SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Solazyme, a bioscience company pioneering biofuels and health/wellness products from microalgae, has received a $2 million Advanced Technology Program Award from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop a biopetroleum derived from marine microorganisms.
Under the program, Solazyme will accelerate development of a renewable, domestically produced light sweet crude oil, or biopetroleum, which is fully compatible with the vast existing petroleum industry infrastructure that refines, distributes, and markets petroleum products for transportation, heating, power generation and petrochemical applications. Development of the biopetroleum technology requires efficient industrial scale bioproduction of pure, long-chain hydrocarbons. The ATP award will advance the achievement of major technical milestones toward commercialization of biopetroleum.
“We are pleased to receive external peer reviewed validation of our progress in developing a commercially viable biopetroleum,” said Arthur Grossman, chief of genetics for Solazyme, Senior Scientist at the Carnegie Institution, Courtesy Professor at Stanford University and Darbaker prize recipient. “We look forward to advancing this project and adding additional technical expertise to our team as we continue to further the science and the future applications of algal-derived bioenergy.”
Solazyme is currently developing biofuels and health/wellness products with microalgae and producing next generation biofuels at the semi-commercial scale. Biopetroleum complements Solazyme’s biofuel portfolio, which also includes biodiesel, renewable diesel and renewable (bio)jet fuel and leverages Solazyme’s unique expertise in the field of microalgae bioengineering.
“The Advanced Technology Program has historically funded the development of game-changing technologies and we are delighted to be in such esteemed company,” added Harrison Dillon, chief executive officer of Solazyme. “The scientific strategy underlying our approach to create biopetroleum will leverage Solazyme’s core strengths in the genetic manipulation of microalgae and potentially play a significant role in securing US energy independence.”
About Solazyme:
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California, Solazyme is a leading biotechnology company focused on the engineering and optimization of algae for production of biofuels and health and wellness materials. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.solazyme.com.
For More Information Contact: Jackie Kolek Ellen Snook Peppercom Peppercom 212-931-6166 415-438-9821 jkolek@peppercom.comesnook@peppercom.com
Solazyme
CONTACT: Jackie Kolek, +1-212-931-6166, jkolek@peppercom.com, or EllenSnook, +1-415-438-9821, esnook@peppercom.com, both of Peppercom, forSolazyme
Web site: http://www.solazyme.com/
