Solazyme and Qantas Launch Collaboration Working Toward Commercial Production of Solajet™

Solazyme, Inc., a leading renewable oils and bioproducts company, announced that it has begun a collaboration with Qantas, one of the world's leading long distance airlines, to pursue the potential for commercial production of Solazyme’s microbial derived aviation fuel, Solajet™, in Australia. This represents the first collaboration in the Asia-Pacific region to explore the use of Solajet™ in commercial aviation.

“Qantas is establishing a leadership position in the airline industry in supporting the commercialization of renewable, sustainable aviation fuels. Through this alliance, we intend to use Solazyme’s technology platform to help provide the Australian market with renewable aviation biofuel,” said Jonathan Wolfson, chief executive officer of Solazyme. “We also believe this alliance is a helpful step towards the commercialization of Solajet™.”

There is currently a six billion liter a year demand for aviation fuel in Australia. Through this collaboration, both Qantas and Solazyme are striving to help meet this demand.

Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Alan Joyce, said the collaboration was an exciting step forward for the airline’s environment strategy.

“Developing cleaner jet fuels is vitally important for the global aviation industry and for the Qantas Group. The costs and environmental impacts associated with traditional jet fuel mean it is imperative that we push hard now for the commercialization of alternative fuel sources,” Mr Joyce said.

“We want to be at the forefront of this growing sector, which is why we have chosen to engage the most innovative companies in the field like Solazyme.

“Over the next year, we look forward to working with Solazyme – and with other important government and private sector stakeholders – to build the case for clean jet fuel production in Australia. We believe this is important not just for Qantas but for the Australian economy as a whole, given the global emergence of green technologies and their potential to drive growth and create jobs.”