NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Algenol Biofuels Inc., an industrial biotechnology company based in Fort Myers, Fla., has appointed business communications firm Gibbs & Soell, Inc. as its agency of record. Gibbs & Soell will create and implement an integrated communications strategy to increase public awareness of the advantages of algae-derived biofuel and promote Algenol’s entry into commercial production.
Algenol offers DIRECT TO ETHANOL®, its commercially viable, patented algae technology, and seeks to market its biofuel at 75 cents per gallon below the current market price. Along with significant cost savings to consumers, there are major environmental benefits of Algenol’s process: Fresh water is a byproduct, the technology does not rely on land or crops used for farming and food and it captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sources to feed the living algae.
The Gibbs & Soell sustainability consulting practice led by Managing Director Ron Loch will oversee the launch of a public advocacy campaign, which will be supported via editorial coverage, thought leadership activities and content development for branded social media platforms.
“Gibbs & Soell is the ideal partner for Algenol as we accelerate our growth,” said Paul Woods, CEO of Algenol. “We have entered an exciting phase of our company’s history, and our focus on the aggressive pursuit of commercial opportunities requires the unique blend of business skills and communications sophistication that Gibbs & Soell brings.”
“We are excited to work with Algenol and share the story of how its innovative technology is tackling some of the world’s toughest challenges,” said Luke Lambert, president and CEO of Gibbs & Soell. “The Gibbs & Soell team is energized by the sound business thinking and gutsy risk-taking that make Algenol a market-ready competitor. We are prepared to leverage our business communications expertise to help the company develop the public following it deserves.”
Named 2013 Midsize Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report, Gibbs & Soell provides communications expertise for clients in agribusiness and food, advanced manufacturing, financial services, and home and building markets.
About Algenol Biofuels Inc.
Algenol is a global industrial biotechnology company that is commercializing its patented DIRECT TO ETHANOL® algae technology, projected to enable the production of ethanol for around $1.20 per gallon using sunlight, carbon dioxide and saltwater, and targets commercial production of up to 10,000 gallons of ethanol per acre per year. In addition, over 1,350 gallons of additional fuel products – jet fuel, gasoline and diesel – are also being produced per acre per year. A pilot-scale integrated biorefinery project to demonstrate commercial viability of the process is under development in Fort Myers, Florida. The low production costs and high yields are achievable because DIRECT TO ETHANOL® technology relies on our patented photobioreactors and proprietary downstream technologies for the low-cost recovery and purification of ethanol. Algenol’s process achieves an energy balance of more than five to one and a lifecycle carbon footprint that is merely one-fifth that of petroleum-based fuels. These novel, low-cost systems and processes have the added benefit of consuming carbon dioxide from industrial sources, do not use farmland or food crops, and have the ability to provide freshwater for a variety of purposes. For more information about Algenol, please visit www.algenol.com.
About Gibbs & Soell, Inc.
Gibbs & Soell, Inc. is an independent business communications firm with headquarters in New York and offices in Chicago, Raleigh, N.C., and Basel, Switzerland. The firm’s global network extends across more than 50 countries through its PROI Worldwide partnership. Gibbs & Soell integrates business and communications strategies, using a full range of communications services, to build sustainable relationships for clients along the entire value chain. We inspire action that drives results. For more information, please visit www.gibbs-soell.com.
