Visit Comes Days After Advanced Biofuels Leader Signs Contract to Develop Navy Fuels from Algae, Contract Signifies Big R&D and Commercialization Leap Forward for Solazyme’s Renewable Oil Production Platform

South San Francisco, CA – September 18, 2009 – Solazyme, Inc., the renewable oil production company and leader in algal synthetic biology, welcomed California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and French Secretary of Overseas Trade Anne-Marie Idrac for an up close look at its cutting edge, advanced biofuels and renewable oils technology.

Solazyme is a leading next generation renewable oil and bioproducts company developing a variety of drop-in-replacement low carbon renewable fuels, including Soladiesel® diesel fuels and SolaHR_Jet^TM aviation fuels. The company utilizes an innovative "indirect photosynthesis" algae cultivation technology, in which the algae is grown in the dark by being fed a variety of non-food biomass feedstocks. This allows the fuels and oils to be produced cleanly, rapidly and at large scale using pre-existing standard industrial fermentation equipment. Solazyme is also using this technology to develop nutrition, personal care, and chemical products.

"We are honored by the support we have received from Gov. Schwarzenegger and the state of California for its ambitious efforts to reduce carbon emissions and protect our planet," said Harrison Dillon, Solazyme’s co-founder and Chief Technology Officer. "The Governor is a true leader on mitigating climate change and we thank him for enhancing California’s role as a global leader. I would also like to congratulate him on his recent executive order increasing the state renewable portfolio standard to 33 percent – a noteworthy change."

"We also are honored by Minister Idrac’s visit and look forward to continuing our discussions on expanding trade and commercial contacts between our company and French companies on clean technology," Dillon added.

In recent weeks Solazyme has received several research and development grants from the U.S. Department of Defense and the State of California.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awarded Solazyme $8.5 million to research, develop, and demonstrate large scale production of algae-derived advanced low-carbon biofuels that meets the United States Navy’s rigorous specifications for military tactical platforms. Solazyme will utilize its technology to provide renewable Soladiesel®_F-76, F-76 Naval Distillate fuel for testing and fuel certification to demonstrate it meets all military specifications and functional requirements. F-76 Naval Distillate is similar to diesel fuel and is the primary shipboard fuel used by the Navy. Along with an R&D component, this award calls for delivery over 20,000 gallons of fuel for testing and certification.

"The fuels made with our algal technology reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 85% versus standard petroleum based fuels," said Jonathan Wolfson, Solazyme’s CEO. "We are honored to be working with the U.S. Navy to develop one of the world’s newest and cleanest fuels."

Solazyme’s technology will help the DoD reduce its carbon footprint, combat global climate change and lead in the development of clean and renewable energy sources. Reducing our dependence on foreign oil is a national security imperative, and Solazyme’s technology focuses on producing an abundant, domestic and renewable source for oil and fuels. Solazyme has already produced Soladiesel®_F-76 that has been delivered to the Department of Defense for initial testing and has met the Navy’s F-76 specification. This program will lead to the eventual certification of Soladiesel®_F-76 Naval distillate for commercial sale to the U.S. Military.

In addition, last month, Solazyme was awarded a $789,697 California Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) grant for Biosynthetic Transportation Fuel Production. The award will further Solazyme's research and development of clean, renewable fuels from cellulosic feedstocks with associated economic benefits and local employment opportunities.

In July 2009 BusinessWeek magazine named Solazyme as one of the top 25 companies to watch in the bioenergy field and in September Solazyme was named as one of the U.K. Guardian newspaper’s Cleantech 100.

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About Solazyme:
Solazyme, Inc. is a renewable oil and bioproducts company and the leader in algal biotechnology. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in South San Francisco, Solazyme’s unique technology allows algae to produce oil and biomaterials in standard fermentation facilities quickly, efficiently and at large scale. These natural oils and biomaterials are tailored not only for fuel production, but also as replacements for fossil-derived petroleum and a variety of natural plant oils and compounds, making them useful in a wide range of products: from oleochemicals, to cosmetics, to foods. Solazyme’s oils and fuels provide compelling solutions to increasingly complex issues of fuel scarcity, energy security and environmental impact while fitting cleanly into the pre-existing multi-trillion dollar fuel infrastructure. Solazyme’s investors include Braemar Energy Ventures, Harris & Harris Group, Lightspeed Venture Partners, The Roda Group, and Vantage Point Venture Partners. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.solazyme.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
In California:
Genet Garamendi
Solazyme Inc.
650-963-5228
ggaramendi@solazyme.com