industry leader in the research and development, production, processing and commercialization of Camelina-based products, which includes a multitude of renewable fuels, renewable chemicals and high value animal feed. Sustainable Oils was the largest supplier to the US Military of renewable jet fuel, which was used to certify over 28 tactical aircraft on biofuels. Sustainable Oils strongly supports both agricultural and green energy initiatives with Camelina, which is efficiently and economically grown in rotation with other crops as well as on marginal lands, harvested with traditional equipment, and requires minimal water.
Sustainable Oils is a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Clean Energy Holdings. More information regarding Sustainable Oils can be found here.