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Honeywell’s UOP Green Diesel Fuel Powers Vehicles at United Nations Climate Change Conference

The UOP/Eni Ecofining(TM) process technology produced green diesel from algae oil used during Driving the Future showcase

UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced today that its Ecofining process technology was used to convert second-generation, renewable feedstocks to green diesel fuel that will power vehicles at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Conference (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen, Denmark.

UOP’s process technology converted oil from algae provided by Solazyme, a renewable oil company, to green diesel, which will be utilized during the Driving the Future showcase organized by Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A Mercedes Benz E-Class Sedan, an unmodified, factory-standard diesel vehicle, will be powered by unblended (B100) green diesel for the duration of the event.

The Mercedes Benz E-Class Sedan is also equipped with the third generation VNT(TM) turbodiesel technology from Honeywell Turbo Technologies. This turbo innovation enables the premium engine to offer better performance, improved fuel economy and less CO2 emissions over a non-turbocharged engine.

“Green diesel is an important option in meeting our energy demands and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and one that needs to be front and center during the Copenhagen discussion,” said Jennifer Holmgren, vice president and general manager of UOP’s Renewable Energy and Chemicals business unit. “UOP has partnered with Solazyme to showcase the viability of renewable fuel processing technology as well as algae generation technology and spur conversation about their role in our future energy portfolio.”

The UOP Ecofining process, developed in conjunction with Italian refiner Eni, uses catalytic hydroprocessing technology to convert natural oils and animal fats to green diesel fuel. The product, chemically indistinguishable from traditional diesel fuel, features a high cetane value, excellent cold-flow performance and reduced emissions over both biodiesel and petroleum-based diesel. Green diesel offers value as a blending stock for refiners seeking to enhance existing diesel fuels and expand the diesel pool.

The algal oil used to produce the green diesel was produced via Solazyme’s unique microbial fermentation process that allows algae to produce oil in standard fermentation facilities quickly, efficiently and at large scale. UOP’s Ecofining technology converts this feedstock into a biofuel that significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions while complying with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D-975 specifications.

In addition to Honeywell UOP’s participation in the Driving the Future showcase, Honeywell is exhibiting at Bright Green, the largest parallel event during the COP 15 summit, featuring the latest innovation and intelligent technologies to solve global climate challenges. Honeywell will feature its portfolio of solutions that promote energy efficiency within the showcase at FORUM Copenhagen, stand 10A. This exhibition is part of Honeywell’s larger commitment to addressing the world’s climate challenges through products and services that directly impact energy efficiency.

UOP, a recognized global leader in process technology to convert petroleum feedstocks to fuels and chemicals, is developing a range of processes to produce green fuels from natural feedstocks. UOP launched its Renewable Energy & Chemicals business in late 2006. Since its introduction, UOP has commercialized the Ecofining process to produce green diesel fuel from biological feedstocks as well as a process to produce green jet fuel from second-generation, non-food sources. In 2008, UOP formed the joint venture Envergent Technologies LLC with Ensyn Corp. to offer pyrolysis technology for the production of renewable heat, power and transportation fuels.

UOP LLC, headquartered in Des Plaines, Illinois, USA, is a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, process plants, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. UOP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc. and is part of Honeywell’s Specialty Materials strategic business group. For more information, go to www.uop.com.