Creating a new industry

Cellana was established in 2007 as a joint venture between Shell and HR BioPetroleum to develop technology for the sustainable and commercial production of biofuels and animal feed from algae.

Cellana operates a pilot facility on Hawaii’s Big Island in the US to grow non-modified, marine microalgae species in a hybrid system taking the best of photo bioreactors and open-air ponds using Cellana’s proprietary technology. Cellana also incorporates a global academic research program and network of leading engineers, focusing on lowering production costs through engineering research and yield improvement.

Algae hold great promise as a sustainable and commercial feedstock because they grow rapidly, are rich in vegetable oil and can be cultivated in seawater, minimizing the use of fertile land and fresh water. Algae require only sunlight, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nutrients to grow and algae technology can produce net energy through the take-up of solar energy.

Cellana is working towards scalable, large-scale production of commercial volumes of sustainable biofuels from algal oil, as well as animal feed from the remaining protein and carbohydrates. Because the entire algae biomass can be used for biofuels and animal feed, the production process can be tailored and scaled to reflect changing markets.