Contributed by Graham Seiner
In January, a California company called Solafrzyme unveiled the first ever algae-derived biofuel to have undergone road testing by successfully powering a factory-standard automobile for long distances under typical driving conditions.
The production process grows the algae in stainles steel vats, feeding the plants sugar which they convert to a biofuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and is nontoxic. Solazyme has signed a development and testing agreement with Chevron and late last year won a $2 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop a substitute for crude oil based on algae.
The concept of algal biofuel has been discussed for decades, and Solazyme's technology provides a scalable solution based on proven industrial processes. The company hopes to reach commercial-scale biodiesel production in two or three years.
The company says this process is a near-term solution to the energy crisis that is cost effective and sustainable. The technology combines all the key components: low carbon footprint, environmental sustainability, certified compatibility with existing vehicles and infrastructure, and energy security, according to a company spokesman.
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in San Francisco, Solazyme is a biotechnology company focused on synthetic biology for the renewable bioproduction of fuels, industrial oleochemicals, and health and wellness ingredients from marine microbes.
http://www.solazyme.com.
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