Latest technology: Solazyme creates world’s first algae jet fuel, yuck!

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Posted on September 12th, 2008 by Editorial Staff in Technology

I believe this sort of thing should relate to latest technology, afterall it is technology combined with clever scientist brains that’s making this possible right?

Solazyme is a synthetic biology company that’s been working on development of biodiesels for the past three years. Their main research has been aimed at unleashing renewable energy / power from tiny marine microbes locked up in the cages within their labs, the fuel produced which is then harvested are sold for use as industrial chemicals and to specialty ingredient markets.

So what’s the news? Solazyme has announced that it has produced the world’s first algae based jet fuel! The product passed all testing specifications for Aviation Turbine Fuel, which means that the aviation kerosene has passed all the major hurdles to creating a jet fuel that is compatible with the current commercial and military infrastructure.

While Solazyme isn’t the only company working on algae aviation fuel, they are the closest to achieving large-scale production which have actually passed through all the necessary tests (measurements for density, thermal oxidative stability, flashpoint, freezing point, etc…) and regulations, so that’s why they’ve now claimed the title as the world’s first. Though it sounds pretty disgusting to hear that jets will be feeding off algae poo, at least it’s eco-friendly and renewable!