INVESTOR INTEREST IN ALGAE GROWS AS RESEARCH BOOSTS BIOFUEL HOPES

INVESTOR INTEREST IN ALGAE GROWS AS RESEARCH BOOSTS BIOFUEL HOPES
[转载Transhipment] 2008/12/12 22:50 By Richard Waters in San Francisco



The idea of using algae as a significant new source of fuel is moving rapidly from the science lab to large-scale production, to judge by a wave of big investments that have been made in the area in recent weeks.

The potential for using green slime to solve the energy crisis has been met with a new wave of enthusiasm from financial backers. However, this optimism has been tempered by the difficulties some producers have experienced in controlling very large growths of algae. Also, most industry analysts predict that it will still be some time before algae producers can demonstrate that their projects are commercially viable.

California-based Solazyme, the latest start-up company to attract cash, confirmed last week that it had raised $45.4m from a number of venture capitalists and other backers - part of a financing round that could eventually grow much larger.

中文

“用藻类制造燃料”成为美国新投资热点

从近几周的一些大规模投资来看，将藻类作为一种重要的新型燃料来源的创意，正从科学实验室迅速地进入大规模生产。

应用粘乎乎的绿藻来解决能源危机的潜力，已引发一股新的投资热。然而，一些生产商在控制藻类大规模生长所遇到的困难，令这种乐观情绪有所减弱。此外，多数行业分析师预测，藻类生产商要证明它们的项目具有商业可行性，仍需一定时间。

总部设在加州的Solazyme是一家最新成立的新创企业，该公司上周证实已从许多风险资本家及其他投资者筹集到4540万美元资金。这股融资潮可能大幅扩大。