Sunday, February 10, 2008

Coskata

Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge

'Coskata-Coatue' pronounced as "co-skate-uh co-too". This Wildlife Refuge is famous for its white-sand beaches, salt/sweet water, excellent fishing environment, oak woods and also historic light house. This is a natural and partially developed ecosystem that accommodates rare and diminishing habitats, plants, and birds.

This is the place that influenced the founders of Coskata Inc who were there for visit to Nantucket island. They were amazed by the beauty and natural wonder of this place. And this visit to the land refuge concluded as booster to their effort and inclination of preserving Mother Earth in though commercial but efficient way, so is the establishment of Coskata Inc to generate bio-fuels/ Ethanol under $1.00 per gallon (whoop) that too can be ported to any part of world and it can process any material as input which include waste materials, tyres too using their proprietary bio-reactor designs.

Coskata Inc. has made available the 3 step process of converting input material into Ethanol through first converting input material into synthesis gas, then deriving energy from oxidation of the converted gas (fermentation) and finally separation and recovery of Ethanol.

You see, there is a roaring concerns to the traditional auto car manufacturers. The concerns will mostly turn out as threats to their survival of business in next 20-30 years if they don't take necessary measures to tackle the major causes of concerns -
1. Depleting oil reserves : The OPEC still rules. Recently they have decided not to expand their capacity.
2. Increasing environmental awareness : World is becoming really worried about this. As one can see the thoughtful actions being taken by different country groups G7, EU, etc. WTO is working and establishing norms for countries involved in it.
3. Country specific economic preferences: Developed countries are encouraging the R&D efforts of Private players, entrepreneurs for finding alternatives to oils/gases and reduce dependence of third countries for oil import and ultimately reduce the trade deficit.

No wonder GM motors , Ford motors and now TATA motors, M&M in India have started emphasizing on environment friendly ways to drive/sustain their business in future. So it's clear that GM has extended strategic partnership with Coskata Inc. So are Khosla Ventures, Advance Technology Ventures and Great POoint Ventures.

Coskata claims to have their processes and bio-reactor design being validated by world class research labs, universities and companies. It has sought help of academicians from various universities.

Founded in 2006 by Todd Kimmel and Dr. Rathin Datta, the company has compiled a strong IP portfolio of patents, trade secrets, know-how and assembled a first-class management team ... Wow !! So in all this company, as experts are saying, will be bringing revolutionary changes in Ethanol industry.

Remember Vinod Khosla ? The same techie and businessman who was founder of Sun Microsystems is involved in Coskata through his ventureship.

Also we have Praj Industries which is one of the leaders in Indian Ethanol Processing industry and to an extent can be called successful one. So long way to go for Praj looking at the pace with which the companies in US are moving in Ethanol processing.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous1:09 pm

    check this out for more info.

    http://alfin2100.blogspot.com/2008/02/peak-oil-meet-moorella-and-her-friends.html

    ReplyDelete