In 2008, Prof. Klaas Hellingwerf and Prof. Joost Teixeira de Mattos pooled their respective expertise to address climate change. They theorized it was possible to adapt cyanobacteria to synthesize ethanol. With the potential to create any carbon chemical. The real game-changer? Absorbing CO2. Based on cyanobacteria’s power to photosynthesize, the process the professors dreamt up uses CO2 as a feedstock while producing essential industrial compounds. Months of iteration in the lab led to success, our first patent and the birth of Photanol’s renewable revolution.

In order to nurture our circular ambitions, we needed to demonstrate commercial potential. Our technology must be capable of producing an entire platform of compounds. Transforming any chemical to a sustainable one. An early investment round allowed us to form a dedicated Photanol team to power the effort.

They validated that our first patent could lead to many more; enhancing cyanobacteria for 17 different products. We were officially in the business of restoring balance on our planet.

Early success delivered the perfect moment for a partner with a shared vision for circular chemistry. One with specific expertise and a commercial need. Corbion is a fermentation expert. They produce lactic acid from beet or cane sugar – the raw material needed for PLA (poly lactic acid used for biodegradable bioplastic).

The partnership with Corbion enabled us to focus on the develop of renewable lactic acid made directly from CO2. Using 24 times less land and 25 times less water than traditional equivalents.

A key ingredient in the global cosmetics industry, glycolic acid was our next target. To develop a circular solution in this field, we partnered with Nouryon. With two significant partners on board, proven scalability of both our circular organic acids - lactic and glycolic – became the key milestones at our debut pilot plants.

Fresh off the press in September 2020: We are live at our first Industrial Pilot plant in Delfzijl. Cyanobacteria have been set free across thousands of meters of tubing laid out in a controlled greenhouse optimised for process development. All with big thanks to funding from four new investors and H2020 Project RePLAy.

With Renolit joining the Photanol journey, we can bring circular innovation to yet another industry - healthcare. Renolit applies polymers in the global medical world and will iterate with Photanol tech to provide truly circular production of plastics (PP/PE) for this essential sector, as well as for the Renolit Group’s other applications.

Proving commercial viability is next. Photanol is a modular blueprint. Manufacturing capacity will increase to around 30,000 tons. A methodology that will enable Photanol to compete with non-renewable chemicals. Proving that sustainability isn’t second place to economic profit.

Our first commercial plant is planned to kick-off production in 2028. Rest assured, our upscaling teams are working hard to optimize and maximize production. Constantly iterating to evidence that Photanol is not only the most future-proof solution but also the solution with the lowest footprint of any sustainable option. Our economically sound business cases and new tech breakthroughs acting as instruments in our mission to restore balance to the planet, while powering the world.