Solazyme Hopes to Mass-Produce Algae Biodiesel in Three Years

I’ve often thought that algae could be one of the keys to our energy future, and now I’m more convinced than ever. In a conference call earlier today, Solazyme CEO Jonathan Wolfson said that his company is capable of producing millions of gallons of biodiesel derived from algae within 3 years.

Solazyme is the first company to produce algae diesel that meets US standards, but until today their production timeline was unknown.

“The technology is moving a lot quicker than some people would expect,” Wolfson said.

• » See also: US Arpa-E Funding Enlisting Cyanobacteria to Make Fuel For Humans
• » Get CleanTechnica by RSS or sign up by email.

Most companies working with algal fuel grow algae in open ponds, harvest the plant, and squeeze the oil out, but Solazyme takes a different approach. The company grows algae in the dark in large tanks by feeding it with biomass. The algae then eat the biomass and turn it into natural oils.

According to Wolfson, the logic behind this approach is that it works with the existing biofuel infrastructure. “We produce oils on the fuel side that can go straight into the refining structure,” he said.

With so many fuel technologies having excruciatingly long timelines, it’s encouraging to see a company working on the fast track.

Posts Related to Algal Fuel:

• Algal Fuel One Step Closer to Becoming a Conventional Oil Alternative
• Algae-Based Biofuel to Power Virgin Atlantic 747 Jet?
• First Algae Biodiesel Plant Goes Online: April 1, 2008 : Gas 2.0
• Solazyme Makes First Algae Diesel to Meet Strict US Standard
• First Heavy Duty Diesel Powered by Algae Biodiesel, Solazyme’s “Soladiesel”
• Cellulosic Ethanol Sugar Diverted to Algae Biodiesel Production
• First Cars Run on Algae Biodiesel; Breakthrough Production Possible

Tweet This Post