U.S. Navy and Solazyme to develop algae-derived advanced biofuel

Sep 9 2009

Solazyme, Inc., the renewable oil production company and leader in algal synthetic biology, has been selected by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to research, develop, and demonstrate commercial scale production of algae-derived advanced biofuel that meets the United States Navy’s rigorous specifications for military tactical platforms. Solazyme will utilize its innovative large-scale algal oil production process to provide renewable F-76 Naval Distillate fuel for testing and fuel certification to demonstrate it meets all military specifications and functional requirements.

The contract will further advance research and development on large scale advanced biofuel production from algae. It includes both R&D and fuel delivery components and calls for delivery of over 20,000 gallons of Soladiesel®_F-76 Renewable Naval Distillate fuel to the Navy for compatibility testing over the next year. F-76 Naval Distillate is similar to diesel fuel and is the primary shipboard fuel used by the Navy.

“The fuels made with our algal technology reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 85% versus standard petroleum based fuels,” said Jonathan Wolfson, Solazyme’s CEO. “We are honored to be working with the U.S. Navy to develop one of the world’s newest and cleanest fuels.”

“The Navy, the Defense Energy Support Center, the Defense Logistics Agency and the entire Department of Defense, have taken a true leadership position in moving forward to utilize clean and renewable oil production technology to address both the national energy security needs of our country and the environmental challenges facing our planet,” Wolfson added.

Solazyme’s technology will help the DoD reduce its carbon footprint, combat global climate change and lead in the development of clean and renewable energy sources. Reducing our dependence on foreign oil is a national security imperative, and Solazyme’s technology focuses on producing an abundant, domestic and renewable source for oil and fuels. Solazyme has already produced Soladiesel®F-76 that has been delivered to the Department of Defense for initial testing and has met the Navy’s F-76 specification. This program will lead to the eventual certification of Soladiesel®F-76 Naval distillate for commercial sale to the U.S. Military.