Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- Embraer, General Electric, and Amyris announced the signing, today, of a Memorandum of Understanding to evaluate the technical and sustainability aspects of Amyris No Compromise™ etc. renewable jet fuel. The initiative can culminate in a demo flight, by early 2012, of an Embraer E-Jet using GE engines and belonging to Azul Linhas Aereas. 

This collaboration combines industry leadership in airframe and engine manufacturing, a new and committed airline, and next-generation jet fuel development and production. The goal is to accelerate the introduction of a renewable jet fuel that could significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions, and provide a long-term sustainable alternative to petroleum-derived jet fuel. 

Amyris' renewable jet fuel is a promising alternative to the conventional petroleum-derived jet fuel. It is made from existing sugar cane feedstock, and is positioned to bring supply security, renewable content, price stability, and significant reductions in GHG emissions to the jet fuel pool. 

The new fuel has already undergone previous testing conducted by the US Air Force Research Laboratory, Southwest Research Institute, GE Aviation, and other industry participants. 

The Brazilian government (via "Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos" - FINEP) is already contributing funding to Amyris' renewable jet fuel development program. Brazil has the world's largest crop of sugar cane and associated expertise in ethanol production, which constitutes important leverage for developing Amyris renewable jet fuel. 

Amyris produces its renewable fuels using the emerging science of synthetic biology. By altering the metabolic pathways of microorganisms, such as yeast, Amyris is able to engineer "living factories" that transform sugar into a range of renewable products, including diesel fuel, jet fuel, and performance chemicals.