Holmgren, Warner, Gruber, Chornet to address “Hot Companies: The Global Growth Perspective” on opening morning of ABLC 2014. In Florida, Biofuels Digest announced that LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren, Sapphire Energy CEO Cynthia “CJ ” Warner, Gevo CEO Pat Grubner and Enerkem CEO Vincent Chornet will present addresses on ABLC 2014’s opening morning — under the […]
Three Hot 30 / Hot 50 companies partner with giants in agriculture, chemicals and petroleum. In California, three major tie-ups between top-ranked developing bioeconomy darlings and old-line giants were the buzz on the second day of BIO’s annual Pac-Rim event in San Diego. Just after word about Sapphire Energy and Philipps 66’s tie-up was announced, […]
In New Mexico, the USDA is using Sapphire as an example of the good that can come from loan guarantees, like the $181 million that were announced on Monday. The company paid back its $54.5 million guarantee within a year, created 600 jobs during construction and 30 full-time jobs during operation. The facility is producing […]
Renewable oils developer Solazyme took the #1 spot in the 2013-14 “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” rankings. It was the third consecutive year at the top for Solazyme, which also topped the Biofuels Digest polls in 2009-10. LanzaTech (#2), KiOR (#3), Sapphire Energy (#4), Gevo (#5), Beta Renewables (#6), POET (#7), INEOS Bio (#8), GranBio […]
How and why a foundational technology led to Sapphire, then spun out again and led to Triton, and attracted investment from Heliae. It seems a long time ago now that, out of Dr. Steve Mayfield’s lab at Scripps and later at the University of California at San Diego, a series of discoveries made it possible, […]
In Virginia, algae biofuels tested as very close to petroleum in energy efficient-production, according to a University of Virginia study. The study, performed at Sapphire’s demonstration plant in New Mexico, demonstrated that carbon emissions of algae biofuels come in at 50-70% lower than that of petroleum. The study evaluated EROI, Energy Return on Investment, or […]
Sapphire raises new round of equity, pays off USDA Loan Guarantee: “Sapphire Energy is very grateful to the USDA for supporting algae crude oil,” says CEO C.J. Warner. In California, Sapphire Energy announced it has paid off the loan guarantee awarded to the company by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In Dec. 2009, the company […]
Companies Partner to Commercialize Hydrothermal Treatment Technology Used to Upgrade Algae into Crude Oil If biofuels companies were golfers, Sapphire Energy would be Phil Mickelson, no doubt about it. Phil’s widely popular, closely followed, with a friendliness that belies a mind like a steel trap, drawing huge galleries whenever he’s in the hunt, a lefty, […]
In California, Sapphire Energy announced that Dr. Matthew Croughan will join the company as Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Croughan most recently served as Director of the Amgen Bioprocessing Center at Keck Graduate Institute. Previously, Dr. Croughan was the chief scientist for Genentech’s cell culture facility in Vacaville, CA, built for the production of therapeutic antibodies. […]
Show me the gallons? Where’s all the algae fuel, you ask? In Sapphire Energy’s case, it’s headed for Tesoro. In California, Sapphire Energy announced it has entered into a commercial agreement to sell crude oil from Sapphire Energy’s Green Crude Farm in Columbus, New Mexico to Tesoro. “The Green Crude Farm recently reached a new milestone: […]
