The biofuels industry in California is dynamic and multi-faceted, housing some of the most innovative companies focused on sustainable energy solutions. These organizations produce a range of bioenergy products from renewable natural gas to biodiesel and wood pellet fuel, which significantly contribute to emissions reduction. By participating in this thriving industry, these businesses are not just carving a niche for themselves but also fostering a sustainable future. As California continues its quest to lessen its carbon footprint, the biofuels industry is poised to chart new paths with its diverse and eco-friendly energy solutions.


Top 19 biofuels companies in California

1. Clean Energy

  • Website: cleanenergyfuels.com
  • Headquarters: Newport Beach, California, United States
  • Founded: 1997
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Latest funding type: Post Ipo Debt
  • LinkedIn

Clean Energy Fuels is a company that produces and sells renewable natural gas, a clean alternative fuel. They help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide sustainable energy solutions for various industries.


2. Rentech

  • Website: rentechinc.com
  • Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Founded: 1981
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • Latest funding type: Post Ipo Equity
  • LinkedIn

Rentechinc is a company specializing in biofuels and renewable energy solutions. They offer a wide range of products and services including bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas, and wood pellet fuel. Invest in their biofuel solutions to promote a greener alternative and reduce living expenses.


3. Gna

  • Website: gladstein.org
  • Headquarters: Santa Monica, California, United States
  • Founded: 1993
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • LinkedIn

Gladstein Neandross & Associates (GNA) is a clean transportation and energy consulting firm that helps clients build the market for advanced transportation technologies and clean fuels. With over 25 years of experience, GNA provides market analysis, development, and strategic guidance to drive a more sustainable future.


4. Viridos

  • Website: viridos.com
  • Headquarters: La Jolla, California, United States
  • Founded: 2005
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • LinkedIn

Viridos is a company focused on advanced biofuel technology using biotechnology to mitigate climate change. They have optimized microalgae's ability to produce oil for biofuel to unprecedented levels.


5. Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc.

  • Website: fulcrum-bioenergy.com
  • Headquarters: Pleasanton, California, United States
  • Founded: 2007
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Latest funding type: Series Unknown
  • LinkedIn

Fulcrum BioEnergy is a clean energy company that is pioneering the creation of renewable, drop-in transportation fuels from landfill waste. They are committed to making waste to fuels a reality and investing in communities across the U.S. They have established strategic partnerships with industry leaders in waste services, aviation, fuel logistics, and energy, and are backed by leading financial institutions in renewable infrastructure.


6. New Leaf Biofuel

New Leaf Biofuel is a company that strives to make a positive impact on the world. They offer biodiesel production services and aim to make it easy for businesses to go green. They prioritize safety and teamwork in their operations.


7. Oberon Fuels

  • Website: oberonfuels.com
  • Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States
  • Founded: 2010
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Latest funding type: Corporate Round
  • LinkedIn

Oberon Fuels is a company that specializes in developing ultra low-carbon or carbon-negative fuels as alternatives to fossil fuels. They offer cost-effective and sustainable fuel options that can be produced from various waste streams. Their renewable Dimethyl Ether (rDME) fuel is a low-carbon, zero-soot alternative to petroleum diesel and can also serve as a carrier for hydrogen. Oberon Fuels is committed to decarbonizing the transportation sector and providing practical pathways to zero-emission mobility.


8. Propel Fuels

  • Website: propelfuels.com
  • Headquarters: Sacramento, California, United States
  • Founded: 2004
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Latest funding type: Series D
  • LinkedIn

Propel is a company that offers fuels, including renewable fuels and Flex Fuel E85, as well as wholesale fuel supply services. They provide clean and sustainable fuel options for vehicles, catering to fleet and commercial customers. Propel also has a mobile app called CleanDrive® for tracking carbon impact and finding fuel locations.


9. Byogy Renewables

  • Website: byogy.com
  • Headquarters: San Jose, California, United States
  • Founded: 2006
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

Byogy is a renewable energy company that offers a sustainable solution to reducing global CO2 emissions. Using its patented technology, the company produces renewable synthetic hydrocarbons from ethanol, which can be used as a complete replacement for petroleum-based jet fuel.


10. Corn Oil One

Corn Oil ONE® provides a highly sought-after refined corn oil that delivers all the advantages of a soybean oil, transforming a crude commodity into a valuable feedstock for the biodiesel industry.


11. Earthanol

  • Website: earthanol.com
  • Headquarters: Irvine, California, United States
  • Founded: 2003
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Latest funding type: Series A

Earthanol is a renewable energy company that produces biofuels from sustainable sources such as waste, grasses, and grains. We are committed to reducing the carbon footprint and promoting sustainable living.


12. San Diego Regional Clean Cities Coalition

  • Website: sdcleancities.org
  • Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States
  • Headcount: 51-200

San Diego Clean Cities offers training opportunities for alternative fuel vehicles, creates reports of alternative fuel stations and prices, and develops public and private partnerships to reduce petroleum use in San Diego.


13. Aemetis

  • Website: aemetis.com
  • Headquarters: Cupertino, California, United States
  • Founded: 2006
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Latest funding type: Post Ipo Debt
  • LinkedIn

Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis is an advanced renewable fuels and biochemicals company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of innovative technologies that replace traditional petroleum-based products by the conversion of second-generation ethanol and biodiesel plants into advanced biorefineries. Founded in 2006, Aemetis owns and operates a 60 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in California’s Central Valley, near Modesto. Aemetis also owns and operates a 50 million gallon per year renewable chemical and advanced fuel production facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin for customers in India, the US and Europe. Aemetis operates a research and development laboratory at the Maryland Biotech Center, and holds a portfolio of patents and related technology licenses for the production of renewable fuels and biochemicals. For additional information about Aemetis, please visit www.aemetis.com.


14. Supreme Oil Co.

  • Website: supremeoil.com
  • Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States
  • Founded: 1939
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • LinkedIn

Supreme Oil Co. is a leading distributor of petroleum and renewable fuels in the south-western United States, with over 75 years of experience. They offer branded franchise relationships, onsite fueling logistics, unbranded trading operations, and renewable fuels.


15. Alternative Energy Blog

  • Website: alt-e.blogspot.com
  • Headquarters: Big Bear Lake, California, United States
  • Headcount: 1-10

The company aims to sell power to mining companies ""simply because miners are energy hogs. The average mine has operating costs that are 20% energy-related. They all have the same requirements, which is a stable and guaranteed source of energy at a reasonable price, and wind does that,"" Logan said. Within four years Protocol aims to generate 400-500MW of wind, geothermal, biomass and run-of-the-river hydro power through its global endeavors, which have an initial focus in Latin America.


16. Global Renwable Energy

Global Renewable Energy, Ltd. (GRE) was born out of partnering relationships between our leaders that have been sustained over two decades. Many of these partnering relationships dramatically impact the Mission of GRE today. For example: R. David Kelley (then President of Kvaerner Process Services Inc.) and Fred E. Rice (an architect and master planner as well as the President of Mandate International) partnered with notable companies such as Mitsubishi North America, KPMG Caribbean and Pagebrook to develop the Turks and Caicos Cruise Port - the project that permitted the Island of La Gonave to be introduced to GRE management. Dwayne Lee (then the Director of the Infrastructure Division of the Parsons Corporation), R. David Kelley (then President of Kvaerner Process Services Inc.), Fred E. Rice (then President of Mandate International) and the Prince Turki bin Abulah bin Abulahziz (the son of the current King of Saudi Arabia) created a partnering business relationship to market and promote an Israeli desalinization technology. These efforts led to the development of the revolutionary known as the APS Technology. R. David Kelley (then President of Kvaerner Process Services Inc.) and Fred E. Rice (then President of Mandate International) created a partnering relationship with APS Techniques to develop what is now known as the APS Technology--- a technology that may have a disruptive impact on over 300 processes and the following industries: desalinization; waste treatment; chemical separation; metals; mining; oil; gas; pharmaceuticals; medical; pulp and paper; steel and utilities. GRE intends to develop the first plants utilizing this technology on La Gonave. R. David Kelley (then President of Kvaerner Process Services Inc.) and Fred E. Rice (then President of Mandate International) worked with Argonne National Laboratory to develop a world changing building material presently known as Caicoscrete. This technology would permit this construction material (much advanced over concrete) to be put in place for much ...


17. e4 | Advanced Transportation Center of Southern California

Your one stop resource for advanced transportation information! The e4 | Advanced Transportation Center of Southern California serves as the advanced transportation industry resource for the region. The Center was designated by the California Energy Commission and covers the counties of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino.


18. Gekko Engineering Inc

Gekko Engineering Inc is an engineering and design services company specializing in various industries including power generation, pharmaceutical and fine chemical, refining, aerospace and defense, oil and gas, environmental and regulatory, and renewable energy. They offer a range of services including civil and structural engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, instrumentations, process and hydraulics, lift plans, fracture mechanics, blast retrofit and mitigation, and turnaround and maintenance assistance.


19. GeoGreen Biofuels, Inc.

  • Website: geogreen.com
  • Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Founded: 2007
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

Located just a few miles south of downtown Los Angeles in Vernon, CA, GeoGreen operates an efficient, modern plant which produces biodiesel for use as a transportation fuel. GeoGreen's current production strategy is focused on biodiesel from various agricultural oils and biogenic waste oils including recycled vegetable oil. Although, the company has the production capability and flexibility to produce biodiesel from many other sources including algal oil and other non-food based triglycerides. Home 1


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