Sapphire Energy News

Excellent adventure on algae-fueled motorcycle

Shawn Styles, CBS 8 San Diego — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:18:14 GMT

SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Two local researchers are on the adventure of a lifetime, and they're only in their mid-twenties.

News 8's Shawn Styles files this video report on how they recently set a land speed record on a diesel motorcycle, powered by algae fuel.

Sapphire Energy biofuel in motion

Matt Robinson, The Daily Times — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:37:03 GMT

Operations should begin at the Sapphire Energy biofuel facility in June, the vice president of corporate affairs reports.
Tim Zenk, of San Diego-based Sapphire Energy, said the first phase of construction, which will lead to the beginning of operations, will be finished the middle to end of June. At that point, the pond systems used to grow algae for biofuel crude will be filled.

Corporate Counsel Q&A with Jim Butler, Vice President of Legal Affairs and Intellectual Property, Sapphire Energy Inc.

Paul Jones, Daily Journal — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:48:15 GMT

Jim Butler helps biofuel company Sapphire Energy patent its work on biofuels.

Jim Butler oversees legal issues as vice president of legal affairs and intellectual property at San Diego-based biofuel company Sapphire Energy Inc., which grows algae for conversion into a biofuel that could be used interchangeably with petroleum-based fuels.

Advanced biofuels, farm, airline groups call on US to fund proposed military biofuels project

Jim Lane, BiofuelsDigest — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:53:03 GMT

In Washington, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the Advanced BioFuel Association, the Algal Biomass Organization, Airlines for America, and the National Farm Bureau Federation today wrote leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee asking them to include authorization for the U.S. Department of Energy to transfer funds to the Defense Production Act necessary for an interagency project to ramp up production of military aviation and diesel fuels.

SAPPHIRE CO-FOUNDER RELINQUISHES CEO ROLE

Mike Freeman, San Diego Union Tribune — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:46:30 GMT

Sapphire Energy names new chief executive

Mike Freeman, San Diego Union Tribune — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:39:29 GMT

Start-up company has raised $350 million to develop algae-based biofuels

Sapphire Energy CEO Jason Pyle’s Parting Thoughts on Big Biofuel

Bruce V. Bigelow, Xconomy — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:30:48 GMT

After stepping down as the founding CEO of San Diego’s Sapphire Energy, Jason Pyle tells me he’s accomplished a number of key initiatives at the algae-based biofuels startup, and basically that it’s time to move on.

VENTURE FUNDING RISES IN SAN DIEGO

Mike Freeman, San Diego Union Tribune — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:44:54 GMT

Investments in clean-tech firm, life sciences lead way

Whatever happened to algae and biofuels?

Jim Lane, Biofuels Digest — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:46:06 GMT

2009 was the ‘summer of algae,” when it seemed that every other day, there was another Mom-and-Pop, or even inter nation behemoth, announcing that it was heading up biofuels’ Chilikoot Pass and the untold fortunes that awaited in the bio-based equivalent of the Yukon. It was a gold rush, it was a green rush, and there was excitement in the air.

The algal biofuels landscape may feel like a a desert these days, but like an open pond once loaded with hopeful swimmers eager to claim their share, hardy survivors are pressing on. At the head of the pack in the chase for fuels, then as now, there’s Sapphire Energy.

CEO Changes in Planned Succession at San Diego’s Sapphire Energy

Bruce Biglow, Xconomy — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 02:26:50 GMT

In a management transition announcement released this afternoon, Pyle is stepping down as CEO, effective today. Cynthia “C.J.” Warner, who has co-led the algal biofuels startup since joining the company in 2009 as president and chairman, is taking over as CEO and will continue as chairman. Pyle, an entrepreneur and bioengineer with a doctorate and medical degree from Stanford University, will remain as a member of Sapphire’s board.

Green Startup of the Week: Sapphire Energy Goes Green with Algae

US Green Technology — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 23:20:40 GMT

Goodbye, black gold. Hello, green gold. That’s right, Sapphire Energy, an algae biofuel green startup, is receiving a whopping $144 million from investors such as agriculture company Monsanto. Sapphire Energy essentially is acquiring enough greens to erect a commercial algae demonstration plant called the Green Crude Farm in New Mexico.

SAPPHIRE ENERGY ANNOUNCES CEO TRANSITION

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:47:09 GMT

San Diego, CA (April 19, 2012) – Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based green crude oil production, today announced Jason Pyle will step down as chief executive officer effective today. He will remain a member of the Sapphire Energy board of directors. Dr. Pyle, a respected bioengineer and entrepreneur, co-founded the company in 2007 and has been instrumental in building it into a leading force in algae-to-fuel production. Cynthia “C.J.” Warner, who has co-led the company since 2009 as president and chairman, has been named CEO, consolidating the leadership roles.

Algae-Fueled Motorcycle Sets Speed Record

Algae Industry Magazine — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:47:20 GMT

Below the Surface’s “Driving Innovation” Team established the first official algae-fueled motorcycle speed records during The Texas Mile land speed event on March 24th, 2012. Team leader Kristian Gustavson reached 94.6 mph using a 50/50 blend of biodiesel derived from algae and cooking oil waste from the University of California at San Diego (UCSD). Fellow team member, Devin Chatterjie, reached 96.2 MPH on 100% algae-derived Green Crude diesel fuel supplied by Sapphire Energy Inc., one of the world’s leaders in algae-based oil crude production. Together, they established the fastest and only known records to date for an algae-fueled motorcycle.

Algae-based oil as silly as heavier-than-air flight

Jay Bookman, Atlanta Journal Constitution — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:24:42 GMT

Sapphire Energy, a startup company trying to commercialize the use of algae as an energy source to replace oil, last week announced $144 million in new investments.

ALGAE BIOFUEL STARTUP IS EXPANDING OPERATIONS IN NEW MEXICO

Yale Environment 360 — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:06:17 GMT

A U.S. startup says it has raised enough funding to significantly expand what it calls the world’s first commercial-scale algae biofuel farm, a 300-acre project its developers say could produce 1.5 million gallons of algae-based crude oil by 2014.

78% biofuels execs more bullish; strong job, revenue growth expected in 2012

Jim Lane, Biofuels Digest — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:35:57 GMT

In Florida, Biofuels Digest reports that 78 percent of bioenergy executives are more optimistic both about their organization’s prospects for growth and industry growth, than 12 months ago, and that 72 percent are more optimistic about the industry’s prospects than at this time in 2011.

The findings were among the highlights of the Q1 2012 Bioenergy Business Outlook Survey conducted by the publication and co-sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). The quarterly survey drew responses from 572 Digest subscribers.

Green crude pioneer Sapphire Energy adds $144 million to its tank

Business Excellence — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:04:13 GMT

Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based green crude oil production, has secured the final tranche of $144 million investment funding.
Readers of our 1 April story about profal oil need not be sceptical. It’s not the first of April today.

Sapphire Energy gets $144M in its fuel tank to turn algae into gasoline

Sarah Mitroff, Venture Beat — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:02:07 GMT

Sapphire Energy, a company that creates algae-based fuel, just announced a whopping $144 million in funding.
In recent years several startups have emerged to create fuel out of plant material, all hoping to lure people away from gasoline made from crude oil. Solazyme, Algae.tec, and Sapphire Energy all dominate the space, trying to edge not only each other, but oil companies as well.

The Game Changer

Jim Lane, Biofuels Digest — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:56:49 GMT

Protect and defend the US Renewable Fuel Standard, says BP Biofuels chief

“And then there was a game-changing event,” BP Biofuels chief Philip New told delegates at the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, “with a profound effect on the shape and the trajectory of the biofuels industry.”

There was a stillness in the room, as a quiet spread over the delegates at the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference. Usually, at an event attracting over 500 delegates and more than 100 C-level delegates, there was the slam of conference doors opening and shutting, and the low, continual hum of click-click as CEos and senior executives consult their Crackberries.

But, today, there was none of it.

Funding hits target for algae development

Biofuels International — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:35:44 GMT

Algae-based green oil producer, Sapphire Energy, has closed its final round of Series C investment funding, raising $144 million (€108 million).
Not all of the investors were disclosed but those that were included Arrowpoint Partners and Monsanto. Including this funding round, Sapphire Energy has now raised a total of $300 million from public and private sources.

Sapphire Energy closes $144M Series C investment round

Jim Lane, BiofuelsDigest — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:31:23 GMT

In California, Sapphire Energy announced that it has secured the final tranche of a $144 million Series C investment funding. The Series C backers include Arrowpoint Partners, Monsanto, and other undisclosed investors. All major Series B investors have participated.

BIOFUELS: Sapphire gets cash for 'Green Crude' project

Amanda Peterka, E&E reporter — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:33:34 GMT

Algae-to-energy company Sapphire Energy Inc. today announced it has secured $144 million in private investment for its planned demonstration plant in New Mexico.

Sapphire Gets $144 Million for New Mexico Algae-Based Fuel Plant

Andrew Herndon, Bloomberg — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:03:32 GMT

Sapphire Energy Inc., which produces crude oil from algae, received $144 million from investors to build a demonstration plant in New Mexico.

Sapphire clinches $144 million for New Mexico algae biorefinery

Eco Seed Staff — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:01:10 GMT

San Diego-based Sapphire Energy secured $144 million in investment funding for the development of their commercial demonstration-scale algae-to-energy facility in New Mexico.

Sapphire Energy Raises $144M More

So Cal Tech — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:57:56 GMT

In what appears to be the biggest alternative energy investment in the region so far this year, San Diego-based Sapphire Energy, a developer of biofuels technology aimed at crude oil production, said today that it has raised $144M in a Series C funding round.

Sapphire Energy gets $144M in its fuel tank to turn algae into gasoline

Sarah Mitroff, Venture Beat — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:53:27 GMT

Sapphire Energy, a company that creates algae-based fuel, just announced a whopping $144 million in funding.

San Diego’s Sapphire Energy Raises $144M for “Green Crude Farm”

Bruce V. Bigelow, Xconomy — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:39:14 GMT

San Diego biofuel developer Sapphire Energy says today it has secured the final installment of $144 million in a Series C round of venture funding that includes Arrowpoint Partners, Monsanto, and other undisclosed investors.

SAPPHIRE ENERGY ANNOUNCES $144 MILLION SERIES C FUNDING

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:45:39 GMT

San Diego, CA (April 2, 2012) – Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based green crude oil production, today announced it has secured the final tranche of a $144 million Series C investment funding. The Series C backers include Arrowpoint Partners, Monsanto, and other undisclosed investors. All major Series B investors have participated. With this investment round, Sapphire Energy’s total funding from private and public sources substantially exceeds $300 million.

Airline Industry Executives Call On Govts To Promote Biofuels Use

Dow Jones Newswires — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 01:54:43 GMT

SANTIAGO – The global airline industry wants stronger government efforts to promote using biofuels, with new regulations and economic incentives for its production. It is working to meet the growing air-passenger demand without a proportional increase of carbon emissions, industry executives said Thursday.

When Defending Biofuels, Supporters Point to History

David Ferris, Forbes — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:38:55 GMT

President Obama and the U.S. Navy are getting a lot of flak these days for backing unproven, alternative fuels in a time of high gas prices. But supporters of biofuels have a counterargument: We’ve been here before.

Military on Board With Green Power

Brad Graves, San Diego Business Journal — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 23:15:15 GMT

In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt sent 16 U.S. Navy battleships around the world. The ships came to be known as the Great White Fleet.

Guest Post: Top 10 Women of Biofuels

Lisa Ann Pinkerton, GreenTech Media — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:22:41 GMT

We shine the spotlight on the most savvy and accomplished women pioneers in cleantech and sustainability.

Obama Defends Energy Policy, Hitting Back at Presidential Candidates

Mark Landler, The New York Times — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:36:10 GMT

LARGO, Md. – In what has become a weekly ritual, President Obama on Thursday defended his administration’s energy policy, in the face of relentlessly rising gasoline prices, to an American public that believes he can do more to ease the pain at the pump.

Anchors Aweigh on Clean Energy

Coral Davenport, National Journal — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:28:24 GMT

Tuesday, March 13, 2012 | 12:43 p.m. ABOARD THE USS KEARSARGE, NORFOLK, Va. - President Obama is under attack from the right on energy, but the U.S. military’s got his back - particularly Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.

As the Pentagon pursues a broad strategy of slashing fossil-fuel use and increasing renewable energy and conservation across all forces, Mabus has acted as the most prominent figurehead and cheerleader of the effort. That could bolster Obama’s push for clean energy as Republicans are traditionally far less likely to push back against the U.S. military - which cites the energy policies as essential to security - than they are an incumbent Democratic president.

Air Force alternative fuels process paves way to future

Dr. Donald Erbschloe, Air Mobility Command Chief Scientist — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:17:13 GMT

AMC chief scientist: Air Force alternative fuels process paves way to future AMC chief scientist: Air Force alternative fuels process paves way to future

Pentagon's new energy plan comes from the top

Annie Snider, E&E reporter — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 05:08:19 GMT

Monday, March 12, 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has created a high-level energy advisory board to oversee combat energy use in a significant step toward institutionalizing energy awareness throughout the Pentagon.

Mabus defends biofuels during hearing on Navy ship

BROCK VERGAKIS, Associated Press — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 05:00:17 GMT

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- Navy Secretary Ray Mabus defended the service's investment on biofuels Monday, saying that it is a "false choice" for critics to suggest the Navy should focus on building more ships instead of finding alternative fuels to power them.

CERAWeek to Feature the Class of 2012 Energy Innovation Pioneers

IHS Media Relations — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:50:51 GMT

Breakfast meetings will highlight new ideas, technologies from twenty five leading entrepreneurs

Connect and Xconomy Present: The Rock Stars of Innovation 1 Stop Tour

Bruce V. Bigelow, Xconomy — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 18:39:06 GMT

For the young entrepreneurs who work at the vanguard of innovation, there may be no more important topic to address in San Diego these days than the scarcity of venture funding.

Sapphire licenses spirulina strain from Earthrise Nutritionals

Erin Voegele, Biodiesel Magazine — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:52:51 GMT

Sapphire Energy Inc. has entered into a licensing agreement with Earthrise Nutritionals LLC, a company that has produced spirulina and spirulina-based products for more than 25 years. Spirulina, also known as blue-green algae or cyanobacteria, can be cultivated in a similar fashion to green algae to produce lipids.

I Want a New Bug: Sapphire licenses spirulina from Earthrise for biofuels

Jim Lane, BiofuelsDigest — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:03:12 GMT

In California, Sapphire Energy announced it has entered into a licensing agreement with Earthrise Nutritionals, to integrate Earthrise Nutritionals’ spirulina strain into Sapphire’s growing inventory of cyanobacteria and algae strains for algae-to-energy production.

Sapphire Energy licensing Earthrise Nutrionals’ spirulina for high-yield green crude production

Mike Millikin, Green Car Congress — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:19:50 GMT

Algae-based crude oil producer Sapphire Energy, Inc., has entered into a licensing agreement with Earthrise Nutritionals LLC, a producer of spirulina and spirulina-based products for more than 25 years. Sapphire Energy will integrate Earthrise Nutritionals’ spirulina strain into its growing inventory of cyanobacteria and algae strains for algae-to-energy production.

Sapphire Boosts Yields from Blue-Green Algae, Signs Earthrise Deal

Bruce V. Bigelow, Xconomy — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:16:53 GMT

In a move that extends the scope of its algal biofuel production, San Diego’s Sapphire Energy says it has modified certain cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, to produce significantly higher yields of “green” crude oil.

SAPPHIRE ENERGY TO LICENSE EARTHRISE NUTRITIONALS’ SPIRULINA FOR HIGH YIELD GREEN CRUDE PRODUCTION

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:35:10 GMT

San Diego, CA (Feb. 29, 2012) – Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based crude oil production, today announced it has entered into a licensing agreement with Earthrise Nutritionals LLC, a producer of spirulina and spirulina- based products for over 25 years. Sapphire Energy will integrate Earthrise Nutritionals’ spirulina strain into its growing inventory of cyanobacteria and algae strains for algae-to-energy production. As a result of this agreement, Sapphire Energy significantly improves its operational efficiency by expanding the range of strain choices available for producing Sapphire Energy’s Green Crude—a drop-in replacement for petroleum-based crude oil—that can be refined into diesel, jet fuel, and gasoline.

Green Crude

John W. McCurry, SITE Selection — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:25:58 GMT

Sapphire is turning algae into oil in the New Mexico desert.

Obama Promotes Pond Scum as Renewable Fuel Source

Brian Wingfield and Jim Snyder, Bloomberg — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:45:33 GMT

Faced with the highest oil prices in nine months, President Barack Obama is backing pond scum as a path to energy independence, pitting the nascent algae-based biofuels industry against critics of his energy plan.

President Obama Announces $14 million Funding Opportunity to Develop Transportation Fuels from Algae

Biomass Program, Department of Energy — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:26:57 GMT

February 23, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Obama announced new funding to catalyze breakthrough technologies for two key alternative fuels – natural gas and biofuels – as part of his all-of-the-above energy strategy to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and provide American families new choices for vehicles that do not rely on conventional gasoline.