Atropha is a developer and marketer of Green Kero™ - a liquid fuel derived from plant and algae driving sustainability in cold weather climates.

Liquid fuels used for building heat and transportation need additives to remain liquid in cold climates. This problem is exacerbated by mandates for biodiesel content in petroleum-based fuels since the presence of biodiesel increases the cloud point of the fuel. Fuel distributors blend kerosene with distillate fuel for cold weather operation.  However, recent EPA regulations mandate that blended fuel meet the low sulfur requirement for clean diesel forcing blenders to use ULS kerosene which is more expensive as a blending agent. Atropha’s biofuel derived from plant and algae oils can meet the need for a low-sulfur, low cloud-point blending fuel which enables fuel distributors to meet both the biofuels content and pollution regulations.

According to the Energy Information Agency, United States produces and consumes approximately 30 billion gallons of jet fuel and 64 billion gallons of distillate fuels annually.  Approximately half of the distillate fuel is used in cold weather climate and needs blending fuels in the winter time. We estimate that the total market potential for a kerosene substitute to be approximately 40-50 billion gallons annually in the United States alone with a market value of almost $96 billion annually based on recent wholesale prices. 

The company, in partnership with Northeastern University, is developing an efficient catalytic/electrochemical process to manufacture Green Kero™, a low-sulfur, low cloud-point fuel from plant and algal oil feedstock. The patent pending process results in a fuel with properties similar to kerosene but having zero sulfur content.  This entire process occurs nominally at room temperature and pressure making it very efficient and economical. 

“If you can make a replacement for ULS kerosene, I will buy everything you make.  We need 24 million gallons annually.”

 VP Commercial Fuels, Global Products, LP