Terragia develops disruptive technology to convert cellulosic biomass into low-carbon biofuels like ethanol at a cost competitive with petroleum. The company utilizes consolidated bioprocessing with engineered thermophilic bacteria to reduce capital expenses and bioprocessing steps. This approach aims to make low-carbon liquid fuels a practical reality for sectors like aviation, marine transport, and long-haul trucking.
Funding
$6M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
The transportation sector's reliance on fossil fuels necessitates the development of cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to mitigate carbon emissions and address climate change. Existing biofuel production methods often face challenges related to cost, scalability, and the need for thermochemical pretreatment of cellulosic biomass.
Solution
Terragia Biofuel is developing and deploying technology for converting cellulosic biomass into low-carbon biofuels, including ethanol, and other co-products. Their approach leverages consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) with engineered thermophilic bacteria, eliminating the need for added enzymes and reducing capital expenses. By genetically engineering microorganisms, Terragia's technology enables the processing of cellulosic biomass without thermochemical pretreatment, reducing carbon intensity and operational challenges. This innovative bioprocessing method aims to produce biofuels at a cost competitive with petroleum, while also contributing to climate stabilization and rural economic development.
Target Audience
Terragia Biofuel targets industrial fuel producers seeking cost-effective technologies to produce low-carbon biofuels from cellulosic and lignocellulosic feedstocks, as well as companies in difficult-to-electrify transport modes such as aviation, ocean shipping and long-haul trucking.
Features
- Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) using engineered thermophilic bacteria for efficient biomass conversion
- Elimination of thermochemical pretreatment for reduced carbon intensity
- Genetic engineering of microorganisms to enhance ethanol and co-product production
- Cost-competitive biofuel production compared to traditional fossil fuels
- Utilization of crop residues and perennial cellulosic energy crops as feedstocks
- Potential for carbon capture during ethanol production for negative greenhouse gas emissions