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Bio Architecture Lab and Statoil Partner to Commercialize Macroalgae-to-Ethanol Process in Norway

Bio Architecture Lab (BAL), a synthetic biology and enzyme design company focused on the production of biofuels and biochemicals from macroalgae (seaweed), and Statoil, one of the world’s largest offshore oil and gas producers, have formed wide-ranging strategic partnership for the production of ethanol derived from macroalgae grown off the coast of Norway.

Under terms of the agreement, Statoil will fund BAL’s research and development and demonstration projects, and if successful, will also fund the commercialization of BAL’s technology in Norway and elsewhere in Europe. BAL will have the right to equity participation and will receive royalties on all ethanol and by-products produced by the partnership.

This game-changing partnership will allow Bio Architecture Lab to accelerate our path toward commercialization and establish our technology in key markets in Europe. The significant commitment of resources and funds from Statoil further validates BAL’s market opportunity and puts us with an elite group of companies in our industry who have partnered with established oil and gas companies to bring technology to market.

—Daniel Trunfio, CEO of Bio Architecture Lab

BAL has developed a novel biosynthetic pathway that is able to convert macroalgae into biofuels and specialty chemicals. during the initial phase of the partnership, BAL is responsible for developing the technology and process to convert Norwegian seaweed into ethanol.

Statoil is responsible for developing and managing the seaweed aquafarming operations, with consultation from BAL, which already has aquafarming operations in Chile. Upon the successful achievement of key milestones, Statoil and BAL will develop a demonstration scale facility in Norway, which could potentially lead to large scale commercialization by Statoil in Norway and other parts of Europe.

Bio Architecture Lab was founded to address the market need for a low-cost, scalable, and sustainable source of sugars for biofuel and renewable chemical production using aquafarmed, native macroalgae as a feedstock. BAL has been building out a similar program off the coast of Chile as part of a program funded by the Chilean government.

In addition, BAL has partnered with DuPont in a project funded by the Advanced Research Program Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) to convert macroalgae into isobutanol. (Earlier post.) In total, the company has received more than $34 million in funding, grants and strategic investments.

Comments

SJC

The more renewable and less fossil used, the more for later.

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