Propel Fuels and Solazyme have partnered to launch the nation’s first publicly available algae-derived biodiesel at Propel stations across the Bay Area.
In this month-long pilot program, Solazyme’s high quality algae-based SoladieselBD will be offered in a B20 blend for the same price as conventional diesel fuels. This groundbreaking fuel will be available exclusively at Propel’s Clean Fuel Points in Redwood City, San Jose (North 1st Street), Berkeley, and Oakland.
Propel’s B20 is made of 20% SoladieselBD (an algae-derived biodiesel made by Solazyme) and 80% petroleum diesel. Domestically produced from micro algae that efficiently convert sugars into renewable oil, SoladieselBD is a clean-burning, precision quality fuel that is compatible with all diesel vehicles.
Testing undertaken by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows that, in a 20% blend, SoladieselBD significantly outperforms ultra-low sulfur diesel in total hydrocarbons (THC), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter tailpipe emissions. This includes an approximate 30% reduction in particulates, a 20% reduction in CO and an approximate 10% reduction in THC.