Sapphire Energy Press Releases

SAPPHIRE ENERGY EXPANDS LEADERSHIP TEAM WITH NEW CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Leading Green Crude Oil Producer Taps Esteemed Bioengineer, Dr. Matthew Croughan, to Drive Company’s Technology Roadmap

SAN DIEGO, May 22, 2013 – Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based Green Crude oil production, today announced that Dr. Matthew Croughan will join the company as Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Croughan is a world renowned engineer and researcher in industrial bioprocessing, having most recently served as George B. and Joy Rathmann Professor and Director of the Amgen Bioprocessing Center at Keck Graduate Institute (KGI), a member of the Claremont Colleges Consortium. He has also served as a member of Sapphire Energy’s Scientific Advisory Board since June 2012. In the newly created role of CTO, Dr. Croughan will guide the company in its effort to refine and scale its technologies and algae-to-energy process as it moves towards commercial scale production of Green Crude oil.

“In just five years, Sapphire Energy has established itself as a world leader in advanced, algae-to-energy biotechnologies and agriculture, which is why we’re so pleased to welcome Dr. Croughan, a highly regarded expert in the bioprocessing field, to our leadership team,” said Cynthia ‘CJ’ Warner, CEO and chairman of Sapphire Energy. “He has extensive experience in helping companies optimize their biological products and processes to better achieve scalability and maximize yields. We’ve been fortunate to have him on our advisory board, and now, as our CTO, he’ll play an integral role as we move closer to commercializing Green Crude production.”

Dr. Croughan established the KGI Bioprocessing Center in 2006, and developed a unique program to recruit and educate the next generation of business leaders in bioprocessing. Leveraging the help of his colleagues in the biotechnology industry who often serve as adjunct faculty, he built the program into one of the largest masters-level programs in bioprocessing, with approximately 100 graduates to date. Dr. Croughan recently won the Student Choice Faculty (Top Teaching) Award for 2012-2013, and will keep a limited role at KGI as Industry Professor while serving as CTO at Sapphire Energy. Since 1998, he also has worked as an independent consultant providing expert guidance on biopharmaceutical and biofuels process development and manufacturing to over 55 firms.

“Dr. Croughan has been an outstanding leader of this academic program. His attention to the students, from recruitment to alumni relations, is unsurpassed. He has built and maintained relationships that have greatly expanded our corporate network,” said James Sterling, Vice President for Academic Affairs at KGI.

Previously, Dr. Croughan was the chief scientist for Genentech’s cell culture facility in Vacaville, CA, built for the production of therapeutic antibodies. Earlier in his career at Genentech, he developed the first licensed fed-batch cell culture process, a breakthrough platform technology now used throughout the biopharmaceutical industry, especially for the economical production of high-dose blockbuster antibodies. Dr. Croughan has a Ph.D. from MIT and a BS from UC Berkeley, both in chemical engineering.

About Sapphire Energy
San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude production – with the potential to profoundly change America’s energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire’s products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae and cyanobacteria), using sunlight and CO2 as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; are compatible with existing infrastructure; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. Sapphire has an R&D facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and is currently operating the first Integrated Algal BioRefinery in Columbus, New Mexico.

SAPPHIRE ENERGY ENTERS INTO A COMMERCIAL AGREEMENT WITH TESORO FOR PURCHASE OF GREEN CRUDE OIL

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Sapphire Achieves Major Milestone with Continuous Green Crude Oil Production

SAN DIEGO, March 20, 2013 – Sapphire Energy, Inc., a leader in algae-based Green Crude oil production, today announced it has entered into a commercial agreement with Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Tesoro Corporation. Under the agreement, Tesoro will purchase crude oil from Sapphire Energy’s Green Crude Farm in Columbus, New Mexico, which recently reached a new milestone: continuous cultivation and crude oil production. This begins the first step of a commercial relationship to process Green Crude oil from Sapphire’s future commercial facilities.

“In less than one year, Sapphire Energy has started up its commercial demonstration to grow algae; has produced crude oil from our farm; and now with Tesoro as our first commercial customer, we’re providing barrels of our oil to be refined for market use,” said Cynthia ‘CJ’ Warner, CEO and chairman of Sapphire Energy. “This moment is enormously important for the industry as it validates the benefits and advantages of Green Crude, and confirms its place as a market-viable, refiner-ready, renewable crude oil solution.”

Sapphire Energy is now producing crude oil daily from algae biomass cultivated and harvested at the company’s Green Crude Farm in Columbus, NM. Oil extraction is conducted through a patented method for converting wet algae to crude oil, which enables algae to be processed without the need for a timely and costly drying step. Wet extraction technology for algae-based crude oil has been considered one of the biggest challenges to commercialization. With this process, which is the result of more than four years of research, development and field trials, the entire algae cell is now used in oil production, greatly improving yield. Furthermore, the process is scalable, and has proven to be effective with a wide range of algae strains.

In initial testing by Sapphire Energy, Green Crude oil was refined into on-spec ASTM 975 diesel fuel, proving its compatibility with the existing network of pipelines, refineries and transport systems. Moving forward, the company plans to grow production significantly to further expand its commercial demonstration and begin the transition towards commercial-scale production.

“Tesoro is continuously looking at new technologies for producing renewable fuels. We are pleased to become a purchaser of Sapphire Energy’s Green Crude, which shows promise as an alternative fuel solution,” said Joel Larkins, vice president of Renewable Development at Tesoro.

About Sapphire Energy
San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude production – with the potential to profoundly change America’s energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire’s products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae and cyanobacteria), using sunlight and CO2 as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; are compatible with existing infrastructure; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. Sapphire has an R&D facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and is currently operating the first Integrated Algal BioRefinery (Green Crude Farm) in Columbus, New Mexico.

About Tesoro
Tesoro Corporation, a Fortune 150 company, is an independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products. Tesoro, through its subsidiaries, operates seven refineries in the western United States with a combined capacity of approximately 675,000 barrels per day. Tesoro's retail-marketing system includes over 1,400 branded retail stations, of which 595 are company operated under the Tesoro®, Shell® and USA Gasoline(TM) brands. For more information, visit www.tsocorp.com.

Watch Video of Sapphire Energy's Green Crude Oil

SCIENTISTS PUBLISH FIRST IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF ALGAE PARASITE IMPACT ON SCALABLE ALGAE BIOFUEL PRODUCTION IN PLOS ONE JOURNAL

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:05:00 GMT

New Research Identifies Key Challenge of Algae Crop Protection in Open-Pond Systems; Paves Way for Innovative Development of Sustainable Management Systems and Yield Improvement

SAN DIEGO, February 20, 2013 – As part of an ongoing effort to improve commercial scale algae biofuel production, a group of scientists, led by crude oil producer Sapphire Energy, Inc., today announced the completion of a collaborative study which identified the morphology, ultrastructure, and life history of A. protococcarum, one of the most difficult to manage algae parasites. Their findings are detailed in “Characterization of Amoeboaphelidium Protococcarum: An Algal Parasite New to the Cryptomycota Isolated from an Outdoor Algal Pond Used for the Production of Biofuel,” published today in the online scientific journal PLOS ONE. The article provides a comprehensive study of the parasite challenge facing crop protection for scaled algae cultivation in open-pond systems. These results will provide a broader understanding and promote the development of sustainable management strategies for biofuel production.

This article was prepared in collaboration by Robert C. McBride, Ph.D., Salvador Lopez, MSc, Craig Behnke, Ph.D., and Philip A. Lee, Ph.D., of Sapphire Energy; Peter M. Letcher, Ph.D., and Martha J. Powell, Ph.D., of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama; and Robert Schmieder, Ph.D., of the Department of Computer Science and Computational Science Research Center at San Diego State University.

“Identifying and overcoming crop protection challenges, from pest control to environmental factors, is critical to ensuring successful, scalable algae farming, and has long been a part of the research and development objective of Sapphire Energy,” said Alex Aravanis, MD, Ph.D., chief science officer at Sapphire Energy. “This collaborative study demonstrates the power of synergy when academic and industrial scientists work together for a common goal, and lays the groundwork for the better understanding and creation of innovative strategies that will facilitate algae biofuel production at commercial scale.”

The complete manuscript may be viewed at: http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0056232.

Statement from Cynthia ‘CJ’ Warner, CEO and chairman of Sapphire Energy, Regarding the Awarding to Dr. Leroy Hood of a National Medal of Science from President Barack Obama at the White House

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 22:32:00 GMT

Statement from Cynthia ‘CJ’ Warner, CEO and Chairman of Sapphire Energy, Regarding the Awarding to Dr. Leroy Hood of a National Medal of Science from President Barack Obama at the White House

SAN DIEGO, February 1, 2013 – “On behalf of Sapphire Energy, I want to congratulate Dr. Leroy Hood on being honored with the National Medal of Science from President Obama today. As the co-founder and president of Seattle-based Institute for Systems Biology, Dr. Hood’s innovative research and application of systems biology in the fields of health and the environment is working to solve some of the most important scientific challenges our society faces today, including furthering the scientific research and development of scalable algae biofuel production as the chairman of our Scientific Advisory Board. Sapphire Energy is very proud to be associated with Dr. Hood and send him our most heartfelt congratulations for receiving this prestigious honor.”

The National Medal of Science was created in 1959 and is administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation. Awarded annually, the medal recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering. A committee of presidential appointees selects nominees on the basis of their extraordinary knowledge in and contributions to chemistry, engineering, computing, mathematics, or the biological, behavioral/social and physical sciences. This award is the highest honor bestowed by the President of the United States upon scientists, engineers, and inventors.

SAPPHIRE ENERGY APPOINTS NEW CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Leading Green Crude Oil Producer Recruits Seasoned Energy Industry Executive, Thomas Willardson,
to Drive Company’s Financial Initiatives

SAN DIEGO, January 8, 2013 – Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based green crude oil production, today announced Thomas ‘Tom’ Willardson has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Willardson brings more than 30 years of experience in leading financial initiatives for public and privately held companies, including serving as CFO for Aurora Algae, Inc.; Energy Recovery, Inc.; and Cost Plus, Inc.; among others. At Sapphire Energy, he’ll oversee financial planning, accounting, insurance, legal, and investor relations.

“Sapphire Energy is continuously looking to grow its team of highly regarded experts, and we’re very pleased to welcome Tom on-board,” said Cynthia ‘CJ’ Warner, CEO and chairman of Sapphire Energy. “His vast experience in successfully defining financial roadmaps for companies – from private, investor-funded startups to large public companies – makes him distinctly qualified to serve as our CFO. We look forward to leveraging his expertise for both day-to-day financial operations and long-term strategic planning as we continue on our path to bring algae-to-energy production to commercial scale.”

Most recently, Willardson served as CFO at Aurora Algae, Inc., a producer of high-performance, premium algae-based products for the pharmaceutical, nutrition, aquaculture and fuels markets. Before that, he was CFO at Energy Recovery, Inc., a global leader in the design and development of energy recovery devices for desalination and other industrial processes, where he led the company’s successful IPO initiative. At Cost Plus, Inc., the specialty retail store chain, he served as executive vice president and CFO, overseeing all companywide financial initiatives, including a significant restructuring of the company’s bank credit lines. As CFO at Visual Sciences, formerly WebSideStory, a software company that pioneered what is today SaaS and the Cloud, he helped lead the company through an aggressive growth period of more than 40 percent annually and oversaw its subsequent IPO. As CFO at Archimedes Technology Group, a privately funded nuclear waste remediation technology company, he led a successful series D funding round and helped design an ESCO-similar plan to share in cost savings created by the company’s own technology.

Willardson previously held senior finance roles with Leap Wireless International, Bechtel Corporation, The Fremont Group, and Fluor Daniel. He holds a B.S. in Finance from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the University of Southern California.

SAPPHIRE ENERGY GROWS LEADERSHIP TEAM WITH NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Tyson Foods/Renewable Products Executive Jeff Webster to Drive Future Business Operations and Development Roadmap

SAN DIEGO, (November 13, 2012) – Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based green crude oil production, today announced the appointment of Jeff Webster as Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this role, Mr. Webster brings more than 28 years of broad industry experience across biotech, renewable energy, agriculture, and oil & gas, including setting strategic direction and leading implementation of successful new business initiatives for industry leading companies such as Solazyme and Tyson Foods’ Renewable Products Division. At Sapphire Energy, he’ll oversee current and future business operations, business and project development and corporate affairs.

“From its executives to scientists to engineers and more, Sapphire Energy has established itself as one of the most powerful entities behind the progression of algae biology science, technology and industry,” said Cynthia ‘CJ’ Warner, CEO and chairman of Sapphire Energy. “Jeff’s extensive background in developing and managing successful business initiatives for newly emerging markets makes him a great addition to our team, and I’m certain he’ll play a crucial role in helping to drive the company forward as we move towards the commercialization stage of our Green Crude Farm initiative and beyond.

Prior to Sapphire Energy, Mr. Webster served as COO at Solazyme (NASDAQ: SZYM), an algal-based renewable oil and bioproduct company, where he was responsible for leading in-market business units and multiple administrative functions. Prior to that, he served as GVP and GM of Renewable Products – Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN), a major division of Tyson that manufactures and sells ingredients into the human, pet, and animal feed markets, where he established new growth platforms, partnerships and brands, while pioneering the company’s efforts into the renewable energy space. He also created multiple business ventures, while successfully securing legislation for next-generation renewable fuels, including the landmark partnership with ConocoPhillips that established new ways for agricultural companies to partner with refiners in second generation fuels. Additionally, he was responsible for initiating, funding, and building North America’s first stand-alone, commercial scale, advanced biofuels facility via Dynamic Fuels LLC, a joint venture between Tyson and Syntroleum.

Mr. Webster was also formerly CEO at Carmichael Training Systems, an endurance training start-up company. Earlier in his career, he held various management positions within engineering, market research, finance, and ultimately as vice president of Global Strategy & Development at Kellogg Co. (NYSE: K), where he was responsible for portfolio, market entry, and brand strategy initiatives. He began his career as a Geophysicist with ARCO. He holds a B.S. in Geophysics from Michigan State University, and is a graduate of Northwestern’s Executive Development Program.

SAPPHIRE ENERGY AND INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY PARTNER ON COMMERCIAL ALGAE PRODUCTION

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Collaboration Aims to Further Research and Solve Key Biological Challenges for Commercial-Scale Algae-to-Energy Production

San Diego (November 1, 2012) – Sapphire Energy, a world leader in producing crude oil from algae, and Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), the pioneers of the cross-disciplinary and integrative systems approach to research, today announced a strategic partnership to further the scientific research and development of algae biofuels. Through this partnership, the companies will focus on applying systems biology solutions to algae with the goal of significantly increasing oil yield and improving resistance to crop predators and environmental factors in order to further the advancement of commercialized algae biofuel production.

“Sapphire is dealing with one of the most complicated problems known to humans: how to make fuel from a renewable resource,” said Nitin Baliga, director of Integrative Biology at ISB. "Together, we have complementary expertise that will allow us to understand, reverse engineer and rationally alter the gene networks for fuel production in algae."

“Sapphire Energy has developed the premier biotechnology platform for producing and harvesting algae which we see as having incredible biological potential,” said Alex Aravanis, chief science officer (CSO) at Sapphire Energy. “By working with ISB to apply their systems biology approach, we’re able to more rapidly identify genes and regulatory pathways that can increase yield and move us toward our goal of making Green Crude a market viable, crude oil alternative.”

“Sapphire has embarked on one of the most exciting new technologies of our decade – to produce crude oil from algae at scale,” said Leroy Hood, president of Institute for Systems Biology. “By linking Sapphire’s expertise in algae with ISB’s cross disciplinary approach to biology, we hope to reverse engineer the gene networks in algae and create strategies that will significantly improve the yield of green oil and crop protection and reduce significantly the time to market.”

Sapphire Energy produces algae crude oil, known as Green Crude, which is renewable, low carbon and can be refined using typical refinery configurations into Naphtha, diesel and kerosene (jet fuel). Today, the company has pioneered much of the science along the algae-to-energy value chain from biology, cultivation, harvest and extraction. The company recently began operating the first phase of its 300-acre commercial demonstration Green Crude Farm, also known as an Integrated Algal Bio-Refinery, in Columbus, New Mexico, in partnership with the US Department of Energy. The Green Crude Farm is expected to produce approximately 100 barrels of Green Crude per day, and be completed the end of 2014.

In addition, Sapphire Energy operates a 22-acre research and development facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where it can swiftly develop new technology and apply it from bench to demonstration scale. In previous pilot activities, the company successfully provided Green Crude oil that was used to produce jet fuel for the first flights using algae-derived jet fuel, including a Continental Airlines 737-800 and a Japan Airlines 747-300.

ISB, a world leader in systems biology, combines the massive amounts of different kinds of data that can be generated with today’s high throughput biology to build detailed genetic models of complex processes, such as crude oil production by algae. These models can then be validated and used to make predictions about how to change the algae or their environment to improve yield and overall crop performance.

About Sapphire Energy: San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude production – with the potential to profoundly change America’s energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire’s products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae and cyanobacteria), using sunlight and CO2 as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; are compatible with existing infrastructure; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. Sapphire has an R&D facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and is currently operating the first Integrated Algal Bio-Refinery in Columbus, New Mexico.

About ISB: The Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) is a world-renowned, non-profit research institute headquartered in Seattle that is dedicated to the study and application of systems biology. Founded in 2000, ISB seeks to unravel the mysteries of biology while identifying strategies for predicting and preventing diseases, solving energy and environmental issues, and improving K-12 science education. ISB's systems approach integrates biology, computation and technological development, enabling scientists to analyze all elements in a biological system rather than one gene or protein at a time. ISB has 11 faculty members and about 230 staff. For more information, please visit www.systemsbiology.org

SAPPHIRE ENERGY’S COMMERCIAL DEMONSTRATION ALGAE-TO-ENERGY FACILITY NOW OPERATIONAL

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Initial Phase of World’s First Green Crude Farm Completed On Time and On Budget

COLUMBUS, NM, (August 27, 2012) – Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based green crude oil production, today announced the first phase of its Green Crude Farm, the world’s first commercial demonstration algae-to-energy facility, is now operational. Construction of this first phase, which began on June 1, 2011, was completed on time and on budget. When completed, the facility will produce 1.5 million gallons per year of crude oil and consist of approximately 300 acres of algae cultivation ponds and processing facilities. By reaching this key milestone, Sapphire Energy is on target to make algae-based Green Crude a viable alternative fuel solution capable of significantly reducing the nation’s need for foreign crude oil, which will serve as the blueprint for scalable algae biofuel facilities globally.

The Green Crude Farm, also known as an Integrated Algal Bio-Refinery, was funded with both private and public funds, including $85 million in private investment from Sapphire Energy backed by a USDA loan guarantee and a $50 million grant from the US DOE. Today, the cultivation area consists of some of the largest algae ponds ever built with groupings of 1.1 acre and 2.2 acre ponds which are 1/8 of a mile long. The initial phase also includes all the necessary mechanical and processing equipment needed to harvest and extract algae and recycle water for the 300 acre Green Crude Farm.

In March, the first seeding of ponds with algae, otherwise known as inoculation, took place and a series of “shakedown” tests began to ensure that all systems are working as planned. Today, the farming operations are exceeding Sapphire Energy’s internal productivity goals in terms of biomass yield, demonstrating that large scale cultivation is possible and much larger cultivation systems can be implemented with the proper agronomic processes in place. The company harvested its first crop in June without any system difficulties and has since harvested 21 million gallons of algae biomass totaling 81 tons. Next, the Green Crude Farm is preparing to transition its operations to a winter variety of algae while continuous cultivation, harvest and extraction activities continue.

“Bringing our Green Crude Farm online is not only an important accomplishment for Sapphire Energy, but a critical step toward a viable alternative energy future,” says Cynthia ‘CJ’ Warner, CEO and chairman of Sapphire Energy. “What was once a concept is now becoming a reality and model for growing algae to make a renewable crude oil for energy. We look forward to sharing our progress as the Green Crude Farm moves to its next stage.”

Sapphire Energy partnered with AMEC Project Engineering, who coordinated with 16 New Mexico based contractors, to complete the first phase of the Green Crude Farm during 12 months of active construction. As of today, Phase One of the project has reached the following milestones:

Construction: Completed on time and on budget
Unit Operations: Conducting all united operations, including cultivation, harvest and extraction in a continuous process
Cultivation: Biomass productivity exceeding the company’s goals
Harvest: Successfully harvested 81 tons of biomass

In building the Green Crude Farm:

634 full-time equivalent employees were hired throughout the entire construction phase
$16 million was directly invested with local New Mexico contractors

Sapphire Energy will continue to conduct “shakedown” testing, as well as operate and expand farming operations over the winter, as the facility is commissioned into 2013. By the end of 2014, the Green Crude Farm will produce 100 barrels of Green Crude per day. The commercial demonstration project is expected to prove “commercial” techno-economics, and Sapphire’s commercial scale Green Crude facility.

About Sapphire Energy
San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude – production with the potential to profoundly change America’s energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire’s products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae and cyanobacteria), using sunlight and CO2 as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; are compatible with existing infrastructure; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. Sapphire has an R&D facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and is currently building the first Integrated Algal BioRefinery in Columbus, New Mexico.

SAPPHIRE ENERGY NAMES NEW SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Advisory Board Brings the Country’s Most Esteemed Scholars and Biotechnologists Together to Support Advancement of Algae as a Sustainable Alternative Energy Solution

San Diego, CA (June 12, 2012) – Sapphire Energy, Inc. today welcomed new members to its Scientific Advisory Board as the company readies its first algae-to-energy commercial demonstration facility. The new board members represent some of the most innovative academics across key scientific and engineering disciplines, including chemistry, molecular biology, plant biology, biotechnology, and chemical engineering. The board includes four members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Individual members have received the Lasker Award, Kyoto Prize, Heinz Award, NAE Fritz J. and Delores H. Russ Prize, and the Nobel Prize. As members, they will play an active role advising Sapphire as it refines its developmental process and technologies for making algae-based Green Crude a viable alternative fuel solution to significantly alleviate the nation’s need for foreign crude oil.

New members joining Sapphire’s Scientific Advisory Board include:

Leroy Hood, M.D., Ph. D., president and co-founder of the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle. Dr. Hood will also serve as board chair.
Roger Y. Tsien, Ph. D., investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and professor of pharmacology and of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego.
Matthew Croughan, Ph. D., George B. and Joy Rathmann professor and director and founder of the Amgen Bioprocessing Center at Keck Graduate Institute.
H. Scott Fogler, Ph. D., Ame and Catherine Vennema professor of chemical engineering, and Arthur F. Thurnau professor at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

They join current board members: Joanne Chory, Ph. D., investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and professor and director, Howard H. and Maryam R. Newman chair in Plant Biology, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies; Stephen Mayfield, Ph. D., director of the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology and John Doves Isaacs chair of Natural Philosophy at the University of California, San Diego; and Steven Briggs, Ph. D., distinguished professor of Cell & Developmental Biology at the University of California, San Diego.

“Since our founding, the research community has been very supportive of Sapphire Energy’s algae-to-oil solution and its potential to positively impact the ever-growing demand for alternative fuels to meet future energy supply needs, both nationally and worldwide,” said Alex Aravanis, vice president of technology at Sapphire Energy. “Given the many intricate complexities of cultivating algae at such a massive scale and ever-changing technology advancements, it’s imperative that we have the best scientific and engineering minds working with us as we move towards commercialization. We’re honored to have such a distinguished group of individuals on board with us.”

For complete biographical information on each of the board members, please visit http://www.sapphireenergy.com/sapphire-renewable-energy/scientific-advisory-board/.

About Sapphire Energy

San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude – production with the potential to profoundly change America’s energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire’s products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae and cyanobacteria), using sunlight and CO₂ as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; are compatible with existing infrastructure; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. Sapphire has an R&D facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and is currently building the first Integrated Algal BioRefinery in Columbus, New Mexico. For more information, visit www.sapphireenergy.com

SAPPHIRE ENERGY ANNOUNCES CEO TRANSITION

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:15:00 GMT

Cynthia “C.J.” Warner to Succeed Jason Pyle, Consolidating the Role of President and CEO

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.

Dr. Pyle, a dedicated technologist with an M.D., Ph.D. from Stanford University, co-founded Sapphire Energy to change the world by producing a renewable crude oil from algae. His vision of “Green Crude” and “drop-in replacement fuels” have become two of the most central elements in the national pursuit of a global, sustainable alternative to crude oil imports. Dr. Pyle was a key leader at the company through its founding, technology development and unprecedented financings between 2007 and 2012, some of the most difficult and turbulent years in economic history. Today, the company is building its first active and on-schedule commercial demonstration project in Luna County, New Mexico. The Green Crude Farm, also known as the Integrated Algal BioRefinery (IABR), is the world's first commercial demonstration scale algae-to-energy facility, integrating the entire value chain of algae-based fuel, from cultivation, to production, to extraction of ready-to-refine Green Crude.

“Sapphire Energy has been a labor of love for me, and I’m extremely proud of the company we built, the technology we developed, and the capital we raised to make green crude production a reality. In just five years, we developed an entire industry. Now Sapphire has a world-class executive team, a leading technology platform, and is commissioning the world’s largest commercial demonstration facility to produce green crude for jet fuel and diesel. It’s a resounding success at every level,” said Dr. Pyle. “Now that we have recruited the most experienced Board of Directors, executive team and scientists of any company in the industry, I’ve decided that the time is right for me to move on to my next endeavor, which I will announce shortly. I have always believed that novel technology is the means by which we shall thrive and prosper in the world. I remain entirely inspired by Sapphire Energy’s mission, and I know that the company will continue to lead the algae-to-energy revolution. There are few things more important than supporting this nation’s transition to a more energy secure future.”

Prior to Sapphire Energy, Ms. Warner spent more than 27 years in energy, refining, and transportation. Most recently, she served as group vice president of global refining at British Petroleum. She is a current member of the National Petroleum Council, a federally chartered and privately funded advisory committee reporting to the United States Secretary of Energy. As CEO, Ms. Warner will expand the company’s partnerships, lead the company’s commercial demonstration, and continue the mission to bring Green Crude to a commercial reality.

“Everyone at Sapphire Energy has tremendous respect for Jason’s leadership, vision and entrepreneurship, and we have made significant accomplishments as a company during his tenure. We built the company from the ground up, creating a very strong foundation from which we can grow,” said Ms. Warner. “I look forward to continuing to build upon this solid framework and working with our best-in-class team of leaders, engineers, and scientists to optimize our company’s potential as we move into the next stages of bringing our Green Crude Farm on-line.”

About Sapphire Energy

SAPPHIRE ENERGY ANNOUNCES $144 MILLION SERIES C FUNDING

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Investment Funding Further Advances Sapphire Energy’s Path toward Commercializing Much-Needed Alternative Fuel Resource, Algae-Based Green Crude

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.

This round of funding is being used to directly support Sapphire Energy’s active and on-schedule commercial demonstration in Luna County, New Mexico. The Green Crude Farm, also known as the Integrated Algal BioRefinery (IABR), is the world's first commercial demonstration scale algae-to-energy facility, integrating the entire value chain of algae-based fuel, from cultivation to production to extraction of ready-to-refine Green Crude. Some proceeds from previous closes of the Series C financing already have been invested in Sapphire Energy’s continuing operations.

“The ongoing support from the private investment community speaks to how strongly they believe in the development of Green Crude as an alternative fuel resource, especially Sapphire Energy’s ability to commercialize it,” says Cynthia J. Warner, president and chairman of Sapphire Energy. “It is increasingly important to find domestically produced crude oil alternatives to improve the country’s energy security, meet global energy demands, and provide jobs. Continued private investment is a critical step in achieving these goals.”

“It’s amazing to see that what started from an idea scribbled on the back of napkin is now a leading force in support of the goal to improve energy security for the country,” explains Jason Pyle, CEO of Sapphire Energy. “Today, Sapphire Energy has a widely admired technology platform, outstanding leadership team, and significant ongoing support from the investment community, making it well positioned to achieve the goal of bringing domestically produced Green Crude oil to commercial scale.”

This announcement follows several recent partnerships and deals supporting Sapphire Energy’s continued expansion in Green Crude production. Last month, Sapphire announced it will integrate Earthrise Nutritionals’ spirulina strain into its growing inventory of cyanobacteria and algae strains to expand resources for algae-to-energy production. In May 2011, Sapphire announced a multi-year agreement with The Linde Group to co-develop a low-cost system to deliver CO₂ to commercial-scale, open-pond, algae-to-fuel cultivation systems, now underway at the Green Crude Farm. In March 2011, Sapphire and Monsanto entered into a multi-year collaboration on algae-based research projects. Sapphire also was awarded a $50 million grant from the Department of Energy and a $54.4 million dollar loan guarantee from the Department of Agriculture, providing security for a privately funded loan.

About Sapphire Energy

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

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Sapphire’s Breakthrough Processing Technology Unlocks Value in Cyanobacteria for Energy

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.

With Sapphire Energy’s proprietary processing technology, the ability to utilize spirulina, also known as "blue-green algae" or "cyanobacteria,” for green crude production is now possible for the first time. This is due to the company’s invention of new methods for processing different strains of algae and cyanobacteria that result in significantly higher oil yields than previously achievable. Until now, spirulina, has been used primarily for making nutraceuticals, such as dietary supplements, and food products. Adding Earthrise's prokaryotic strain (cyanobacteria) to Sapphire's own inventory of prokaryotic and eukaryotic (green algae) strains will enable Sapphire to produce fuel more efficiently at its Integrated Algal BioRefinery (IABR), now under construction in New Mexico.

“This agreement is an example of Sapphire Energy’s ‘whole value chain’ strategy to integrate biotechnology, agriculture and engineering to deliver a sustainable system for Green Crude production from algae and cyanobacteria,” said CJ Warner, President of Sapphire Energy. “As a respected leader in agricultural science and a pioneer in spirulina production, Earthrise Nutritionals is the right choice for us to work with as we ready our platform for marketable scale algae cultivation and oil extraction.”

“There is no doubt about the opportunity for algae-based alternative fuel, and the fact that Earthrise Nutritionals, with its long-standing expertise in cultivating blue-algae strains, can help drive its availability is a development we embrace fully,” said Hiro Mochizuki, President and CEO of Earthrise Nutritionals LLC. “We’re pleased to be working with Sapphire Energy in their effort to move the market for this much-needed resource forward.”

About Earthrise Nutritionals LLC

Earthrise Nutritionals LLC is the leader and a 25-year pioneer in the field of spirulina research, production and marketing. Located in Southern California, Earthrise is part of the worldwide DIC Group of companies. For more information on Earthrise products, visit www.earthrise.com.

About Sapphire Energy

San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude Production – with the potential to profoundly change America’s energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire’s products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae and cyanobacteria), using sunlight and CO₂ as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; are compatible with existing infrastructure; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. Sapphire has an R&D facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and is currently building the first Integrated Algal BioRefinery in Columbus, New Mexico.

SAPPHIRE ENERGY NAMED BY FORBES AS ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST PROMISING COMPANIES

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Identified as One of 16 Companies to Watch with Under $1 Million in Sales

San Diego, CA (Dec. 6, 2011) –Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based crude oil, today announced that the company has been chosen by Forbes for its list of America’s Most Promising Companies, and was also identified as one of 16 early-stage companies to watch, all of which have revenue under $1 million.

“We are honored to be identified as one of only 100 elite companies on this new list from Forbes,” said Jason Pyle, Sapphire Energy founder and CEO. “Founded just four years ago with a mission to develop a renewable source of oil to help wean America from its dependence on petroleum, we are delighted to receive awards of this nature that help us spread the word about the exciting economic potential of growing a new energy crop.”

Sapphire Energy cultivates algae that create renewable crude oil that can be processed in existing refineries into jet fuel, diesel and gasoline. These drop-in replacement fuels are molecularly identical to fossil fuels and are compatible with existing infrastructure and engines.

About Sapphire Energy

San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude Production – with the potential to profoundly change America’s energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire’s products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae), using sunlight and CO2 as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. In December 2009, Sapphire was awarded nearly $104.5 million as part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the USDA’s Biorefinery Assistance Program 9003 authorized through the 2008 Farm Bill.

NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH JOURNAL PUBLISHES SAPPHIRE ENERGY PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH PAPER ON A CHLOROPLAST GENOME FROM GREEN ALGAE

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Nucleic Acids Research Journal Publishes Sapphire Energy

Peer-Reviewed Research Paper on a
Chloroplast Genome from Green Algae

Research Enables Improvements in Genetic Diversity in all Regions of a Chloroplast Genome
with Potential Applications for other Photosynthetic Organisms

San Diego, CA (Dec. 5, 2011) – Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based crude oil, today announced that Nucleic Acids Research Journal has published its white paper, "An exogenous chloroplast genome for complex sequence manipulation in algae." As the site of photosynthesis in plants and algae, the chloroplast is responsible for producing organic molecules from atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and is thus a crucial metabolic engineering target. Sapphire Energy cultivates algae that use sunlight and CO2 to create Green Crude, a low carbon renewable crude oil substitute that can be refined into jet fuel, diesel and gasoline.

This white paper (http://bit.ly/tfgaMI) describes methodology for the design, construction, modification, and cellular introduction of the chloroplast genome from the green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Using this methodology, the authors simultaneously modify multiple independent regions, including genes that encode core subunits of the photosynthetic apparatus, in the chloroplast genome of living algae cells. This work should allow for the creation of genetic diversity in all regions of a chloroplast genome, potentially in any photosynthetic organism.

"With this breakthrough, Sapphire Energy has shown that it is possible to make algae--the world's most efficient photosynthetic organism--even more efficient,” said Jason Pyle, Sapphire Energy founder and CEO. “This work represents the first steps toward a novel approach for creating genetic diversity in any or all regions of a chloroplast genome, and may have applications in other plants.”

Chloroplast genomes present a unique opportunity for the field of synthetic biology. In a single, relatively small molecule, they encode the most important genes of photosynthesis, nature’s principle method for converting sunlight into chemical energy. These naturally minimized, manipulable genomes are of great interest for metabolic engineering for foods, fuels, and myriad bio-products, and are ideally suited target for synthetic biology.

At this time, Sapphire Energy is conducting advanced research into many aspects of algae growth, cultivation and lipid production in conjunction with multiple research institutions. The algae cultivated in the company’s outdoor ponds in New Mexico are not genetically modified.

About Sapphire Energy

San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude Production – with the potential to profoundly change America’s energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire’s products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae), using sunlight and CO2 as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. In December 2009, Sapphire was awarded nearly $104.5 million as part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the USDA’s Biorefinery Assistance Program 9003 authorized through the 2008 Farm Bill.

SAPPHIRE ENERGY SELECTED AS CLEAN TECHNOLOGY “GAME CHANGER OF THE YEAR” FOR PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:51:00 GMT

Sapphire Energy Partnerships Include Linde and Monsanto, USDA and USDOE

San Diego, CA (Oct. 13, 2011) –Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based crude oil, today announced that the company has been chosen as a 2011 "Game Changer of the Year" in Clean Technology by Grow-California for its impact on California's green industry, in the category of Public/Private Partnerships.

“This Game Changer Award highlights the importance of public and private partnerships in accelerating the country’s transition to renewable fuels,” said Jason Pyle, Sapphire Energy founder and CEO. “In addition, the generous federal funding we have received shows the value the United States government sees in reducing dependency on petroleum and transitioning to renewable sources of energy. They understand the impact that algae-based fuel, at scale, can and will have.”

San Diego-based Sapphire Energy entered into two notable private partnerships this year. The company is partnering with Monsanto Company to discover genes that can be applied to agriculture, particularly in the field of yield and stress, and that can accelerate the road to producing energy from algae. A multi-year collaboration with the Linde Group focuses on development of low-cost, scalable CO₂management systems to capture and transport the one key nutrient required in addition to sunlight for commercial algae production. Bringing the cost of CO₂ down is central to reducing the cost-per-gallon of algae-based fuel. “These partnerships leverage the expertise of these prestigious organizations, and enhance the capabilities of Sapphire Energy’s world class team of scientists,” added Pyle.

Sapphire Energy has received $104 million in federal funding from the US Departments of Energy and Agriculture to build and operate the world’s first Integrated Algal Biorefinery (IABR) a 300-wet acre commercial demonstration project, to show the technology readiness and scalability of Sapphire Energy’s end-to-end, algae-to-energy system. Currently under construction near Columbus, New Mexico, the four-year commercial demonstration will show the technology readiness and scalability of “Green Crude,” a renewable alternative to fossil-based crude oil. It will be operational in 2012, and when it reaches capacity in the final phase of the commercial demonstration, it will produce 1 million gallons per year of Green Crude.

The "Game Changer of the Year" awards will be presented at the Clean Tech Innovation Conference at the Kaiser Center, in downtown Oakland, November 2nd and 3rd. Award winners, in 19 categories, were selected from more than 200 nominees.

"The award winners are an elite group of clean tech innovators who represent California's path forward for maintaining its leadership role and the exciting economic potential the industry can provide for generations to come," said Jon Gregory, CEO, Grow-California, in announcing the awards.

Sapphire’s Green Crude drop-in fuels -- jet, diesel and gasoline -- are completely compatible with existing infrastructure and engines. Sapphire’s technology represents an approximate 70% reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions compared to petroleum-based equivalents.

Grow-California is dedicated to fostering jobs and creating wealth in California by connecting entrepreneurs, growth companies and market leaders with talent, capital and customers. For more information about "Game Changer" winners, visit: www.grow-california.com.

About Sapphire Energy

San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude Production – with the potential to profoundly change America’s energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire’s products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae), using sunlight and CO2 as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. In December 2009, Sapphire was awarded nearly $104.5 million as part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the USDA’s Biorefinery Assistance Program 9003 authorized through the 2008 Farm Bill.

LINDE AND SAPPHIRE ENERGY ANNOUNCE DEAL TO CO-DEVELOP CO2 MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR ALGAE FUEL PRODUCTION

Wed, 11 May 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Sapphire Enters Collaboration with The Linde Group

SAN DIEGO, CA and MUNICH, GERMANY (MAY 11, 2011) – The technology group The Linde Group and Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world’s leaders in algae-based crude oil, today announced that they have entered into a multi-year agreement to co-develop a low-cost system to deliver carbon dioxide (CO₂) to commercial-scale, open-pond, algae-to-fuel cultivation systems.

Linde, the leading merchant CO₂ supplier in the U.S., will partner with Sapphire Energy, to reduce the costs associated with the delivery of anthropogenic CO₂ for commercial-scale open pond algae cultivation. In addition, Linde will supply all of the CO₂ to Sapphire’s commercial demonstration facility in Columbus, New Mexico.

“Producing fuel by algae using CO₂ from large emitters like power stations and chemical plants is a very promising way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Dr Aldo Belloni, member of the Executive board of Linde AG. “We are delighted to be a key partner in Sapphire’s algae-to-biofuel activities. This is one of the many examples for innovative ‘clean energy’ projects that Linde is involved in.”

“The need for new sources of fuel as dependency on oil becomes more and more problematic is clear. To produce algal oil, or ‘green crude’ at the scale to meet growing demand, we need great partners who can supply sufficient and low cost access to CO₂,” said Cynthia (C.J.) Warner, president, Sapphire Energy. “Linde has unequalled knowledge in how to efficiently manage the distribution process. Through this collaboration, we are closer to delivering a domestically produced, cost efficient source of algae-based green crude.”

Sapphire Energy has developed proprietary technology along the entire algae-to-energy value chain from biology, cultivation, harvest and extraction to refining resulting in a highly scalable process to produce a renewable and low carbon substitute for fossil-based crude oil. Sapphire’s green crude drop-in fuels -- jet, diesel and gasoline -- are completely compatible with existing infrastructure and engines. Algae are grown in salty, non-potable water, using lands not suitable for agriculture, and require only sunlight and CO₂ to grow, all sustainable features which petroleum cannot match. Sapphire’s technology represents an approximate 70% reduction in lifecycle carbon emissions compared to petroleum-based equivalents.

A single commercial algae-fuel production facility is estimated to require approximately 10,000 metric tons of CO₂ per day, which is comparable to approximately 30% of the current merchant market for CO₂ in the U.S.

The Linde Group has a wealth of experience in the cost-efficient supply of CO₂ for climate- and eco-friendly CO₂ recycling applications. The OCAP project (Organic CO₂ for Assimilation by Plants) in the Netherlands is a case in point. Here, Linde supplies via a 100-km-pipeline around 550 greenhouses with CO₂, which is a by-product from a nearby refinery. Linde also develops, designs, plans and constructs pilot and commercial facilities for capturing CO₂ from various sources, such as power plants, chemical plants, natural gas processing , bio-fuel and other plants.

About Sapphire Energy:

San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude Production – with the potential to profoundly change America’s energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire’s products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae), using sunlight and CO₂ as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. Green Crude can be refined into the three most important liquid fuels used by our society: gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. The fuels meet ASTM standards and are compatible with the existing petroleum infrastructure, from refinement through distribution and the retail supply chain. In December 2009, Sapphire was awarded nearly $104.5 million as part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Re-Investment Act and the USDA’s Biorefinery Assistance Program 9003 authorized through the 2008 Farm Bill. For more information, please visit www.sapphireenergy.com.

About the Linde Group:

The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 48,700 employees in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2010 financial year, it achieved sales of EUR 12.868 bn (USD 17.9 bn). The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

For more information, please see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com.

Statement from Jason Pyle, CEO, Sapphire Energy, in response to remarks made on March 30, 2011

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Statement from Jason Pyle, CEO, Sapphire Energy, in response to remarks made on March 30, 2011,

by President Barack Obama on strengthening our nation’s energy security and continued investment in clean energy solutions

SAN DIEGO, March 30, 2011 – Statement from Jason Pyle, CEO, Sapphire Energy, in response to remarks made today by President Barack Obama on strengthening our nation’s energy security and continued investment in clean energy solutions.

“I applaud President Obama’s continued support for alternative energy solutions. Today, he set an ambitious, but necessary goal to reduce U.S. oil imports by one-third by 2025. As the president and his administration understand, to do this we must have a longer-term energy strategy that includes the use of alternative energy solutions such as biofuels.

“It is readily apparent that our nation must reduce its dependence on foreign oil. With political instability in oil producing regions, energy security and national security risks on the increase, rising oil prices, and future supply implications, a tectonic shift is necessary. There is a need for a portfolio of solutions which are scalable over the next several decades, economical, domestically produced, and, in the case of transportation fuels, compatible with our existing network of pipelines, refineries and transport systems.

“At Sapphire Energy, we’re inspired by the words and commitment of our President. It will continue to drive our work forward as we develop algae-based biofuels. We have the opportunity to keep America on the cutting edge of clean energy technology. If we can collectively keep our eyes on that prize, we will drive our economy, positively impact the environment, and secure our energy independence.”

MONSANTO COMPANY AND SAPPHIRE ENERGY ENTER COLLABORATION

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Sapphire Enters Collaboration with Monsanto

ST. LOUIS, (MARCH 8, 2011) – Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) and Sapphire Energy, Inc. today announced an agreement to enter a multi-year collaboration that will leverage Sapphire’s algae-based research platform to discover genes that could be applied to agriculture, particularly in the field of yield and stress.

Sapphire Energy is known for its leading work in bio-energy, which involves applying synthetic biology to produce drop-in replacement fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel from algae. This collaboration will enable Monsanto to tap Sapphire’s algal expertise and research tools, which can be used to screen for promising traits in algae that might have applicability in modern agriculture. For Sapphire, this collaboration will push the known boundaries of algal science to search not only for traits that will impact traditional agricultural crops, but will also accelerate Sapphire’s road to commercializing algae as a renewable energy crop.

The collaboration will focus on identifying genes that positively affect growth in algae, a target for Sapphire, which might increase crop yields as well.

“Sapphire’s expertise in algal research offers a novel platform that will allow us to screen and identify promising genes faster,” said Robb Fraley, Monsanto’s chief technology officer. “We face a common goal in looking for ways to improve upon an organism’s ability to achieve greater productivity under optimal and sub-optimal environmental conditions. Together with Sapphire, we can identify genes affecting such traits in algae that might also be applied to corn, cotton, soybeans and other crops.”

Algae are an excellent discovery tool because they have a similar photosynthetic process to other plants but are simple and efficient to work with, Fraley said. Algae also can be grown, screened, tested and selected with high throughput tools, which enables a relatively fast process for researchers.

“Monsanto has always been at the forefront of agricultural technology developments and innovation,” says Jason Pyle, CEO, Sapphire Energy. “Through this collaborative partnership, we’ll focus our leading-edge research agenda on some of the biggest questions facing both agriculture and energy. By leveraging our algae platform and tools to improve crop yield and enhance crop performance, Sapphire will be able to accelerate our ability to produce a renewable crude oil replacement and reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil.”

Under the agreement, Monsanto and Sapphire will collaborate on algae-based research projects, and Monsanto will make an equity investment in Sapphire. Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

About Sapphire Energy:

San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude Production – with the potential to profoundly change America’s energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire’s products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae), using sunlight and CO2 as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. Green Crude can be refined into the three most important liquid fuels used by our society: gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. The fuels meet ASTM standards and are compatible with the existing petroleum infrastructure, from refinement through distribution and the retail supply chain. In December 2009, Sapphire was awarded nearly $104.5 million as part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Re-Investment Act and the USDA’s Biorefinery Assistance Program 9003 authorized through the 2008 Farm Bill. For more information, please visit www.sapphireenergy.com.

About Monsanto Company:

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world’s natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on Facebook® at www.facebook.com/MonsantoCo, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

SAPPHIRE ENERGY CHOSEN BY WALL STREET JOURNAL AS “NEXT BIG THING”

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Experience, Capital, Investor Knowledge Land Sapphire Energy on 2011 Top 10 List

SANTA BARBARA, CA, March 3, 2011 – Sapphire Energy, a world leader in the creation of algae-based fuel, today was chosen as one of the top 10 venture-backed, clean tech companies by the Wall Street Journal during the WSJ ECOnomics event. Unveiling its second annual “Next Big Thing,” the Wall Street Journal chose Sapphire for its experience, capital, and potential for producing green crude from algae as a method to wean consumption off foreign oil and onto a home-grown proven fuel alternative.

“Sapphire Energy has rocketed from start-up to leading the way in green energy production, and we aim to make a difference in how fuel is used in cars and aircraft,” explains Cynthia (C.J.) Warner, president and chairman, Sapphire Energy, who received the honor during this week’s conference. “The Wall Street Journal award is recognition that we’re on the right track in directly replacing the oil dependent fuels of today.”

The Wall Street Journal’s “Next Big Thing” survey narrowed to the top 10 using proprietary Dow Jones VentureSource data and several other predictive indicators. The winners are companies that are indicated to have the greatest chance at success via their innovations.

“The Clean Tech industry is waiting for the moment when a new idea proves powerful enough to explode onto the marketplace,” explains Alan Murray, deputy managing editor of the Wall Street Journal.

Dow Jones VentureSource, owned by Dow Jones & Company, publisher of the Journal, calculated the rankings applying a set of financial criteria to some 500 U.S.-based venture-backed businesses in clean technology valued at less than $1 billion. Criteria included analysis of Sapphire Energy’s venture-capital board member track records, capital raised vs. peer companies; company founders and executives’ success records; and valuation ranking.

About Sapphire Energy:

San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude Production – with the potential to profoundly change America’s energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire’s products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae), using sunlight and CO₂as their feedstock; are not dependent on food crops or valuable farmland; do not use potable water; do not result in biodiesel or ethanol; enhance and replace petroleum-based products; and are low carbon, renewable and scalable. Green Crude can be refined into the three most important liquid fuels used by our society: gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. The fuels meet ASTM standards and are compatible with the existing petroleum infrastructure, from refinement through distribution and the retail supply chain. In December 2009, Sapphire was awarded nearly $104.5 million as part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Biorefinery Assistance Program, authorized through the 2008 Farm Bill.

SAPPHIRE ENERGY EXPANDS EXECUTIVE TEAM AS IT TARGETS COMMERCIALIZATION

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Biotech Leader Dr. Xun Wang Joins as Vice President of Research and Development

SAN DIEGO, January 12, 2011 – As one of the world’s leading innovators in the algal fuel industry, Sapphire Energy today announced it has expanded its executive roster with the addition of Dr. Xun Wang. In the newly created position of Vice President of Research and Development, Dr. Wang will be responsible for all research and development activities and personnel at Sapphire. He will focus on the lab-to-commercial mechanics and lead Sapphire’s technology development through the next stage of commercialization.

“Sapphire Energy is on a fast growth trajectory, moving from start-up to leading green energy producer,” says Jason Pyle, CEO, Sapphire Energy. “In Dr. Xun Wang, we’ve added world class biotech talent to our already exceptional team -- a critical step to ensure we successfully take our algae-based Green Crude from innovation to commercialization.”

Dr. Wang has had a distinguished career in agricultural biotechnology. He led the first plant genomic project, and managed a number of Research & Development functions in Syngenta where a few innovations were developed and brought to market. For the last 13 years he has been with Syngenta in various managerial positions. Most recently, he served as President of Syngenta Biotechnology (China) Co. Ltd. (SBC), the first foreign-owned agriculture biotechnology R&D center in China. He also served as the Asia Pacific Regional Head of Biotech Research & Development, as a member of the Syngenta Research & Development Leadership Council, and on the Syngenta Biotechnology Leadership Team. Other positions included Head of Research & Development for Syngenta China, Section Head of Trait Research and Technologies for Syngenta Biotechnology Inc. in North Carolina, and Director at Torrey Mesa Research Institute. Prior to Syngenta he served as Research Manager for Iowa-based Pioneer Hi-Bred International.

Dr. Wang is author or co-author of more than 50 patents. In 2009, he was named as one of the “10 Outstanding Entrepreneurs in Chinese Agriculture” by the China Rural Economy Press. Dr. Wang received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Iowa State University and a B.S. in Biochemistry from Jilin University, China.

SAPPHIRE ENERGY RECRUITS MORE TOP TALENT

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Seasoned Oil Executive to Lead Company’s Growing Operations

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 1, 2010 – Sapphire Energy, one of the world’s leading innovators in creating algae-based fuel from Green Crude, today welcomes Dean Venardos into the newly created role of Vice President, Operations, for the fast-growing company.

With more than 30 years in the oil industry, Venardos brings a wealth of experience in refinery operations and processes and will use his rich knowledge base to ensure Sapphire’s facility operations are managed perfectly as the company continues on its growth trajectory.

“Dean’s experience fills a critical role for Sapphire as we move into commercialization of our Green Crude production” says CJ Warner, president, Sapphire Energy. “He’ll oversee operations for all of Sapphire Energy’s facilities including the Integrated Algal BioRefinery (IABR) in Columbus, New Mexico and the Las Cruces, New Mexico research and development facility. We are thrilled to have Dean’s leadership.”

A respected industry executive, Venardos holds five processing patents and has published in numerous journals during his extensive career with Western Refining, BP, and Amoco Oil. He holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering from University of Connecticut.

SAPPHIRE APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF HOUSE TAX BILL

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Major Step toward True Green Fuel with Key Support from

California and New Mexico Representatives

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 29, 2010 – Sapphire Energy, one of the world’s leading innovators in creating algae-based fuel from Green Crude, today applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing H.R. 4168, the Algae-based Renewable Fuel Promotion Act. Special recognition goes to Reps. Harry Teague (D-NM) and Brian Bilbray (R-CA) whose bi-partisan support lead to the bill’s passage.

Congress took the extraordinary action this week to give algae-based fuel technology federal incentives similar to those for other biofuels, leveling the playing field for this promising technology. This move will serve to hasten the pace of development of these fuels, addressing our nation’s energy independence goals sooner.

”The many tireless months of effort made by Reps. Teague and Bilbray show their belief that algae-based fuels, like our Green Crude, have a crucial role in solving the nation’s and the world’s crippling energy challenge,” says Jason Pyle, CEO, Sapphire Energy. “These policies are essential to truly grow green fuel at scale; we need the same tax structure that oil and gas get today. Passage of this bill is the first step in that direction.”

Pyle adds that the primary benefits resulting from the Act’s passage are a huge boost in the number of clean tech jobs that will be created in the burgeoning algae industries of California and New Mexico, as well as increased domestic and global energy security, and true environmental sustainability.

SAPPHIRE ENERGY WELCOMES NEW SENIOR DIRECTOR, DOWNSTREAM TECHNOLOGY

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Veteran BP Oil Executive Sets Sights on Algae Fuel Future

SAN DIEGO, April 15, 2010 – Sapphire Energy today announced veteran oil executive Dan Sajkowski has joined the company as senior director, downstream technology. After more than 24 years with BP (Amoco), Sajkowski brings his wealth of experience in the oil and refining industry to the burgeoning field of algae-based fuel. He officially joined the company on April 1.

“We’re very fortunate to have Dan on board to drive our downstream efforts,” said Cynthia J. (CJ) Warner, president, Sapphire Energy. “Having that level of expertise in oil refining is critical as we move closer to commercializing our algae-based green crude. Because our green crude can be refined into drop-in replacement liquid transportation fuels, we take full advantage of the existing oil infrastructure, from refining through distribution – areas Dan helped define during his career with BP.”

Sajkowski spent the last five years as the business unit leader of BP’s Whiting Refinery, the 4th largest refinery in the country. In addition to operational and financial accountability for the site, he was a primary driver behind the largest capital project in the history of Indiana and the most complex project BP has ever undertaken: the $3.8 billion modernization of the Whiting Refinery. He also served as manager of refining supply in BP’s Integrated Supply and Trading organization; as vice president, refining technology for BP’s world-wide refining system; and as a member of BP’s Group Technology Council. Prior to joining Amoco in 1986, he worked for Chevron Research Company.

Sajkowski earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University. He also completed The General Manager Program at Harvard. He has authored 17 publications in the area of heterogeneous catalysis.

TOP INDUSTRIES CONVERGE ON SAPPHIRE ENERGY’S ALGAE-FUEL PLANS

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 07:00:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO, April 5, 2010 – Top executives from three key industries have been appointed to Sapphire Energy’s board of directors, signaling their support for the intersection between energy, agriculture, and biotechnology in the game-changing creation of fuel from algae. Joining May 20 are former Monsanto chief Robert Shapiro, former BP executive David Allen, and venture capitalist and bio-tech executive David E. Shaw.

“This may well be the year that all roads lead to algae,” says Jason Pyle, CEO of Sapphire Energy. “We started the year with $104 million in new federal funding, recently expanded our executive leadership team with the appointment of Jim Lambright, and today have added three distinguished executives to our board to guide us as we move closer to commercialization.”

The addition of these established industry executives signals that Sapphire is following the right direction to producing a scalable, renewable, low carbon, liquid transportation fuel from algae, sunlight, and CO2. Later this year, Sapphire will break ground on its Integrated Algal Bio-Refinery in Southern New Mexico which will demonstrate the complete process of growing, extracting, and refining algae into a drop-in replacement, liquid transportation fuel.

As the former CEO of Monsanto, Robert Shapiro transformed Monsanto into the largest agriculture company in the world. Having spent a career in agriculture and biotechnology, from G.D. Searle to NutraSweet to Monsanto, from which he retired in 2001, he brings to Sapphire a unique perspective on the merging of agricultural science with fuel production. "Sapphire has made fundamental advances in biotechnology,” says Shapiro. “And I see those advances not only revolutionizing fuel production, but also having a fundamental impact on agriculture.” Based in Chicago, he has served on numerous boards, including the New York Stock Exchange, Citigroup, Rockwell International, and Pharmacia.

David Allen brings a wealth of experience in the oil and energy industry to Sapphire after spending 30 years working internationally in the energy business. He retired from BP plc in 2008, having spent the previous five years as an executive director on the main board. He drove BP’s corporate strategy and held a variety of posts across BP, primarily in the exploration and production sector but also in oil trading and renewables. Based in London, Allen currently sits on the boards of the UK Ministry of Defense and of Imperial Innovations, Imperial College London, and also serves as an advisor to PetroSaudi International. “Sapphire is the only company I have seen in this space that has a shot at having a major world-scale impact on oil production,” says Allen.

Entrepreneur and venture capitalist David E. Shaw has been involved in several highly successful bio-technology companies, including founding Ikaria Holdings, IDEXX Laboratories, and Fetch Enterprises, among others. He currently serves as managing general partner of Black Point Group LLC, a private equity partnership. Active on numerous boards and organizations, he served on the faculty of Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government leading programs in corporate governance and business social responsibility, and serves on the advisory board of the school’s Center for Public Leadership. "I was not looking to add another board, but Sapphire was an easy exception,” says Shaw. “I was drawn in by their unique synthesis of biotechnology and oil production, combined with their strong team and track record."

SAPPHIRE ENERGY SIGNS TOP CFO AND PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Former U.S. Export-Import Bank and TARP Executive James Lambright to Drive International Expansion Efforts

SAN DIEGO, March 1, 2010 – On the heels of being awarded more than $104 million in federal funds, Sapphire Energy continues to establish itself as the foremost algae-based energy company with its latest executive addition to its global team. James Lambright, former head of the U.S. Export-Import Bank and Chief Investment Officer of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), is joining the leading-edge green energy producer as Chief Financial Officer and President, International, effective March 1.

A respected leader in the private and public financial sectors, Lambright rounds out an already impressive leadership team, which, since 2008, has focused its efforts on producing a scalable, renewable, low carbon liquid transportation fuel from algae, sunlight and CO2.

In this newly created role, Lambright will expand Sapphire’s presence in international markets where, just like America, complex energy needs dominate the agenda.

“No matter the issue – climate change, national energy security, or job creation – Sapphire Energy is poised with a solution – Green Crude,” says Jason Pyle, CEO of Sapphire Energy. “We have unequaled expertise in science, energy, and transportation. And now with Jim on board, we’ve added a depth of international markets and finance experience unmatched in our industry. That, plus the recent federal funding award and our healthy independent investment funds, positions Sapphire well down the path to make Green Crude commercial-ready.”

Adds Lambright: “Given its leading technology and incredible team of personnel and investors, Sapphire Energy is the perfect place to help address the most complex challenges facing economies around the world, those of energy security and the environment. I am excited to join the Sapphire team.”

Lambright’s experience in the financial markets is extensive. In 2006, the U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination as President and Chairman of the Board of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the U.S. government's official export credit agency. There, he oversaw a $60 billion credit portfolio of project and export finance transactions in over 150 countries. In 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department named him Chief Investment Officer of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), a position he held until June 2009, where he and his team executed and managed over $400 billion of investments in banks, insurers, and auto manufacturers as part of the government’s response to the global financial crisis.

Lambright joined the U.S. Export-Import Bank in 2001 from Credit Suisse First Boston Corp. in Los Angeles where he was vice president, private equity. There, he specialized in the underwriting and negotiation of real estate and venture capital transactions. A native of St. Louis, MO, Lambright graduated with honors from Harvard Law School and received a bachelor of arts in linguistics from Stanford University. He is a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute.