News Article

Akermin gets $3 million grant from Department of Energy
Date: Oct 21, 2013
Source: bizjournals ( click here to go to the source)

Featured firm in this article: Akermin Incorporated of St. Louis, MO



Clean energy startup Akermin has received a $3 million research and development grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop technology to remove carbon dioxide from power plants.

The funding will be used to develop and test Akermin's second-generation approach that uses its proprietary Biocatalyst Delivery System. The work under this cooperative agreement will focus on post-combustion CO2 capture from fossil-fueled power plants.

"We have proven the technology with our previous work," Sean Black, vice president of business development, said. "This new grant will allow us to expand the development of our next generation."

Black said the grant could result in the hiring of one to two employees. Currently, Akermin has 16 employees located at BRDG Park at the Danforth Plant Science Center.

In 2010 the company won a $2.6 million grant from the Department of Energy. It also raised $1.5 million early this year from about 20 investors.

Akermin is led by President and CEO Barry Blackwell.