Top cleantech award for LanzaTech

NZ-founded biofuel and gasification developer LanzaTech has been named the top clean technology firm in North America in the annual Global Cleantech 100 ranking, and was also named the North American company of the year.

LanzaTech, which began in NZ but is in the process of moving its corporate headquarters to the United States, beat nearly 6000 companies to win the top ranking.

Featuring companies judged to be the best positioned to solve tomorrow’s technology challenges, the Global Cleantech 100 is a list of private companies considered most likely to make a significant market impact.

To qualify, companies must be independent, for-profit and be cleantech companies not yet listed on a major stock exchange.

Jennifer Holgrem, Lanzatech’s chief executive, said that the company considered itself “part of a new industrial revolution.”

“The incredible community of innovators and entrepreneurs convened by the Cleantech Group are committed to developing new solutions to address our current energy, climate and environmental challenges and we are honoured to be named among them,” she said.

This year, 5995 companies from 60 countries nominated for the Cleantech 100, with 327 companies then shortlisted by the specially convened Cleantech Expert Panel.

The Cleantech award is just the lastest accolade for LanzaTech, which has created unique technology which re-uses gas waste to make fuels and chemicals.

Earlier this year the company raised $US60 million in Series D funding, with leading Japanese conglomerate Mitsui investing US$20 million, with other investors including Siemens and the private equity fund for financial services giant China International Capital Corporation (CICC).

LanzaTech has a partnership with major Chinese steel maker Baosteel, and has successfully installed a pilot plan to produce fuel from gas at Baosteel plans outside of Shanghai.