Turning algae into a ubiquitous, affordable and low-emission transportation fuel remains an ambitious goal for now. However, Synthetic Genomics Inc. (SGI), the La Jolla, California, synthetic biology startup, and ExxonMobil continue to believe the dream can become a reality, which is why the two companies are renewing their agreement to jointly research the use of algae to make clean, low-carbon energy. The two companies first started working together back in 2009.
ExxonMobil and SGI will continue to focus on how to coax algae into producing more lipids. The creation of these fats is critical because they can serve as feedstock that can be turned into low-emission fuels for transportation. This means boosting lipid production will be a major step in turning algae into a commercially successful energy source.
Vijay Swarup, vice president of research and development at ExxonMobil, says that the extended partnership will allow the two companies to “proceed down a path toward scale and commercial viability in supplying the energy needs of the future.”
For more insight on SGI and ExxonMobil’s partnership and their advances in research, watch our video.
