Solazyme

Solazyme Inc. is a privately-owned and -operated U.S. alternative energy company specializing in the production of algal fuel for use in ground and air transportation applications.

Company history and technology

Founded in 2003 and based in South San Francisco, California, Solazyme creates its biofuel products by placing algae and other discarded plant matter into kettles for brewing into algal blooms, which is then harvested as an oil. The company originally sought to cultivate and harvest algae through a traditional photosynthesis process before switching to this method. The company has also developed methods to create different types of oil by using a variety of algae strains, which it claims can be used for a wider variety of applications than ethanol while being produced with a significant lower amount of effort, water and land mass than the corn grain used in ethanol. [ [http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/20319/page1/ “Fuel from Algae,” MIT Technology Review, February 22, 2008] ]

Algal fuel applications

During 2008, Solazyme saw its visibility in the biofuel industry rise through a number of events and announcements. In January 2008, the company attracted attention at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, by presenting a Mercedes Benz C320 fueled with its Soladiesel brand of algal fuel. The algal fuel-powered car was also used to call attention to the documentary film "Fields of Fuel," which was playing at the festival and which featured coverage of Solazyme. [http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/01/driving-around.html “Driving Around Sundance With Biodiesel Made From Algae,” Wired Magazine Online, January 23, 2008] ] Also in January 2008, Solazyme announced a partnership with Chevron Technology Ventures to explore the commercialization of algal fuel. Three months earlier, Chevron announced a partnership with the United States Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory to identify the highest oil content levels within approximately 14,000 algal species. In August 2008, the company announced it raised US$45.4 million in Series C funding, which included included approximately US$6.4 million in convertible securities. The funding was backed by four investment firms – The Roda Group, Harris & Harris Group, Braemar Energy Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners. [ [http://www.redherring.com/blogs/24744 “Solazyme Pumped with $45.4M,” Red Herring, August 26, 2008] ] In September 2008, the company stated it produced the world's first jet fuel derived from an algal source. Harrison Dillon, the company’s president and co-founder, announced the fuel passed eleven tests conducted at a fuel analysis laboratory that certified its worthiness for aviation usage. "This is not like conventional biodiesel, where you can take french fry grease from McDonald's and turn it into oil in your garage," said Dillon during a press conference. "Planes will fall out of the sky if you don't have a high-quality fuel that meets strict standards." [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/10/BURK12R1VB.DTL “Making jet fuel from algae oil is very green,” San Francisco Chronicle, September 10, 2008] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.solazyme.com Solazyme Inc. web site]
* [http://www.vmsdigital.com/download/090108/SSF011192_01.WMV Solazyme on Discovery Channel Planet Green “G Word,” September 9, 2008]
* [http://news.cnet.com/1606-2_3-50002786.html CNet Video: “The many faces of algae,” June 6, 2008]