BioFuels Journal

Grainnet Exclusive: Mercedes & Algae? Solazyme Road Testing Algae-Based Biodiesel In Mercedes Automobile

by Lynn Grooms

The words Mercedes and algae normally aren't used together.

But, that may change after a Mercedes Benz C320--which runs on algae-derived biodiesel--was showcased during the opening session of the National Biodiesel Board's annual conference, Feb. 3-6, Orlando, FL.

Solazyme, Inc., a South San Francisco, CA-based biotechnology company, has developed an algae oil-based biodiesel which it is road testing in the Mercedes.

The algae-based biodiesel is being tested in the vehicle at B20 and B100 levels in spec with ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards.

"The technology is real, but it's going to take 2-3 years before the commercial economics are there," says Solayzme CEO Jonathan Wolfson.

The company's proprietary technology for genetically modifying algae will not be an immediate fix for the current high cost of biodiesel feedstocks, but in the future algae will play a large role in biofuel production for transportation needs, Wolfson says.

Solazyme is producing algae via genetic modification as well as through conventional means as an oil for conversion to biodiesel.

According to Wolfson, Solazyme's algae production process is yielding in excess of 10 times more oil per acre than soybeans.

The California company is using standard fermentation technology to break down algae and cellulosic materials (e.g., switchgrass) as well as sugar cane and sugar beets to feed the algae.

"We're using fermenters versus growing algae in open ponds. We've optimized the algae to grow in the dark," Wolfson says, noting that the process can utilize fresh water or treated wastewater. Water can be recycled continuously with just a little lost to evaporation.

Solazyme also is using standard refining technology to produce the algae-derived biodiesel and a variety of other oils for the production of oleochemical products, human nutrition products and cosmetics.

"To make algae-derived biodiesel fit as well as possible with existing infrastructure, we asked biodiesel producers what lipid concentration they wanted. We were able to provide those lipid levels and biodiesel at a very low cloud point-from -5 to -9," Wolfson says.

The algae-derived biodiesel also produced high cetane numbers.

Solazyme has tested the algae-based biodiesel in the Mercedes C320 for the past few months and plans to test B20 and B100 in other vehicles and other engine testing platforms in the near future.

"We chose to work with the 2006 Mercedes model because it was right off the showroom floor and had been made for regular diesel use," Wolfson says.

The car is rated at 32 to 35 mpg (highway) and has been achieving this mileage performance with the algae-derived biodiesel.

Solazyme is currently producing algae on a small scale at its South San Francisco facility and on a larger scale at another undisclosed location in California.

The company plans to produce algae at a number of locations in other states as it ramps up.

Wolfson expects that the company will produce commercially viable volumes of algae oil in 2-3 years. But within the next 12 months, he expects Solazyme will go from producing thousands of gallons to hundreds of thousands of gallons (on an annual basis).

The California biotech company will likely be involved in the first couple of commercial plants that produce biodiesel from algae, but after that will likely license strains of its algae and some of its proprietary processes.

It currently has a biodiesel feedstock development and testing agreement with Chevron Technology Ventures.

For more information, call 650-780-4777.

Lynn Grooms, Grooms Communications, Mt. Horeb, WI, is an independent agricultural journalist.