What Happened?

About the Company

Joule has pioneered a CO2-to-fuel production platform, effectively reversing combustion through the use of solar energy. Free of feedstock constraints and complex processing, this platform can achieve unrivaled scalability, volumes and costs without the use of any agricultural land, fresh water or crops. Unlike products derived with complexity from petroleum or biomass, Joule Sunflow® products are produced in a direct, continuous process from abundant resources. The novel CO2-to-liquids conversion requires only sunlight, non-potable water and engineered bacteria that function as living catalysts to produce specific products, including ethanol and hydrocarbon fuels that are inherently compatible with existing infrastructure. Joule’s highly efficient process and production system are well suited for deployment around the world, unhindered by land or resource constraints. This uniquely modular system can achieve replicable productivity, whether installed across 100 or 1,000 acres, mitigating scale-up risks and ensuring stability of supply. At full-scale commercialization in ideal locations, the company ultimately targets 25,000 US gallons of Joule Sunflow®-E (solar ethanol) or 15,000 US gallons of Joule Sunflow®-D (solar diesel) per acre annually, for approximately $1.20/US gallon ($50/barrel). Joule has successfully pilot-tested its platform for over two years, initiated demonstration-scale operations, and assembled a specialized team to lay the groundwork for commercial deployment. The company is moving rapidly to commercialize Joule Sunflow-E, with Joule Sunflow-D and additional hydrocarbon fuels to follow. Joule is privately held and has raised approximately $200 million in funding to date. The company was founded within Flagship VentureLabs™, and operates out of Bedford, Massachusetts and The Hague, The Netherlands, with production operations in Hobbs, New Mexico.

About the Person

David Anton joined Joule in 2014 to lead the transition of the company's technology to commercialization. His relevant experience spans nearly 30 years, including five years at Codexis where he served as Senior Vice President of Bioindustrials, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Process Development & Manufacturing. During his tenure, he oversaw development and commercial application of the company's bioindustrial platform and led the global R&D manufacturing organization. Dr. Anton previously spent 25 years at DuPont in multiple senior management positions across bioprocessing and biocatalysis, including the role of global business lead for development of DuPont's advanced biofuel. He holds a BS in Biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota.