nexsteppe

NexSteppe Launches Purpose-Designed Crops for Biofuels, Biopower and Biobased Products

admin — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:53:05 +0000

NexSteppe Launches Purpose-Designed Crops for Biofuels, Biopower and Biobased Products

Malibu and Palo Alto Sorghum Hybrids Provide Scalable, Reliable, and Sustainable Feedstock Options for the Biobased Industries

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 16, 2013 – NexSteppe, a company dedicated to pioneering the next generation of sustainable feedstock solutions for the biobased industries, today announced the launch of its first sorghum hybrid products in the U.S. and in Brazil. NexSteppe’s new Malibu sweet sorghum hybrids and Palo Alto high biomass sorghum hybrids offer a tailored alternative for companies seeking a cost-effective feedstock solution for the production of advanced and cellulosic biofuels, biopower and biobased products.

Named for the city where the company was founded, NexSteppe’s Malibu sweet sorghum hybrids have been optimized to provide an easily accessible source of fermentable sugars for the production of advanced biofuels and biobased products. Malibu sweet sorghums can be used as a complement to sugarcane to provide additional feedstock for existing sugar-to-ethanol mills. Because of their lower water requirements, Malibu sweet sorghums can also provide a fermentable sugar feedstock in areas where sugarcane does not perform well. Our first generation of Malibu sweet sorghum hybrids is designed to provide a wide range of maturities to meet varying customer harvest-window profiles. Several of these hybrids were also selected for their yield performance in tropical short day-length environments to help enable year-round production.

Standing at 20 feet tall after only four months of growth, NexSteppe’s Palo Alto high biomass sorghum hybrids provide a high-yielding, low-cost biomass feedstock for biopower, including biogas, and cellulosic biofuels. Designed to have low moisture levels at maturity, Palo Alto high biomass sorghums significantly lessen the amount of water harvested, thereby reducing the harvest and transport costs that can be 50 percent or more of total delivered feedstock cost. Lower moisture levels also provide a higher effective energy density for combustion.

According to CEO, Anna Rath, “NexSteppe is singularly focused on bringing to market feedstock products that will enable the biobased industries to achieve scale, cost-effectiveness and sustainability. We believe these first products will play a critical role in enabling the continued development of these industries in both the U.S. and Brazil.”

Vice President of Breeding and Agronomy, Jerry O’Rear, adds “Through a combination of directed conventional breeding, marker-assisted breeding and cutting-edge analytical techniques, NexSteppe has developed and is continuously improving an elite germplasm collection. Our breeding efforts in Texas, Puerto Rico and Brazil, diverse field screening locations and advanced compositional analysis capabilities enable NexSteppe to develop hybrids specifically optimized for particular end-uses and key geographic regions.”

About NexSteppe
NexSteppe is dedicated to pioneering the next generation of scalable, reliable, cost-effective and sustainable feedstock solutions for the biofuels, biopower and biobased products industries. Through the development and commercialization of tailored crops and fully-integrated feedstock solutions, NexSteppe is laying a foundation for a more secure and sustainable future for our economy, our environment, and our energy supply. For more information, please visit www.nexsteppe.com.

Media Contacts:
Tracy Lash (U.S.)
+1 (650) 887-5717
tlash@nexsteppe.com

Sweet Sorghum (Portuguese)

admin — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:21:27 +0000

Next Generation BioFuels Feedstocks

Biomass and the Sugar Industry in Brazil’s Energy Matrix

admin — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 18:34:37 +0000

the role of biomass and the sugar industry in Brazil’s energy matrix

The world’s demand for energy is increasing rapidly – far more rapidly than the pace of population growth as increasing wealth and economic development are even greater drivers. This trend is occurring in Brazil at an even faster pace than the global average. Over just the past decade, Brazil’s energy consumption has increased by more than a third, making Brazil now the 9th largest consumer of energy in the world and 3rd largest in the western hemisphere. This is expected to continue, with Brazil increasing its energy consumption more than 50% by 2030.

The challenge is to meet this growing demand for energy in a reliable, scalable, cost-effective and sustainable manner. Several forms of renewable energy, from solar to wind to hydroelectricity already exist or are being developed to meet this challenge. All will be needed. There is one form, though, that is unique in its ability to provide everything from dependable heat and power to year-round, baseload (and also dispatchable) electricity to liquid transportation fuels and chemicals, all in a readily scalable manner. This source of renewable energy is biomass, and it is one for which Brazil is advantaged in climate, geography, infrastructure and know-how.

the Brazilian sugar industry has the opportunity to continue to play a leading role in meeting Brazil’s energy needs and serving as a leader in the global development of the biobased industries

Anna Rath CEO NexSteppe

Due to a combination of geography and policy, Brazil has developed a truly unique energy mix, with significant contributions from hydroelectricity, ethanol and biomass. This mix is not only unusual; it is also far more renewable and sustainable than that of other major economies. Unfortunately, Brazil’s current largest source of renewable electricity – hydroelectricity – has some inherent limits on scalability and is therefore projected to decline as a fraction of Brazil’s total energy production (despite increasing in absolute terms). In contrast, with Brazil’s signifi cant arable land and favorable growing conditions, biomass has the potential to play a substantially increased role in this mix over time.

Brazil’s sugar industry already plays a large role in Brazil’s overall energy matrix as a producer of ethanol. Because of this industry, Brazil has been a role model for the global development of the biobased industries (those industries working to replace the array of products currently generated from fossil feedstocks with alternatives derived from biomass feedstocks). Increasingly, Brazil’s sugar industry is capitalizing on its existing infrastructure and know-how and seizing the opportunity to play a broader role, both in domestic energy production as well as in the global biobased industries, as a producer of not only fi rst generation biofuels, but also power and electricity, second generation biofuels and other biobased products. This initiative is being aided by technology development on a number of fronts – from efficiency improvements in equipment and mill operations to new fermentation organisms capable of producing an array of fuel and chemical molecules to new crops that can extend mill operations and provide additional revenue streams. These new crops will enable an expanding the role for the sugar industry in Brazil’s energy matrix and beyond.

Purpose-Grown Crops: Biobased industries at scale are a relatively new phenomenon. Even in Brazil where the sugar to ethanol industry has existed for decades, the vast majority of the growth has come since the year 2000. Because they are new and still relatively small, the biobased industries have gotten started using wastes, residues (such as bagasse) and previously existing crops (such as sugarcane) that were developed for other purposes. None of these feedstocks were purpose-developed for these industries, so all have limitations, whether in availability, reliability, optimization for the process, geographic range, or input requirements. If the biobased industries are to reach the scale that Brazil and the world need, it will require a set of purpose-grown crops that have also been purpose-developed.

Key features of these crops will be potential for rapid and significant yield improvement (both field and processing), broad geographic range, and limited water and nutrient requirements. Sorghum, including both sweet sorghum as a source of fermentable sugars, and high biomass sorghum as a source of lignocellulosic biomass, is a crop that has these features, and is now being developed by NexSteppe and others to help enable the biobased industries.

First Generation Biofuels: Presently, most Brazilian sugar to ethanol mills operate only during the sugarcane harvest, from late March or April through late October or November. By planting sweet sorghum in November and harvesting in late February and March, sweet sorghum can provide “season extension” for the production of ethanol – a longer crushing season using the same land and equipment. In areas where mill operators cannot source enough sugarcane to be able to run the mill at capacity, sweet sorghum can also be planted as a second crop, following soybeans, to provide additional material for crushing during the traditional sugarcane crushing season.

Biopower: Using sugarcane bagasse to provide power to operate the sugar mill has long been a part of standard mill operation. In recent years, however, a number of mills have begun turning this bagasse into an additional revenue stream, either by generating renewable electricity that can be sold to the grid or by generating excess power that can be used by other, co-located industrial processes. As this opportunity has developed, leading mills have begun looking to supplement their biomass supply through the use of purpose-grown crops such as high biomass sorghum. High biomass sorghums optimized for biopower provide high yields of lignocellulosic biomass per hectare with relatively low moisture levels at harvest, reducing harvest and transport costs and improving the effective energy density of the crop. This storable biomass can be used both to provide feedstock for the boiler outside of the crushing season and to increase production from the boiler year-round.

Second Generation Biofuels: Brazil is showing itself to be a leader not just in first generation biofuels, but in second generation or cellulosic biofuels as well. Brazil’s favorable growing climate and experience with purpose-grown crops make it a natural location for these new processes. Some of the attributes of high biomass sorghum that make it an attractive biopower feedstock, such as reduced harvest and transport costs, make it a compelling crop for second generation biofuels as well. The ability to get multiple crops per year on the same land also helps make it a cost-effective solution.

With its advantages of significant available arable land, existing infrastructure and extensive experience with supply chains for purpose grown crops, the Brazilian sugar industry has the opportunity to continue to play a leading role in meeting Brazil’s energy needs and serving as a leader in the global development of the biobased industries. By providing increased operating efficiency, significantly expanded geographic range, and additional product and revenue streams, purpose-developed crops such as sweet and high biomass sorghum will play a key role in making this opportunity a reality.

Opinioes Sobre o Setor Sucroenérgetico
Jan-Mar 2013

Developing Sorghum as A Dedicated Energy Crop

admin — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 09:01:49 +0000

Developing Sorghum
as A Dedicated Energy Crop

Advances in DNA marker assisted breeding has created a perfect storm for the development of new, efficient and cost-effective feedstocks

As biofuel conversion technologies continue to advance, ever more emphasis is being placed on the feedstocks these processes will use. Ultimately, feedstock is the single largest cost driver for biofuels and, in many cases, the main barrier to cost competitiveness and scalability.
Enabling a substantial reduction in petroleum use for liquid fuels will require a variety of different types of biomass. Sorghum is emerging as an ideal candidate to meet a great portion of the biofuel industry’s growing needs. In addition to sorghum’s tremendous yield potential, it is also naturally tolerant to drought and heat and requires less fertiliser than corn, allowing it to be grown in areas with marginal rainfall, higher temperatures and with lower inputs.

Classical vs. Marker Assisted Breeding for recurrent backcrossing scheme. Classical Breeding Approach (left panels); Two parents are crossed to produce an F1 hybrid. The F1 is ‘back crossed’ to the desired parent background (P1) to select plants that most closely resemble the P1 parent but also contain a desired trait from P2. Marker Assisted Breeding Approach (right panels); The same backcrossing strategy is used but DNA markers are used to select for the chromosome region of interest from P2 (red line) while at the same time selecting for Parent 1 genome in all regions outside of the desired trait. DNA Marker analysis allows the selection of one individual with desired gene and little P2 genome for next cycle of backcrossing. White and black bars represent chromosomes and recombined chromosomes of Parent 1 and Parent 2

Sorghum’s relatively short growing season also makes it suitable for areas in colder climates with fewer growing days or for use in crop rotation systems. Sweet sorghum is a variety of sorghum with high sugar content in its stalk. It can be used as a complement to sugarcane in existing Brazilian sugar to ethanol mills, and as a feedstock for advanced biofuels and other bio-based products produced from sugars. High biomass sorghum is a highyielding crop that can be used as a feedstock for biopower and cellulosic biofuels.

One of sorghum’s most attractive characteristics is its potential for genetic improvement tailored to energy related uses. Compared to corn or soya, little effort has gone into the breeding and improvement of sorghum and, due to a variety of historically quirks, this is especially true for sweet and high biomass varieties. At the same time, as a seed propagated annually that has already been successfully hybridised, sorghum is on a much steeper curve in terms of rate of improvement due to the number of breeding cycles that can take place in a shorter time period compared to perennial and vegetatively propagated crops. The confluence of this potential with the application of modern biotechnology tools creates a phenomenal opportunity to develop a low cost, high yielding dedicated energy feedstock for both conventional fermentationbased approaches, as well as advanced cellulosic approaches to producing biofuels.

Feedstock developer NexSteppe is dedicated to developing and commercialising the crops and associated supply chain solutions necessary to enable the biofuels, biopower and bio-based product industries with optimal feedstocks. The company has a focus on sorghum and has built a library of germplasm sourced from public and private collections spanning the globe.

While NexSteppe is using conventional breeding techniques and cutting edge analytics to achieve this vision, a major catalyst to its business is the application of biotechnology in the form of marker assisted breeding. Through a partnership with DuPont Pioneer, NexSteppe has access to resources in marker assisted breeding technology which will accelerate the development of sorghum as a dedicated energy crop.

The introduction of DNA marker assisted breeding in plants over the past 20 years has led to a revolution in the way plant scientists and breeders approach the commercial development of improved breeding lines and crops. Classical breeding begins with the identification of varieties that contain desirable traits that a breeder wants to combine into a single, true breeding variety with improved characteristics.

Simple traits such as flower colour can be inherited in a simple fashion by single genes and more complex traits can be inherited through the action of many genes, such as grain yield and stress tolerance. Plant breeding seeks to make novel combinations of genes through genetic crossing (cross pollination) of different varieties followed by selection for the desired traits and counter-selection for unwanted traits. Selection has traditionally been done on visible or measurable traits called phenotypes.

While this process has been used to great success by breeders for many decades, it is very time and resource consuming. For example, traditional breeding schemes such as recurrent selection work by repeatedly crossing plants with desirable traits to one recurrent parent which has many desirable properties. In this way a valuable trait, such as disease resistance, from an otherwise inferior variety can by introduced (introgressed) into a high performing variety. This type of programme can take many years to accomplish by phenotypic selection. This is in large part because the phenotypes of interest may not be readily visible in the first generation, thus requiring the advancement of all of the progeny from a particular genetic cross to second and third generations before selections can begin.

In large-scale breeding programmes, with many traits under selection in multiple environments, this will result in large numbers of plants being grown and phenotyped, only a few of which will be advanced. Another obvious limitation is that the genes responsible for the traits of interest remain unknown. Therefore, further introgression of a desired trait from one inbred to another can again only be accomplished by extensive grow outs and visual selection.

Marker assisted breeding directly addresses these issues and allows breeders to observe gene segregation in their material and select for desirable genes while at the same time counter selecting for undesirable genes. The ability to make selections early in the growth cycle dramatically reduces costs and increases the number of traits that can be simultaneously bred. In addition, unlike phenotypic markers, molecular markers are not influenced by the environment, and can be reliably scored in every plant under observation.

Modern marker assisted breeding relies on the identification and development of a large number of molecular markers in the plant genome of interest. Molecular markers are differences in a DNA sequence between two individual plants and provide a ‘road map’ to the plant genome that allows breeders to follow the segregation of genes in a genetic cross (for example, parents and progeny in a genetic breeding programme).

These differences can take several forms including DNA nucleotide insertions, deletions, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) among others. DNA polymorphisms serve as landmarks in the genome and behave as simple Mendelian genetic factors. As a result, their position on a genetic map, relative to one another and to a trait of interest, can be measured using standard genetic segregation analysis.

A critical aspect to effectively employ marker technology relates to the density of markers across a genome and the ease and cost of measuring (assaying) the genetic value at each marker location. Since the advent of whole genome sequencing in the late 90s, the cost of developing markers has decreased exponentially. Likewise the development of new high throughput genotyping systems has dramatically increased the speed and accuracy of assaying DNA markers. These advancements allow molecular biologists to develop marker systems that provide high genetic resolution and rapid assay readouts so that breeders can make selections early in the growth cycle and therefore only focus on the plants of interest.

The application of genomic methods to plant systems has also allowed whole genome sequencing of multiple cereals including sorghum, maize and rice. Bioinformatic analysis of the genomes of cereal species reveals a high degree of chromosomal synteny or genetic colinerairty between distant species. This means that genetic information from one crop can often be leveraged in another crop, further increasing the power of genetic analysis available to molecular biologists and breeders.

The revolution continues with the development of sophisticated statistical analysis to analyse population structure to identify closely related breeding populations and the application of methods such as Genome Wide Association Mapping to identify genes underlying complex quantitative traits. As marker density and statistical analysis continue to advance, the prospect of using genomic selection to predict phenotypes based on genomic marker information will further increase the speed and accuracy of molecular breeding.

Beyond the technical advantages of marker assisted breeding over transgenic approaches, there are also a number of practical and commercial advantages. Among them are cost and regulatory certainty. Sorghums are naturally outcrossing grasses with many close cousins that could be considered, at best, nuisances and at worst invasive species. To date, while transgenic approaches have the potential to confer significant advantages to crops like sorghum, as they have for corn and soya, the first step to any successful deregulation of said traits will be a robust gene-flow control strategy.

Efforts are underway at the research level to develop such a technology, but if history is any guide this process can take many years, perhaps a decade or more. Further, even after an effective genetic containment strategy is in place, deregulation of even core traits is a process that costs tens, if not hundreds, of million dollars and can take many years. This time and expense is exclusive of the investment required to actually develop the relevant traits, which is not only expensive but risky.

While there are differing views on the future of regulation of transgenes in non-food crops, it is fair to say there is tremendous uncertainty and significant risk in assuming a smooth path forward on this dimension. In comparison, marker assisted breeding is cheaper, faster, and more reliable and comes with none of the regulatory headaches associated with transgenic approaches.

It is clear that many challenges lie ahead for the development of robust bioenergy feedstocks that will help the US and other countries reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. While there are many biofuel feedstocks and processes under development, sorghum represents an attractive nearterm dedicated feedstock that will benefit greatly from recent advances in marker assisted breeding and genomic science.

Bioenergy Insight
Jan-Mar 2013

NexSteppe Named to Global Cleantech 100 List

admin — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 19:47:42 +0000

South San Francisco, California – October 2nd, 2012
NexSteppe, a company dedicated to pioneering the next generation of sustainable feedstock solutions for the biofuels, biopower and biobased products industries, has been named to the 2012 Global Cleantech 100, produced by Cleantech Group, a leading global research and advisory firm focused on innovation in energy and the environment.

The Global Cleantech 100 list is unique in the sector because it highlights the promise of private clean technology companies from all around the world, focusing on those companies which the players in the market feel are currently the most likely to make the most significant market impact over the next 5-10 years. The list is derived from Cleantech Group’s own data and research combined with the weighted qualitative judgments of hundreds of nominations and the viewpoints of a global panel of 75 cleantech experts.

DuPont-NexSteppe

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:30:07 +0000

Contacts:

DuPont

Jane Bachmann
+1-515-535-4923
jane.bachmann@pioneer.com

NexSteppe

Tracy Lash
+1-650-887-5716
tlash@nexsteppe.com

DuPont and NexSteppe to Collaborate on New Feedstocks for Renewable Industry
Collaboration Aimed at Development of New Sweet Sorghum and High Biomass Sorghum Hybrids

DES MOINES, Iowa, and MALIBU, Calif., Jan. 4, 2012 – DuPont and NexSteppe have entered into a collaboration to develop advanced feedstocks for biofuels, biopower and biobased products. The collaboration will focus on the development of new sweet sorghum and high biomass sorghum hybrids which will create additional feedstock options for these rapidly evolving industries.

Under the agreement, DuPont has made an equity investment in NexSteppe, and through its Pioneer Hi-Bred business, will provide knowledge, resources and advanced technologies to help the company accelerate the breeding and commercialization of new hybrids of these crops in the United States and Brazil.

“We’re using science-based innovation and collaboration to develop scalable, sustainable feedstock options for the biobased industries,” said John Bedbrook, vice president for DuPont Agricultural Biotechnology. “Collaborations like this one with NexSteppe will provide new opportunities for growers to address the rising demand for secure, environmentally sustainable and affordable alternatives to fossil fuels.”

Anna Rath, NexSteppe founder and CEO, said, “Sorghum is a crop with significant genetic diversity and great potential that has received relatively little research attention and funding. Combining DuPont’s world-class research and development capabilities with our industry knowledge, experienced team and singular focus, we will be able to rapidly improve the crop to produce feedstocks tailored to the needs of the biofuels, biopower and biobased products industries.”

Sorghum is naturally drought- and heat-tolerant and has the ability to grow in marginal rainfall areas with high temperatures where it is difficult to grow other crops. It has a relatively short growing season and is suitable for crop rotation systems. Sorghum is increasingly grown as a source of feedstock for industrial value chains. Sweet sorghum can be used as a complement to sugarcane in existing Brazilian sugar to ethanol mills, and as a feedstock for advanced biofuels and other biobased products produced from sugars. High Biomass Sorghum is a high-yielding crop that can be used as a feedstock for biopower and cellulosic biofuels. DuPont, through its Industrial Biosciences business, operates and develops industrial processes that use sugar as a feedstock.

NexSteppe is dedicated to pioneering the next generation of scalable, reliable, cost-effective and sustainable feedstock solutions for the biofuels, biopower and biobased products industries. Through the development and commercialization of tailored crops and fully integrated feedstock solutions, NexSteppe is laying a foundation for a more secure and sustainable future for our economy, our environment and our energy supply. For additional information, please visit www.nexsteppe.com.

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, is the world’s leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries. Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere. Science with Service Delivering Success™.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit
www.dupont.com.

# # #

1/4/12

The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™ and Science with Service Delivering Success™ are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates. The NexSteppe logo and NexSteppe™ are trademarks of NexSteppe.

Media Inquiries:
(415) 967-0525
media@nexsteppe.com

NexSteppe Raises $14 Million In Series B Funding Round

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:52:26 +0000

NexSteppe Raises $14 Million In Series B Funding Round

Braemar Energy Ventures Leads Round

Malibu, Califórnia – December 21, 2011 – NexSteppe, a company dedicated to pioneering the next generation of sustainable feedstock solutions for the biofuels, biopower and biobased products industries, today announced raising $14M in its second round of funding.

The biobased industries that NexSteppe’s products serve are experiencing rapid growth driven by volatile fossil fuel prices, a desire for energy security, and growing concerns about the environmental impacts of fossil fuel use. Sugars and biomass from NexSteppe’s tailored crops can be processed by biorefineries, sugar to ethanol mills, and coal or biomass-fired power plants into a myriad of products ranging from fuels to power to plastics to cosmetics. While each application has its unique feedstock requirements, they all require scalable, reliable and sustainable feedstocks that won’t negatively impact the environment or the world’s food supply. Dedicated crops, optimized for these applications, hold the promise for bioenergy and biobased products to become mainstream, sustainable solutions. NexSteppe is focused on developing these crops, as well as the supply chains that will enable their widespread adoption.

The company will use the proceeds from the round to scale up its sweet sorghum, high biomass sorghum and switchgrass breeding programs, and to advance its first products toward commercialization. According to NexSteppe founder and CEO, Anna Rath, “NexSteppe has assembled a world class team that brings to this industry a new level of operational experience and commercial orientation. We look forward to working with our customers to solve their feedstock problems and meet their feedstock needs.”

The new round of funding was led by Braemar Energy Ventures, a leading energy venture capital firm with a strong portfolio of investments in alternative energy and energy efficiency. In connection with Braemar’s investment in NexSteppe, Dennis Costello, Partner at Braemar Energy Ventures, has joined the company’s Board of Directors.

”We have long believed that feedstock is a critical component in the value chains for biofuels and biobased products. We view NexSteppe’s strategy of focusing on dedicated crops produced from seed, some of which can offer drop-in solutions in existing value chains, as a winning one,” said Dennis Costello. “The combination of the management team’s experience and focus makes the company attractive. We are excited about the prospects for growth in this sector and are pleased to be on this path with NexSteppe.”

Braemar was joined by returning investors CYM Ventures and Zygote Ventures among others. CYM Ventures is the investment company of a third generation, family-owned and operated agricultural business in Asia. CYM is committed to the belief that agriculture will play a vital role in the coming years, to provide for the needs of an ever growing world. Zygote Ventures is a privately held seed/angel venture capital fund that invests very early in innovative technology enterprises. Zygote is run by principal Jerry Fiddler, Chairman of Solazyme and founder of Wind River.

About Braemar Energy

Braemar Energy Ventures is a venture capital fund making early to mid-stage investments in the energy technology sector. The firm’s principals have invested in more than 50 companies in the sector and have significant technical, operational and financial experience in energy and energy-related industries. Through offices in New York and Boston, the firm targets a wide range of energy technologies that impact stationary power, transportation and portable energy applications. Additional information is available at www.braemarenergy.com.

The NexSteppe logo and NexSteppe™ are trademarks of NexSteppe.

Media Contacts:
Tracy Lash
NexSteppe
(650) 887-5716
tlash@nexsteppe.com

Vu Chung
Braemar – CJP Communications
(212) 279-3115 ext 205
vchung@cjpcom.com