LanzaTech, Sapphire Energy, Gevo, Enerkem CEOs commit to ABLC 2014

Holmgren, Warner, Gruber, Chornet to address “Hot Companies: The Global Growth Perspective” on opening morning of ABLC 2014.

In Florida, Biofuels Digest announced that LanzaTech CEO Jennifer Holmgren, Sapphire Energy CEO Cynthia “CJ ” Warner, Gevo CEO Pat Grubner and Enerkem CEO Vincent Chornet will present addresses on ABLC 2014’s opening morning — under the general theme of “The Global Growth Perspective”.

ABLC, a leading annual gathering of the bioeconomy’s leaders and hottest technologists, will be held April 21-23 in Washington, DC. Full event details are here.

LanzaTech, Sapphire Energy, Gevo and Enerkem were this past year voted the #2, #4, #5 and #14 companies in the 50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy. In addition, LanzaTech ranked #4, Gevo #8 and Enerkem #19 in the 30 Hottest Companies in Biobased Chemicals and Materials.

LanzaTech has proceeded to demonstration (of its gas fermentation technology) with the opening of a 100,000 gallons per year facility in China; the company is also developing facilities and projects in the US, India, Malaysia and elsewhere in China.

Sapphire Energy has opened its (algae-to-fuels) demonstration-scale Green Crude Farm in Columbus, New Mexico, and expects to open its first commercial-scale plant in 2018.

Gevo has opened its first commercial 16 million gallon (isobutanol) plant in Luverne, Minnesota where it is producing fuels and chemicals for customers and partners.

Enerkem is in the process of completing its first (10 million gallon) commercial (MSW-to-fuels) plant in Edmonton, Alberta.

“Those who have seen these key CEOs in person know that, in addition to running key companies in the sector, they are all lively presenters with a passion for the industry as a whole.

“Taken as a group, they represent a very wide range – as we had hoped for the opening general session. There’s algae, MSW and industrial off-gases and dextrose as feedstocks. We have public and private companies. Operating in seven countries. These are thermocatalytic and fermentation systems. Also they represent unique separation, cleaning and harvesting technologies for their respective feedstocks and fuels — as well as advanced chemistry and biology at its best.

“We’re lucky to have them all in one place, at one time, as we look at the latest global opportunities and trends, and start three days of real dialogue on the real issues.”

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