On the Radar…

Yesterday, Solix Biofuels announced that its Coyote Gulch Demonstration facility had commenced large-scale production of algal oil. The company reported that production began a week earlier on July, 16 after micro-algal inoculation of the facility. Full-scale commercial operation of the facility is expected by late summer. The demonstration facility uses Solix’AGSTM Technology comprised of a closed-growth chamber for algae made of material to optimize illumination levels for growth. Solix, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, reports that the demonstration facility, located in southwestern Colorado on land provided by Solix’s partner, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, is expected to produce the equivalent of 3,000 gallons per acre, per year of algal oil by late 2009. Solix expects to expand production at the site, which is integrated with an industrial plant producing carbon dioxide and water, in the near future.