Sapphire completes first phase of algae-to-energy facility

1.1 and 2.2 acre ponds cultivate algae cultures in the high desert in New Mexico. (Credit: Sapphire Energy)

When completed, the facility will consist of approximately 300 acres of algae cultivation ponds and processing facilities, producing 1.5 million gallons of crude oil per year.  The cultivation area consists of some of the largest algae ponds ever built with groupings of 1.1 acre and 2.2 acre ponds which are an eighth of a mile long.

According to Sapphire, farming operations are exceeding initial productivity goals in terms of biomass yield, demonstrating that large scale cultivation is possible and much larger cultivation systems can be implemented with the proper agronomic processes in place.  Since June the company has harvested 21 million gallons of algae biomass totaling 81 million tons. 

The company provided an $85 million private investment for the Green Crude Farm, with backing by a USDA loan guarantee and a $50 million grant from the Department of Energy. 

Sapphire Energy says it is on target to make algae-based Green Crude a viable alternative fuel solution capable of significantly reducing the nation's need for foreign crude oil, which could serve as the blueprint for scalable algae biofuel facilities globally.

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