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Print Edition StoriesWednesday, January 20, 2010
Joule Biotechnologies to build solar-powered biofuel pilot plant
By Mass High Tech staff
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Joule Biotechnologies Inc., a Cambridge-based alternative fuel company, will build its first pilot plant in Leander, Texas, to make renewable solar fuels. The company signed a lease agreement and expects the plant to be operating within the first half of this year.
The company’s renewable fuels production process relies on its Helioculture technology, which uses genetically engineered cells to produce fuels with the sun, wastewater and carbon dioxide. The system consists of a solar converter, which captures sunlight and carbon dioxide and an internal broth of grey water, nutrients and the photosythentic organisms. The organisms take in the light and carbon dioxide, and through photosynthesis, the cells are genetically engineered to secrete a variety of hydrocarbons that can be used as fuel.
The pilot plant will produce end products including ethanol and diesel. At full-scale production, the plant should produce annually 25,000 gallons per acre of ethanol and 15,000 gallons per acre annually, according to Joule officials.
The company, backed by Flagship Ventures managing partner Noubar Afeyan, emerged from stealth mode last July.
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