ExxonMobil e Synthetic Genomics abriram um centro para o desenvolvimento de biodiesel feito a partir de algas
(Notícia em Inglês)
San Diego's Synthetic Genomics and Texas-based ExxonMobil celebrated the first anniversary of their strategic alliance today with the official opening of a greenhouse for growing and testing algae that could someday replace crude oil in the production of diesel and other fuels.
On this day last year, ExxonMobil announced plans to spend at least $600 million to develop next-generation transportation fuels from algae -- a renewable resource -- with $300 million directed to Synthetic Genomics, a five-year-old start-up that has assembled an all-star roster of biologists. The founders include CEO J. Craig Venter, the human genome pioneer, Nobel Laureate Hamilton O. Smith, and Juan Enriquez of Boston's Excel Venture Management.
The greenhouse, near Synthetic Genomics' headquarters atop San Diego's Torrey Pines Mesa represents the next step in a 1,000-mile journey to algae-based fuel production, figuratively speaking. The greenhouse is intended to serve as a facility bathed in real sunlight (instead of indoor laboratory lighting), where scientists can work to identify -- or genetically engineer -- the particular algae that is best-suited to serve as a biological feedstock in the existing fuel production infrastructure. The next major milestone in the program would be establishing an outdoor test facility, a step the partners would likely announce about this time next year.
msnbc.msn.com»
San Diego's Synthetic Genomics and Texas-based ExxonMobil celebrated the first anniversary of their strategic alliance today with the official opening of a greenhouse for growing and testing algae that could someday replace crude oil in the production of diesel and other fuels.
On this day last year, ExxonMobil announced plans to spend at least $600 million to develop next-generation transportation fuels from algae -- a renewable resource -- with $300 million directed to Synthetic Genomics, a five-year-old start-up that has assembled an all-star roster of biologists. The founders include CEO J. Craig Venter, the human genome pioneer, Nobel Laureate Hamilton O. Smith, and Juan Enriquez of Boston's Excel Venture Management.
The greenhouse, near Synthetic Genomics' headquarters atop San Diego's Torrey Pines Mesa represents the next step in a 1,000-mile journey to algae-based fuel production, figuratively speaking. The greenhouse is intended to serve as a facility bathed in real sunlight (instead of indoor laboratory lighting), where scientists can work to identify -- or genetically engineer -- the particular algae that is best-suited to serve as a biological feedstock in the existing fuel production infrastructure. The next major milestone in the program would be establishing an outdoor test facility, a step the partners would likely announce about this time next year.
msnbc.msn.com»