Biotech Company Delivers Algae-based Jet Fuel to U.S. Navy

Solazyme Inc. in South San Francisco, California has delivered 1,500 gallons of 100 percent algae-based jet fuel for the U.S. Navy’s testing and certification program. The delivery fulfills a contract awarded to Solazyme in September 2009.

The Navy previously announced its objective to operate at least 50 percent of its fleet on renewable fuel by 2020. Jonathan Wolfson, Solazyme’s CEO says the delivery marks “the first microbial derived advanced biojet fuel that will aid the military’s transition away from fossil fuel and toward more secure, renewable and reliable sources.”

Solazyme says preliminary tests indicate its process also meets the fuel requirements of the U.S. Air Force and standards for commercial jet fuel.

Solazyme is a renewable oil and green bioproducts company and developer of algal biotechnology. The company says its technology enables the production of oil and biomaterials in standard fermentation facilities quickly and at large scale. The resulting materials are designed to be drop-in replacements for fossil fuels and plant oils.

Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons