BioDiesel Reactor Technologies
Presenter:
Ken Lawless
Email:
klawless@bdrtechnologies.com
Phone:
613-834-0413
Website:
http://www.bdrtechnologies.com
Address:
6143 Lariviere Cres.
Ottawa, ON
K1W 1C6
Year Founded:
2007
Industry Sector:
Cleantech Category:
Company Overview:
BioDiesel Reactor Technologies Inc. (BDR) is a clean energy technology company that provides innovative capital efficient process solutions to the multi-billion dollar global biodiesel industry. BDR’s propriety membrane reactor system produces high quality biodiesel that surpasses industry quality specifications and provides significant capital, operating and input cost savings to our customers. More specifically, this technology provides biodiesel producers with: a cost-effective solution to address the fuel filter plugging quality issues of biodiesel-diesel blends; improved processing margins; and flexibility to reduce input costs by utilizing low cost-FFA (free fatty acid) waste oils and next generation feedstocks (e.g. algae) without costly pre-treatment for FFAs or distillation of the final product. Our technology can be used to retrofit existing, uneconomical and feedstock constrained production facilities as well as for new builds.
Markets & Applications:
The multi-billion dollar global biodiesel industry is recovering after the recession with increased demand driven by increases in mandated biodiesel-diesel blends. However, biodiesel producers face a number of issues, namely: rudimentary reactor technology that often fails to ensure quality in commercial applications; feedstock cost and availability concerns; weak process economics; and tight credit markets. Existing conventional technologies make it difficult for the industry to meet increasingly more stringent quality specifications without incurring significant extra capital and operating costs.
BDR’s novel membrane reactor technology overcomes both the issues of quality and weak economics that make plants unprofitable. BDR’s initial target; the 2/3 of existing plants that are financially vulnerable to more stringent product specifications and the remaining who cannot compete because of high costs. Over $11B ($3B in US) has been invested in global plant capacity to date.
Technology & Products:
BDR’s membrane reactor utilizes microporous ceramic membrane technology (simultaneous reaction and membrane-based separation process) that produces high quality biodiesel utilizing low cost inputs. BDR has the exclusive global license and has patents (method and apparatus) in examination in US, Canada, EU, Asia and South America.
Sustainable Competitive Advantage:
BDR’s technology provides the biodiesel industry with an effective capital efficient means in which to deliver today large commercial quantities of advanced biofuel that exceeds current standards (and those proposed by large blenders) while at the same time providing producers the opportunity to increase profitability by utilizing lower cost feedstocks without the need for pre-treatment.
Our value proposition:
- IMPROVED PRODUCT QUALITY- Low MG levels (all feedstocks) - elimination of cold weather fuel filter plugging issues -no distillation.
- REDUCED INPUT AND PROCESSING COSTS - Processing of virgin oils and high FFA feedstocks without pre-treatment (10-25% savings).
- IMPROVED CAPITAL EFFICIENCY->30% CAPEX savings/doubling plant capacity on same footprint (<1 year payback).
For producers our ability to utilize crude soy feedstocks without degumming can save up to 10% in input cost or $9M for a 20 MM Gal/year plant. The same plant utilizing high FFA feedstocks (e.g. waste cooking oils, yellow grease, can reduce input costs by up to 25% or $24 M per year. BDR’s processes are also expected to provide significant process economic benefits for next generation feedstocks such as Jatropha and algae.
Business Model & Financials:
BDR is a process engineering and technology provider. Revenue will be derived from technology sales, provision of engineering services and licensing. Joint venture partnerships will also be considered. BDR has a number of collaborations currently in development including process testing with lead customers, key suppliers and prospective market channel partners in China. Revenues of $50M are projected by 2015.
Team:
Management has extensive experience in technology commercialization including the petrochemical and biofuels industries.
- Ken Lawless, CEO (former CEO Ottawa Life Sciences Council)
- Brian Radburn, CFO (former Partner PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP)
- Greg Rogers, VP Bus. Dev. (former Manager Biofuels, Shell Canada)
- Tom Janidlo, VP Eng (former Manager Iogen Cellulosic Ethanol Plant)
- Dr. André Tremblay, Founding Scientist (Prof., Chemical Engineering uOttawa)
Development Plans:
The next steps for BDR include construction of a pilot plant and market penetration.
Additional Information:
Conover + Company Communications is presenting this information to you on behalf of the Government of Canada. Additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia.