Solazyme’s algae fuel Soladiesel reduces direct greenhouse gas emissions by up to 93 percent compared to conventional diesel

In California, Life Cycle Associates, the same consultant that performed lifecycle greenhouse gas calculations for the California Air Resources Board, completed a field-to-wheels assessment of Soladiesel, the company’s algae-based biodiesel using the Argonne National Laboratories GREET model. LCA found that Soladiesel’s full lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are 85 to 93 percent lower than standard petroleum based ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD).

“Lower process energy inputs combined with the production of algae derived feed results in much lower GHG emissions than currently available first-generation biofuels.” said Stefan Unnasch, President of Life Cycle Associates, LLC.

Additional testing by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that Soladiesel also generates a 30 percent reduction in particulates, a nearly 20 percent reduction in carbon monoxide and and a nearly 10 percent reduction in THC.

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