WASHINGTON, DC (March 27, 2015) The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, today announced CO2-to-fuels company Joule Unlimited as a new Platinum member and Parker Hannifin’s Renewable Resources Unit focusing on algae industry research and development as a new Corporate member. Joule and Parker join the growing ranks of companies and organizations that are working with ABO to develop algae and other photosynthetic microorganisms into a source of sustainable fuels, chemicals, feeds, nutraceuticals and other products.
Based in Bedford, Massachusetts with operations in New Mexico and the Netherlands, Joule Unlimited has pioneered a CO2-to-fuels production platform, effectively reversing combustion through the use of solar energy and engineered cyanobacteria. The company’s platform is unique in that it applies microbial biomass as a catalyst rather than a “crop,” enabling the direct, continuous conversion of waste CO2 into renewable fuels such as ethanol or hydrocarbons for diesel, jet fuel and gasoline. Free of feedstock constraints and complex processing, Joule’s process can achieve unrivaled scalability, volumes and costs without the use of any agricultural land, fresh water or crops.
“We’re pleased to join like-minded companies in the important effort to recycle waste CO2 emissions into useful products,” said Serge Tchuruk, President and CEO of Joule. “Although our process differs from those using algal biomass, we share the common objective of commercializing sustainable fuels that can meet global energy demands while also providing a carbon mitigation solution.”
Parker Hannifin is the global leader in motion and control technologies and systems. Parker’s engineering expertise and broad range of core technologies uniquely positions the company to solve some of the world’s greatest engineering challenges.
By partnering with customers, Parker Hannifin’s Renewable Resources Unit improves their productivity and profitability through developing innovative systems and services that solve algae industry pain points.
“We are excited to have an inspiring industry leader like Joule join the ranks of platinum ABO members that are driving our industry forward,” said Matt Carr, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “Parker’s engineering expertise and commitment to deploying technologies that have bottom-line benefits is perfectly aligned with the goals of the Algae Biomass Organization. We look forward to working closely with both of these new members as we work to put more algae-derived products into the hands of consumers.”
Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing the world today. This tiny but powerful organism has the ability to simultaneously put fuels in vehicles, reuse CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people, and create jobs for millions of Americans. More information can be found at www.allaboutalgae.com.
About the Algae Biomass Organization
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501 c(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies, and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits, and members and their affiliations, is available at the website: www.algaebiomass.org.