NEW DELHI - UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian Oil Corp. Ltd. (IOCL) under which the two companies will collaborate on research and development for a range of biofuels technologies and projects in India.

Under this arrangement, the companies will evaluate installation of a demonstration-scale unit to produce green fuels at an existing IOCL site using non-food feedstocks available within India. IOCL and Honeywell’s UOP will also evaluate the viability of pyrolysis oil technology to convert lignocellulosic materials, or plant biomass, into renewable power and heat.

IOCL will also focus on research and development for the production of algal oil for use as a feedstock in the green fuels production.

“This collaboration is focused on the development of viable and sustainable green fuels that will enable reduced greenhouse gas emissions in India,” said Jennifer Holmgren, vice president and general manager of Honeywell UOP’s Renewable Energy and Chemicals business unit. “We are honored to work with IOCL to support this initiative and movement toward a reduced carbon footprint in India.”

“We have to reduce the carbon footprint of our business operations at least by 25 percent from the present level. It is not only our moral responsibility, but also necessary for sustaining the growth of our business. Green operation will allow us to reduce costs by reducing the energy intensity of our operations and thereby becoming cost competitive. It also helps us produce more from the same or even less inputs. We are looking forward to working with UOP to bring together our respective areas of expertise and achieve these goals,” said Anand Kumar, director of research and development for IOCL.

For more information, visit www.uop.com.

Publication date:04/19/2010