Solazyme gets EPA registration for algal-based fuel

Aug 2, 2012 - US biofuel and biotechnology firm Solazyme Inc (NASDAQ:SZYM) today said it had received registration from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its Soladiesel algal-derived fuel, meaning that the product could now be sold commercially in blended or unblended forms.

Bob Ames, Solazyme vice president fuels commercialisation, said that to the company's knowledge, this was the first 100% microbially-based fuel to be registered by the EPA for use as an unblended product. Ames noted that Solazyme had demonstrated its Soladiesel and Solajet fuels in a range of platforms, including cars, light trucks, buses, commercial and military jets, helicopters, commercial vessels and Navy destroyers.

According to the company, Soladiesel is the first algal-based fuel that have been successfully tested for thousands of miles in standard vehicles in blended as well as unblended forms. It says the fuel is compatible with existing infrastructure and suitable for use with unmodified diesel engines.

At the end of June, Solazyme announced the commissioning of its first integrated biorefinery for algal oil in Peoria, Illinois. The facility will have an annual capacity of 2 million litres (528,000 gallons).

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