Amyris Biotechnologies

Amyris Biotechnologies<br /> <br /> Biotech company that is extending its biofuels experimental laboratories to pilot plants with eventual extension to commercial manufacturing facilities. Amyris was named #7 on BioFuels Digest's "Hottest 50 Companies in BioEnergy". Amyris aims to commercially scale its renewable fuels as quickly as possible. They have established majority ownership in a venture with one of Brazil's lar... More >>

Amyris Biotechnologies<br /> <br /> Biotech company that is extending its biofuels experimental laboratories to pilot plants with eventual extension to commercial manufacturing facilities. Amyris was named #7 on BioFuels Digest's "Hottest 50 Companies in BioEnergy". Amyris aims to commercially scale its renewable fuels as quickly as possible. They have established majority ownership in a venture with one of Brazil's largest distributors and marketers of sugar and ethanol, Crystalsev. The venture is known as Amyris-Crystalsev Biofuels.<br /> <br /> Amyris seems to focus on hydrocarbon-based renewable fuels using sugarcane as a feedstock. An interesting contradiction that exists with their fuel is the heavy criticism to any hydrocarbon based fuel due to the devastating environmental effects, however; their fuel seems to be more likely compatible with existing engines compared to other biofuels. This will provide an interesting debate between the hydrocarbon effects and the immediate need for alternative fuels.<br /> <br /> Their Chief Executive Officer has very attractive credentials, over 20 years of combined experience as business leader and expert in global fuels industry, most notably as former President of U.S. fuels operations for British Petroleum. The company has $120 million in total capital raised during the past year from investors including Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, TPG Biotech, and DAG Ventures.<br /> <br /> Amyris claims their renewable diesel is planned to be commercially available as early as 2010. They are also working on a renewable jet fuel. They are also using their modified yeast technology to formulate anti-malarial treatment.<br /> << Less