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May 12, 2010, St. Louis, MO –
BioResearch and Development Growth Park (BRDG pronounced “bridge”) at the Danforth Plant Science Center announced that Phycal LLC has leased 2800 sq. ft. for its algae biotechnology laboratory.
The company’s research is focused on developing an integrated production system for growing algae and extracting energy product, primarily algal oil. This oil can be converted into biodiesel, drop-in “green” replacements for diesel and jet fuel, fuel oil blends, and other products.
"Although algal biofuels are still in the early stages of development, they hold great potential as an economic, secure and sustainable alternative to petroleum based liquid fuels,” said Kevin Berner, Phycal’s President and CEO. “Phycal intends to be at the forefront in developing algal biofuels.”
Based in Cleveland, OH and building a pilot farm in Hawaii, Phycal chose BRDG Park for its biotechnology lab facility because of its proximity to the Danforth Plant Science Center, the world’s largest independent plant science research institute. The Danforth Center is widely recognized as a global leader in biofuels research, as well as plant biotechnology.
“Phycal is a perfect tenant for BRDG Park because it well-positioned to take advantage of all the available research, resources and relationships through the Danforth Plant Science Center, as well as companies and organizations based in St. Louis that have complementary technologies,” said Sam Fiorello, President of BRDG Park.
In addition to offering state-of-the-art wet lab and office space custom designed to Phycal’s specifications, the opportunity to interact with top plant scientists from around the world at the Danforth Center made BRDG Park an ideal choice for Phycal. BRDG Park was able to create a space that meets Phycal’s distinctive needs regarding layout, delivery and shipment of materials, and natural light.
Phycal’s BRDG Park location on the campus of the Danforth Center also means it is just a few steps away from one of its co-founders, Dr. Richard Sayre, Director of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels at the Danforth Plant Science Center; Chief Scientist of the National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts (NAABB); and Director of the Center for Advanced Biofuels Systems (CABS).
The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels was founded in 2007 with a goal of creating the next generation of alternative fuel technologies from environmentally sound plant sources, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on non-renewable resources. The Institute is primarily focused on the efficient creation of bio-oils from plants such as algae, soy and camelina, which could be used on a large scale to power cars, trucks, and aircraft.
Designed to help fledgling companies “bridge” research, resources and relationships to achieve commercial success, BRDG Park opened its first 110,000 sq. ft. building last June and is nearly 70 percent leased. Ultimately BRDG Park will include three buildings and encompass about 450,000 square feet of space on the Danforth Center campus in suburban St. Louis County.
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