Red Rock, Frontline complete test runs gasifying woody biomass for SAF production

Red Rock Biofuels' project in Lakeview, Oregon (Photo: Red Rock Biofuels LLC)

Red Rock Biofuels LLC and gasification company Frontline BioEnergy announced Aug. 18 that they have successfully tested their technology that gasifies Red Rock’s residual woody-biomass feedstock into high-quality syngas for production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel.

The test runs, which the companies completed at Frontline’s headquarters in Nevada, Iowa, used Frontline’s patented TarFreeGas® and PMFreeGas® technologies.

The tests demonstrated TarFreeGas® gasifier production of high-quality syngas with “excellent tar conversion,” Red Rock Biofuels stated, as well as PMFreeGas® removal of char and ash from the syngas.

The resulting syngas was shown to be suitable for further processing into SAF and renewable diesel. Additional independent analysis of the test results will also be conducted to further verify the results.

“We’re very pleased with the outcome of the steady-state test runs,” said Chip Cummins, interim CEO of Red Rock Biofuels and executive director at RPA Advisors. “These results validate the significant engineering work that has been done and clearly prove that Red Rock’s sourced residual woody biomass can be used as feedstock on a commercial scale to deliver renewable jet and diesel fuels in support of the aviation industry reaching net-zero emissions.”

Jerod Smeenk, CEO of Frontline BioEnergy, added, “The Red Rock Biofuels’ feedstock worked well in Frontline’s advanced gasification and gas clean-up technology. These tests mark a significant milestone toward the commercial deployment of biomass-to-drop-in fuels projects.”

The woody biomass feedstock for the tests was locally sourced in Oregon from the same providers that have agreed to support Red Rock’s feedstock supply once the plant is operational.

Red Rock Biofuels is building a biorefinery in Lakeview, Oregon, scaled at 20 million gallons per year.