Verenium noted that improved enzymes are the key to low-cost commercialization of next-generation ethanol, and only four companies in the US received the Department of Energy (DOE) awards.
Verenium plans to use the funding to further efforts for the commercialization of customized cellulose solutions for biomass saccharification. The work will leverage Verenium’s proprietary library of enzymes and DirectEvolution technology to develop and optimize more robust and cost-effective enzymes to breakdown biomass feedstocks into fermentable sugars for making ethanol.
The DOE will work with the selected companies to determine final project plans and funding levels, subject to appropriations by the US Congress.
Carlos Riva, president and CEO of Verenium, said: This award validates the advanced enzyme research we’ve been doing through both our previous grant work with the DOE and over the last 10 years with our leading R&D team and is welcome news as we move toward completing mechanical construction of the nation’s first cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant.
