On January 21, Comstock Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Comstock Fuels Corp., has secured exclusive rights to Hexas Biomass Inc.’s proprietary technologies for producing liquid fuels. This partnership aims to transform renewable fuel production using advanced lignocellulosic biomass and high-yield energy crops.
Comstock Fuels specializes in refining lignocellulosic biomass into Bioleum fuels, achieving yields of up to 140 gallons per dry metric ton of feedstock, depending on conditions. Hexas Biomass, on the other hand, has developed high-yield energy crops that can produce 25 to 30 dry metric tons per acre annually—four to seven times more than traditional forestry species.
By combining these technologies, marginal agricultural lands can be turned into fuel farms producing up to 100 barrels of fuel per acre per year. For context, soybean and corn farming yield only 2 and 10 barrels of biofuel per acre per year, respectively.
“This collaboration has the potential to meet America’s annual oil demand entirely through renewable fuel,” said Kevin Kreisler, chief technology officer of Comstock Fuels. “Converting just 5% of U.S. agricultural land into fuel farms could double the nation’s current biomass output.”
To demonstrate this groundbreaking technology, Comstock Fuels plans to establish a 75,000-metric-ton-per-year Bioleum Refinery in Oklahoma. The facility will also feature a 5,000-acre fuel farm based on Hexas’ crops.
“Our partnership with Comstock represents a significant step toward making carbon-negative, sustainable liquid fuels a reality,” said Wendy Owens, CEO of Hexas Biomass.
David Winsness, president of Comstock Fuels, emphasized that Hexas’ energy crops provide a reliable and cost-effective feedstock supply, reducing risks and enhancing profitability for their renewable fuel solutions.
Comstock Fuels, under the terms of the agreement, will commit $500,000 to Hexas and partner to further develop Bioleum Refinery locations and new technology.
“Our ambition is to equip industries in agriculture, forestry, energy, and mobility to adapt and scale our solutions more rapidly than any individual company could do so on its own,” Kreisler said. “This partnership with Hexas marks a critical milestone on that path.
This partnership, between Comstock Fuels and Hexas Biomass, hopes to transform the renewable fuel sector, enhance the rural economy, and encourage the development of an energy-independent industry through sustainable production.
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