Next-generation biofuels and renewable chemicals producer Gevo, Inc. has shipped its first batch of biobased isobutanol from its production facility in Luverne, Minnesota.

“We are laser-focused on our startup at Luverne,” said Patrick Gruber Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Gevo. “With the completion of our offerings last month, we have the funding in hand to complete the next phase of our strategy. That strategy builds on our successful startup at Luverne.”

“Our outstanding team started up the plant on schedule, and is well into the learning that startups of new technologies bring,” said Dr. Gruber. “We’ve achieved some major milestones having produced and shipped isobutanol from this plant so quickly. So far, the startup is going about as expected; it’s a lot of hard work and very rapid learning. Producing isobutanol is great, but learning to produce it day in and day out, becoming a reliable supplier, is what we have to learn next. I’m awed by the skill and dedication of our team executing this startup operation. Their experience has always been the basis for our confidence in commercializing our highly valuable technology. I’m pleased with what has been accomplished so far.”

Gevo is in the business of converting ethanol plants into its renewable energy and chemical refineries.