# Automotive Algae Fuel Bill Gates Funds Sapphire Energy By Marissa Brassfield | Published 2008-09-17 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bill-gates-sapphire-energy References: [news.cnet](http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10043996-54.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20) & [sapphireenergy](http://www.sapphireenergy.com/) Bill Gates, one of the richest men in the world, has thrown his proverbial hat into the alternative energy ring. His investment firm, Cascade Investment, has funded Sapphire Energy, a San Diego-based company that plans to make auto fuel from algae. This brings Sapphire Energy's total investment capital over the $100 million mark, with other investors that include [Arch Venture Partners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/arch-motorcycles), Wellcome Trust, and Venrock. [Algae](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/algae-cooking-club) is thought to be a good and inexpensive source of renewable fuel since it is naturally rich from oil and can grow in a variety of conditions. Sapphire Energy said in 2007 that they successfully made an algae product that yielded 91 octane gasoline; they've named it [Green Crude](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electric-catamaran). Sapphire Energy's process can yield the chemical equivalents of gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.5/10 - Popularity: 21% | Activity: 45% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Renewable Energy:** The growing interest in algae as a source of renewable fuel creates opportunities for disruptive innovation in the renewable energy sector. - **Alternative Fuel:** The development of algae-based fuels opens up possibilities for disruptive innovation in the alternative fuel industry. - **Sustainable Technology:** Sapphire Energy's breakthrough in producing algae-based fuels presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the sustainable technology space. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Energy:** The energy industry can explore new business models and technologies to leverage the potential of algae-based fuels as a renewable energy source. - **Automotive:** The automotive industry can seize the opportunity to create disruptive innovations by incorporating algae-based fuels into their existing product lines or developing new eco-friendly vehicles. - **Chemical:** The chemical industry can explore the production of algae-based fuels and their chemical by-products, opening avenues for disruptive innovation in the chemical sector. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Planet-Friendly Cooking Oils](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/algae-cooking-club.md) - [Omni-Fuel Vehicle Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/andrietta-concept-car.md) - [Gasoline-Producing Prototype Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aircela.md) - [Sustainable Truck Modifications](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clearflame.md) - [Garlicky Algae Cooking Oils](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/roasted-garlic-oil.md) - [Algae-Powered Rover Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robotic-rover.md) - [Ultra-Lightweight Vehicle Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gordon-murray-group.md) - [Recyclable Water-Based Batteries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alsym-energy.md) - [Eco-Focused Airline Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alaska-airlines1.md)