navyOh well, another feather in US Navy’s cap this one is. Continuing with its tradition of incubating and promoting high end sustainable technologies, the US Navy has just been supplied with 1500 gallons of jet fuel derived from Algae. The company that manufactured this fuel – Solazyme, has many other algal-based fuels to its credit, including some fuels that can run your car. The Navy is apparently on the lookout for renewable fuels for its jets and Solazyme is one of the companies participating in a trial run to supply alga-based fuels to the US Navy. The Solazyme fuel produces 85% less emissions compared to fossil fuels. Now that’s a win-win. Full press release after the break.

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Solazyme Delivers 100% Algal-Derived Renewable Jet Fuel to U.S. Navy

Biotechnology Company Showcases Solajet™HRJ-5 Jet Fuel at the World-famous Farnborough International Air Show in UK

South San Francisco, Calif. – July 19, 2010 – Solazyme, Inc. is helping the U.S. military move closer to powering its planes, ships, tanks and trucks on renewable fuel and has delivered of 1,500 gallons of 100% algae-based jet fuel for the U.S. Navy’s testing and certification program. The U.S. Navy has previously announced the objective to operate at least 50% of its fleet on clean, renewable fuel by 2020, and the delivery fulfills a contract awarded to Solazyme by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in September 2009.

Solazyme, a renewable oil and green bioproducts company and leader in algal biotechnology, manufactured the world’s first 100% algal-based jet fuel through its proprietary fermentation process in collaboration with renewable jet fuel processing technology from Honeywell’s UOP. Solazyme’s renewable Solajet™HRJ-5 is designed to meet all of the requirements for Naval renewable aviation fuel. In preliminary tests, it also meets the fuel requirements of the U.S. Air Force and meets the standards for commercial jet fuel.

“It has been an honor to work with both the Navy and DESC/DLA to provide the first microbial derived advanced biojet fuel that will aid the military’s transition away from fossil fuel and toward more secure, renewable and reliable sources,” said Jonathan Wolfson, CEO, Solazyme. “The military has recognized the national security imperative of creating alternative energy solutions, and this project reflects their leadership and vision in supporting new ways to power our Department of Defense.”

Solazyme’s algal fuel technology will help the DoD reduce its carbon footprint, minimize reliance on foreign oil, combat global climate change and pioneer the development of clean and renewable energy sources for national energy security.

Verified through external lifecycle analyses, Solazyme’s fuels provide an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels. Prior to delivery to the Navy, the fuel was tested by an independent testing laboratory, and met all of the Navy’s 19 rigorous requirements for renewable hydrotreated jet fuel. In addition, the fuel meets the proposed ASTM D 7566 specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels containing synthesized hydrocarbons, which is a critical milestone for providing fuels not only for the military, but also for the civilian market.

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[via Solazyme]

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