Sapphire Energy and Linde Group expand partnership

Algae-based oil production company Sapphire Energy (SE) is to commercialise a new industrial scale conversion technology needed to upgrade algae biomass into crude oil with partner Linde Group.

The pair will refine the hydrothermal treatment process developed and operated by SE at pilot-scale. In addition, they will jointly license and market the technology into industries including algae, municipal solid and farm waste.

The agreement spans a minimum of five years through the development of SE’s first commercial scale, algae-to-energy production facility.

‘Large energy projects like this require significant partnerships to fund the development of new technologies and make available engineering resources needed to bring these projects on line at commercial scale,’ says SE CEO Cynthia Warner.

This partnership builds upon a previous agreement in May 2011 to develop a low cost, CO₂ management system for open pond, algae-to-fuel production.