Sapphire Energy, Inc.
Sapphire is leading the new industrial category of Green Crude production profoundly altering the petrochemical landscape for the better.
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Sapphire Energy addresses water use
Sapphire Energy's planned biofuel refinery in Luna County will use water responsibly, the company says.
Tim Zenk, vice president of corporate affairs for the San Diego-based alternative fuel developer, said the facility's operations will resemble that of a rice paddy.
"Sort of an open pond setting," he said. "If you can imagine what a rice paddy looks like, but with much more technology."
In a nutshell, the facility will grow algae within ponds to refine into fuel. The planned open ponds at the facility has sparked concern among some locals on the chance for an ideal mosquito breeding ground. Zenk hopes to put those concerns down.
Biofuel Companies Attack Algae Study
In a face-off between academia and industry, algae biofuel companies have made a joint statement decrying recent research that highlights algae’s drawbacks.
A study citing limitations of algae fuel production is being widely assailed by algae producers.
The research, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, found that algae production can be energy intensive and can end up emitting more greenhouse gases than it sequesters.
