Solazyme to begin commercial algae sales in ‘09; nutraceutical market first, fuel later

At World Biofuels Markets 2009, Solazyme CEO Jonathan Wolfson detailed the progress of his company’s unique strategy of fermenting algae in the dark using sugars as a feedstock. The company has now reached 60 employees and has raised $75 million in equity, expecting to commence sales into non-fuel markets for its omega-3 rich algae this year.

The company, Wolfson said, has been successful now for two years at fermenting algae and has completed thousands of test hours of B100 Soladiesel with an 80 percent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions as determined by Lifecycle Associates (better than soy biodiesel).

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