Solutions for Alternative Energy: Algae Biofuel Archives

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Sapphire Energy announced today they have produced renewable 91 octane gasoline that conforms to ASTM certification, made from a breakthrough process that produces crude oil directly from sunlight, CO2 and photosynthetic microorganisms, beginning with algae.

"Sapphire's goal is to be the world's leading producer of renewable petrochemical products," said CEO and co-founder Jason Pyle, speaking from the influential Simmons Alternative Energy Conference. "Our goal is to produce a renewable fuel without the downsides of current biofuel approaches. Sapphire Energy was founded on the belief that the only way to cure our dependence on foreign oil and end our flirtation with ethanol and biodiesel is through radical new thinking and a commitment to new technologies."


The end result -- high-value hydrocarbons chemically identical to those in gasoline -- will be entirely compatible with the current energy infrastructure from cars to refineries and pipelines.
Not biodiesel, not ethanol. And no crops or farm land required.
The Sapphire platform offers vast advantages -- scientific, economic and social -- over traditional biofuel approaches.


Company scientists have built a platform that uses sunlight, CO2, photosynthetic microorganisms and non-arable land to produce carbon-neutral alternatives to petrochemical-based processes and products. First up: renewable gasoline.


Sapphire's scalable production facilities can grow easily and economically because production is modular, transportable, and fueled by sunlight -- not constrained by land, crops, or other natural resources.


Developments require new industrial category: Green Crude Production


In fact, Sapphire's processes and science are so radical, the company is at the forefront of an entirely new industrial category called 'Green Crude Production.' Products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms, sunlight and CO2; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; are carbon neutral and renewable; and don't require any food crop or agricultural land.


The final products meet ASTM standards and are completely compatible with the existing petroleum infrastructure, from refinement through distribution and the retail supply chain.
Leadership team stars in their fields


Sapphire's founders and leadership team includes scientists in the fields of petro chemistry, biotechnology, algal production, plant genomics, and biogenetics. ARCH Venture Partners, with a long history of taking innovative life-science technologies to market, is the founding investor. ARCH is joined by the Wellcome Trust, the world's largest biomedical research charity, and Venrock, one of the oldest and most respected venture capital firms in the country.


Sapphire's scientific supporters include Scripps Research Institute; University of California, San Diego; the University of Tulsa, and the Department of Energy's Joint Genome Project. The company is located in San Diego.


For more information, visit http://www.sapphireenergy.com and http://www.greencrudeproduction.com.





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