Cambridge firm claims to have developed artificial diesel fuel

Joule Unlimited, a company based in Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A., claims that it has genetically engineered a cyanobacteria which secretes diesel-like fuel when exposed to sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. According to the company, their scientists claim that they can produce diesel fuel and ethanol on demand. “We make some lofty claims, all of which we believe, all of which we’ve validated, all of which we’ve shown to investors,” said the CEO of Joule, Bill Sims. “If we’re half right, this revolutionizes the world’s largest industry, which is the oil and gas industry. And if we’re right, there’s no reason why this technology can’t change the world,” said Sims. Response to the company’s claims has been skeptical. Philip Pienkos of the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory said Joule’s technology is unproven and points out that there could be difficulty in collecting the fuel the organisms produce. (March 2, 2011)