Sapphire Energy
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy |
| Founded | San Diego, California, May 2007 |
| Founder(s) | Jason Pyle Kristina Burow Nathaniel David |
| Headquarters | San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Key people | Jason Pyle, CEO |
| Products | Biofuel |
| Employees | 140 |
| Website | sapphireenergy.com |
Sapphire Energy is a San Diego-based energy company that produces oil made from algae.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
On May 29, 2008 the Los Angeles Times reported that Sapphire expects to introduce its first fuels based on green crude. [2][3] Sapphire Energy announced a second round investment, including the Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, that boosts the company’s total funding north of $100 million.[4] In 2008, Sapphire Energy was ranked second on the Biofuels Digest list of the hottest 50 companies in bioenergy.[5]
Sapphire employs around 140 employees, most of whom work in the San Diego office. A facility to grow and produce biofuel is located near Las Cruces, New Mexico.[6]
The company using Syntroleum Inc (SYNM) technology provided fifty gallons of gasoline for the Algaeus, a plugin-hybrid Toyota Prius that drove across the United States in September 2009. The tour is being done to show that gasoline made by algae is viable.[6] In 2009, Continental Airlines tested one of Sapphire Energy's biodiesel blends.[7]
The seed financing to launch Sapphire was provided by ARCH Ventures and Larry Bock
[edit] Products
It has produced "green" gasoline from a synthetic crude oil made from algae. The algae yield a crude oil replacement that is literally green, and according to the company, the "green crude" meets fuel quality standards and is completely compatible with the existing petroleum infrastructure, from refinement through distribution to retail suppliers. Gasoline produced from the green crude achieved a 91 octane rating while meeting fuel quality standards. [8]
Sapphire does not release values for volume of fuel produced. A 2009 Los Angeles Times profile of company CEO Jason Pyle said Sapphire hopes to produce 1 million US gallons (3,800 m3) of algae diesel and jet fuel each year in the next two years and 1 billion US gallons (3,800,000 m3) of fuel a year by 2025. [9] More recently, however, in a January 2011 interview Pyle avoids stating precise production goals and advises to "never quantify productivity in terms of gallons per acre per year." [10]
[edit] References
- ^ Pollack, Andrew (July 26, 2010). "Exploring Algae as Fuel". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/26/business/energy-environment/26algae.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2010-07-27. "'We've probably engineered over 4,000 strains,' said Mike Mendez, a co-founder and vice president for technology at Sapphire Energy, the owner of the laboratory. ..."
- ^ Douglass, Elizabeth (2008-05-29). "Sapphire Energy turns algae into 'green crude' for fuel - Los Angeles Times". http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/29/business/fi-greencrude29.
- ^ Sapphire Energy Unveils World's First Renewable Gasoline - The Earth Times
- ^ http://www.redherring.com/Home/24989
- ^ The hottest 50 companies in bioenergy, according to Biofuels Digest
- ^ a b Bigelow, Bruce V. (2009-09-08). "San Diego’s Sapphire Energy Plans Bio-Refinery in New Mexico as ‘Algaeus’ Begins Promotional Cross-Country Tour". Xconomy. http://www.xconomy.com/san-diego/2009/09/08/san-diego%E2%80%99s-sapphire-energy-plans-bio-refinery-in-new-mexico-as-%E2%80%98algaeus%E2%80%99-begins-promotional-cross-country-tour/. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Sapphire Energy - Press Release
- ^ HOW I MADE IT: JASON PYLE Using algae to make fuels, he's thinking beyond pond scum
- ^ A.I.M. Interview: Sapphire Energy’s CEO Dr. Jason Pyle
11. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPfYjOMNGX0&feature=channel
