Jun 23 2010
Cobalt Technologies, the leader in commercializing biobutanol as a renewable chemical and fuel, today announced it was named to the Biofuels Digest "30 Most Transformative Technologies of 2010" and ranked first in the competitive biobutanol category. More than 48,000 votes were cast during a three-week online voting process.
"There is a growing recognition of the value of biobutanol as a renewable chemical and fuel and our technology has the ability to be first to market with commercial-scale biobutanol production," said Rick Wilson, CEO of Cobalt Technologies. "Our plan is to increase awareness about butanol's benefits and to scale up rapidly and economically by co-locating facilities next to strategic industry partners."
Cobalt Technologies, which converts non-food feedstock, such as forest waste and mill residues, into biobutanol, was selected from more than 250 companies, universities and national laboratories. Additionally, the voting confirmed the rise of biobutanol as a second generation biofuel technology, as four of the five companies in the biobutanol category made the top 30.
Cobalt's continuous butanol production system is based on advancements in microbial strain selection, bioreactor design and process engineering, resulting in a highly productive, capital-efficient, low-cost solution. The company recently demonstrated the conversion of beetle-killed lodgepole pine into a low-carbon, sustainable biofuel and chemical, which is currently being tested in engines by Colorado State University's renowned Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory.
Cobalt is backed by leading investors in the cleantech sector, including Pinnacle Ventures, Vantage Point Venture Partners, Burrill and Company, Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund, Life Science Partners (LSP), @Ventures, and Harris & Harris.