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                                                         2007 Algae Biomass Summit

October 1 , 2007

Preston, Minn. -- Byrne & Company Limited and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati are pleased to announce the inaugural Algae Biomass Summit to be held November 14-16, 2007, at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco in San Francisco, California.

The event is the first of its kind dedicated to bringing together individuals and organizations committed to exploring the use of algae as a feedstock for biofuels or as a biomass for generating electricity.  The Summit is the consequence of increased global interest in exploring the use of algal strains for a variety of applications, including oil production for biodiesel, starch production for ethanol, carbon capture and mitigation, wastewater remediation, electrical generation, and other human and agricultural applications.

Over the course of two days, attendees will gain knowledge from government and university experts, start-up and Fortune 500 companies exploring potential applications, and venture capital firms that have invested in, or are considering an investment in, this space.  These industry and thought leaders will address a variety of critical issues such as the commercial viability of algae production, optimal algal strains depending on the application, growth, and harvesting methods, evolving technology, processing concepts, and equity and debt finance.

Studies have demonstrated that certain algal strains produce over 50% of their dry weight in the form of oil under certain conditions and may produce thousands of gallons of oil per acre per year.  This is exponentially higher than palm (635 gallons/acre/year) and soy (48 gallons/acre/year).  Methods of achieving high productivity require large inputs of carbon dioxide and/or other nutrients; therfore, additional benefits may be derived in the form of carbon dioxide abatement and wastewater treatment.

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