Sapphire Energy, Inc.
Sapphire is leading the new industrial category of Green Crude production profoundly altering the petrochemical landscape for the better.
Algae-Based Fuel Projected to be Commercial-Ready in Three Years
Sapphire Energy Reveals Timeline for Drop-In Replacement Fuel
ALEXANDRIA, VA, April 16, 2009 – Sapphire Energy, a nationally recognized and leading-edge company developing renewable and scalable alternative fuels, today is revealing an updated timeline for deployment of its green “drop-in” replacement transportations fuels. Sapphire executives are sharing the plans at the Military Energy and Fuels Conference in Virginia.
Sapphire Energy has developed a revolutionary, patented platform of sunlight, CO2, photosynthetic microorganisms (algae), non-potable water and non-arable land to produce a renewable and scalable low-carbon alternative to petrochemical-based processes and products. By 2011, Sapphire Energy will be producing 1 million gallons of diesel and jet fuel per year, double its initial estimates. By 2018, the number, increases to more than 100 million gallons annually; and by 2025, the company will be producing up to 1 billion gallons of fuel per year. This means Sapphire alone will be supplying enough fuel to meet approximately 3 percent of the country’s 36 billion gallon renewable fuel standard.
In line with priorities and urgency echoed by President Obama in signing the Stimulus Plan, Sapphire is set to be the first to bring a true, green “drop-in” replacement fuel to bear for air and land transportation, meaning there is no need to alter the current petroleum infrastructure.
“Fuel from algae is not just a laboratory experiment or something to speculate on for years to come. We’ve worked tirelessly, and the technology is ready now,” says Brian Goodall, PhD, Vice President Downstream Technology, Sapphire Energy. “We’ve already successfully tested our fuel with two commercial airlines and within the next three years we’ll be producing enough to help meet the growing demands of industry and the military. Fuel from algae is an extremely logical approach to meet the needs for a green solution to our dependence on fossil fuels.”
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, 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. Finally, 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.
Sapphire’s Green Crude already has been used successfully in several test flights with the commercial airlines Continental and JAL. For more information about Sapphire Energy, visit the company’s websites at www.sapphireenergy.com and www.greencrudeproduction.com.
