2009

01.06.09

Professor Zhihao Sun joins GBL as a Scientific Advisor

Zhihao Sun is a Professor at the School of Biotechnology and Principal Investigator at the Biocatalysis Laboratory, Jiangnan University, China. His research focuses on improvements to the continuous butanol fermentation and production of a variety of organic acids and fine chemicals by microbial transformation.

Prior to joining Jiangsu in 1986, Professor Sun worked as a Chief Engineer in the butanol fermentation industry (Sichuan, China) for twenty years. He is widely regarded as an expert on the butanol fermentation process and recently published two review articles detailing the history and recent progress on the butanol fermentation in China.

Sean Sutcliffe, CEO comments: “We are honoured that Professor Sun is joining the Green Biologic’s team. He is leading authority on the Chinese ABE process and brings a wealth of practical “hands on” process experience that will help us commercialise our advanced fermentation technology”.

23.02.09

Professor David Jones joins GBL as a Scientific Advisor

Green Biologics Ltd (GBL) has appointed Professor David Jones as Scientific Advisor. David is a world leading expert on solventogenic Clostridia and their industrial application for the production of acetone, butanol and ethanol (ABE).

David has retired after a distinguished academic career with the Department of Microbiology, University of Cape Town, South Africa, and more recently, the Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, New Zealand. He has published numerous articles on topics related to Clostridial taxonomy and phylogeny. In addition, David has spent over 40 years supporting the commercial ABE process in South Africa and written numerous review articles on the ABE process.

Dr Edward Green, founder and CTO of GBL, comments: “David is the world’s foremost expert in solventogenic Clostridia and their use in the ABE process. David bridges the gap between academic research and industrial fermentation at commercial scale and provides a unique perspective on how best to steer research and development programmes towards commercial deployment. He will be invaluable as we transition from pilot to commercial scale.

2008

28.10.08

GBL in China – Collaboration Agreement

Collaboration between Energy Research Institute of Shandong Academy of Sciences (SDERI), China and Green Biologics Ltd. (GBL), UK

14th October 2008, Jinan, Shandong Province,China.Energy Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Sciences and Green Biologics have signed a technical collaboration agreement on the production of bio-butanol with a particular focus on the use of waste cellulosic feedstock to produce low cost sustainable bio-fuels of the future. The agreement involves transfer of GBL’s advanced technology into a purpose built pilot facility at SDERI’s research centre in Jinan, Shandong. Apart from technical collaboration on the use of cellulosic feedstock, the pilot facility will also serve GBL as a local commercial demonstrator and will support marketing of its advanced technology to Chinese biobutanol producers.

SDERI is engaged in a number of technical solutions in the area of renewable energy and biomass gasification. Shandong is one of the most prosperous Chinese provinces with large agricultural, energy and trading economies.

18.09.08

Green Biologics is selected for Cleantech 100 Award

Green Biologics Ltd has been listed in the prestigious Cleantech 100 Awards compiled by Library House, a leading technology ventures and investors research organisation. The listing comes as GBL’s Chief Executive, Sean Sutcliffe, announced the launch of a £3.5 million fundraising round as GBL rolls out its technology to global markets. As part of this roll-out, GBL also announces the signing of an agreement between GBL and Laxmi Organic Industries to develop and construct a commercial scale demonstrator for biobutanol in India. Laxmi Organic Industries is a leading Indian biochemicals manufacturer that ranks among the world’s top 10 producers of ethyl acetate.

CEO of GBL, Sean Sutcliffe, said: ‘We are honoured to receive this Award and delighted that it recognises the substantial impact Green Biologics can have on the global biochemicals and advanced biofuels sector through the adoption of our unique technology for the conversion of by-products and waste feedstocks to butanol.

‘This Award comes at a particularly interesting time for GBL as we take a major step forward in the commercialisation of our technology with the successful conclusion of our agreement with Laxmi Organic Industries. We will be working with Laxmi to develop and build a commercial demonstrator plant in Mumbai that will be run on molasses, a sustainable by-product from the Indian sugar industry, and produce 1,000 tonnes of butanol per annum. We are aiming to have the plant fully operational in 2010.’

2007

18.10.07

Funding Round £1.58 million

GBL has completed a funding round of £1.58 million. This involved existing shareholders as well as new investors, Carbon Trust Investments and Oxford Capital Partners who led the investment round. GBL will use part of this investment to fund scale up of its proprietary ButafuelTM fermentation programme using model waste feedstocks at pilot plant scale in its extended laboratory facilities. Dr Edward Green commented: “We are delighted to have secured the new investment we need to scale up our butanol fermentation process. It is great to have the support of our existing shareholders and we welcome Carbon Trust Investments Limited and Oxford Capital Partners on board as new investors”.

14.09.07

GBL Opens New Laboratory

GBL has completed an expansion project to refit 2500ft² of warehouse space adjacent to the current premises into purpose built laboratory facilities. This new open plan laboratory area comprises of dedicated areas for molecular biology, microbiology, fermentation and process demonstration.

The official laboratory opening took place on 14th September, where Sir Martin Woods and Rick De Blaby kindly said a few words relating to growth and support for early stage technology Companies. Dr Andrew Rickman (Chairman) outlined plans for the Company before cutting a ribbon and declaring the labs open.

GBL has also converted the existing lab space into 1700ft2 of office and meeting facilities. This expansion project will enable GBL to increase double in size, speeding up technical development of its proprietary biofuel process (ButafuelTM).

Dr Edward Green CEO comments “This is an exciting time for the company. This new laboratory space will accommodate extra growth and help us develop and commercialise our advanced fermentation technologies for renewable fuels and chemicals”

2006

30.08.06

GBL appoints new Chairman

GBL has strengthened the management team with the appointment of Dr Andrew Rickman to the board of directors. Andrew will replace Dr Michael Wright as Chairman. Mike Wright will continue to serve GBL is a non-executive capacity.

Dr Andrew Rickman OBE was the founder and former CEO/Chairman of Bookham Inc, which he grew from a start-up in 1988 to the world’s second largest fibre optics telecom component producer. Andrew holds advisory board positions with a number of science and technology organisations. He is also Chairman of two early stage, venture-backed businesses, including Green Biologics, and is also a director of several growing technology companies. Dr Rickman was awarded an OBE in the Queens Millennium Honours list for services to the telecommunications industry and is a winner of the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering Silver medal for his outstanding contribution to British Engineering.

Dr Edward Green, CEO Green Biologics, comments: “Andrew’s” appointment is a significant development. Andrew has “been there and done it” and brings a wealth of experience that will be invaluable as we grow into a leading biofuel Company. Dr Rickman comments: “I am delighted to be joining Green Biologics at such an exciting stage. I look forward to working with Edward and the rest of the management team to build on their achievements over the last three years.”

23.08.06

GBL complete funding round

GBL has closed a funding round for £310,000 to further develop and scale-up its biofuel technology. This funding, from prominent local business angels together with support from existing shareholders, will be used to speed up development of its proprietary fermentation process for butanol and demonstrate at scale.

2005

22.12.05

GBL complete funding round

GBL has just completed its first funding round of £63k drawn primarily from investors in the local based business angel community. The funding together with profit from service contracts and grant funding will be used to develop and test the advanced compost accelerant product at scale.

Dr Edward Green, CEO of GBL comments “I am delighted to complete our first round. Equity investment is an important milestone for company development and rounds off a very successful year. We have moved to Milton Park with improved facilities, the technology platform has been strengthened and the Company is much better resourced for acceleration of in house product development and commercialisation. I am extremely grateful for all the support we have received and excited about the prospects for 2006”

16.11.05

CEO wins award

Dr Edward Green CEO of Green Biologics (left) recieves his award in the category of ‘up and coming entrepreneur’ at the inaugural Martin and Audrey Wood Enterprise Awards 2005 from Iain Laing.

“Over 150 representatives from the business, technology, research and investment communities in Oxfordshire and beyond gathered at Culham Science Centre on the 9th of November as the winners of the Martin and Audrey Wood Enterprise Awards 2005 were chosen. It was the inaugural year for the Awards, which focus on innovative and technology-based companies and promising entrepreneurs, and were established in honour of Sir Martin and Lady (Audrey) Wood, co-founders of Oxford Instruments plc.

The Winner of the Up and Coming Entrepreneur Award was: Dr Edward Green, Chief Executive Officer of Green Biologics Ltd, which has developed a technology to exploit the properties of heat-loving micro-organisms (called thermophiles) that can be used to accelerate composting times for biodegradable waste. The company is also developing a novel solvent system to remove chewing gum waste from pavements. Dr Green received his Award from Ian Laing, co-founder of Milton Park and High Sheriff of Oxfordshire.”

Read more in the press release.

21.10.05

GBL wins green shoot recognition

Green Biologics have been placed as runners up in a locally managed competition promoted in partnership with Milton Park and Oxford Brookes University. The Green Shoots award was launched earlier this summer (2005) for environmentally focused new and start-up companies to win free business accommodation and mentoring worth over £15,000.

Entrants had to have a business plan or be a company with a strong environmental connection. The award attracted considerable interest from a wide range of individuals and companies in the Oxfordshire area.

26.09.05

GBL moves to new premises

GBL moved from the Oxford BioBusiness to 45A Western Avenue, Milton Park, Abingdon on the 3/10/05. The new premises have been designed to accommodate four separate lab areas for microbiology, molecular biology, fermentation and lab support services. Dr Edward Green, CEO, comments “Although we are sad to be leaving the incubation centre, the move is a tremendous opportunity for GBL to expand. We have tripled our lab space, acquired a considerable amount of lab equipment and installed better IT systems. I would like to thank all the staff at the Oxford BioBusiness Centre for their support over the past two years and look forward to continued growth at Milton Park”