June 6, 2008—Sapphire Energy announced last week that it has produced “green” gasoline from a synthetic crude oil made from algae. The algae yielded a crude oil replacement that was literally green, and according to the company, the “green crude” meets fuel quality standards and is completely compatible with the existing petroleum infrastructure, from refinement through distribution to retail suppliers.
Gasoline produced from the green crude achieved a 91 octane rating while meeting fuel quality standards. Sapphire Energy considers the achievement to be at the forefront of an entirely new industrial category, called “green crude production.”
“It’s hard not to get excited about algae’s potential,” says Paul Dickerson, chief operating officer of DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “Its basic requirements are few: carbon dioxide, sun, and water. Algae can flourish in non-arable land or in dirty water, and when it does flourish, its potential oil yield per acre is unmatched by any other terrestrial feedstock.”
For more information, see the Sapphire Energy Web site.
