Imagine a gasoline from renewable resources rather than finite oil fields.  That is exactly what a San-Diego, California start up has done.  Not only is algae good for adding to power drinks, it is now a source of power for cars.

Sapphire Energy has developed a fuel from algae that has been tested as 91 octane.  Its process for producing the fuel is a secret, unlike Sapphire Energy’s concept of growing algae with waste water.  The company is sure that further technological advances in algae growth will allow then to scale algae-gas production to commercial levels.

Several other companies are also exploring new fuels from plant hydrocarbons.  LS9, Amyris Biotechnologies, Codexis, and J. Craig Venter-founded Synthetic Genomics are also exploring plant based gasolines that will run with existing automobile technology.

Added into this mix of plant gas developers, is a surge in algae farming.  Although, Sapphire Energy has developed a method using waste water, other companies, like GreenFuel Technologies have started creating algae farms.

Although all green gasolines are still in the testing stage and not commercially available, Sapphire Energy has just received $50 million from the Welcome Trust, Arch Venture Partners, and Venrock.

Fuel Cell, hybrid, electric and now algae powered cars are becoming more fact than fantasy every day giving consumers a choice not only of new car technologies but new gas technology for their cars.

Related:

Entry was posted on Saturday, May 31st, 2008 at 1:05 am under Green Technology.

Read more entries by Susan Wilson.
Stumble It!