Total, the French oil and gas major, has invested an undisclosed sum in ethanol maker Coskata, which has developed a refining process that can turn garbage, old tires and other waste materials into ethanol.
Warrenville, Ill.,-based Coskata plans to use proceeds from the Total equity investment to scale production and commercialize its production.
Returning investors included Blackstone Cleantech Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures, Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV), Globespan Capital Partners, and Arancia – see full press release.
In January 2008 General Motors said it was investing in Coskata. It also did not disclose the amount of its investment.
Last fall Coskata went live with a demonstration plant in Madison, Pa. The output will be delivered to GM, which will test it at the company’s Milford Proving Grounds.
Total also holds a stake in Gevo, an Englewood, Colo.-based producer of butanol.