The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has endorsed Gevo, Inc. for the use of isobutanol by the marine industry. They say the renewable fuel is an effective, less damaging, more suitable biofuel than ethanol for powering various types of marine and recreational boat engines.
NMMA has worked with Gevo for five years, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Argonne National Laboratory, the U.S. Coast Guard and others on testing of various renewable fuels. During this testing, NMMA said the data supported isobutanol as the preferred renewable fuel for marine engines.
“Based on years of collaborative testing across the industry, biobutanol fuel blends, such as the ones provided by Gevo during our test program, are a safe and viable alternative to ethanol for use in recreational marine engines and boats up to 16.1 percent by volume,”said Jeff Wasil, engineering manager, Emissions Testing, Certification and Regulatory Development at Bombardier Recreational Products, an NMMA member.
According to NMMA, isobutanol fuel blends solve the concerns of boaters such as damaging engine parts. The studies found isobutanol provided a higher energy content, prevented moisture absorption and phase separation and reduced engine corrosion.
“We believe that the marine industry will be an important market for Gevo’s isobutanol. The technical properties of isobutanol shine in this application. We appreciate the efforts and the collaboration between Gevo and the NMMA throughout the testing program. We are pleased to have provided, from our plant in Luverne, the isobutanol needed to make the 16% isobutanol blended fuels that the studies required, for both on-water tests and in the laboratory,” added Dr. Patrick Gruber, Gevo’s CEO. “We are delighted with the results of the testing and to have the endorsement of the NMMA. Isobutanol has proven to be an effective, highly compatible biofuel for the recreational boating industry.”
