Exhibit 99.1

Solazyme Reports First Quarter 2013 Results

Enters Agreement with AkzoNobel Targeting Surfactants and Coatings Markets

Commercial Production Facilities on Track

Further Expands Disruptive Technology Platform with New Oil Structuring Capability

South San Francisco, CA – May 8, 2013 – Solazyme, Inc. (NASDAQ: SZYM), a renewable oil and bioproducts company, announced today results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013.

“We are off to an excellent start in 2013 executing on our three primary focus areas: completing capacity projects on schedule; developing our portfolio of tailored oils; and bringing our tailored oils to market,” said Jonathan Wolfson, CEO of Solazyme. “In addition to the newly announced agreement with AkzoNobel, the first quarter included several important milestones such as our Mitsui partnership, our technology breakthrough that allows us to develop new structuring oils, and key financing achievements that support a clear path to commercialization. We remain on target to be in commercial production in multiple facilities by early 2014 and are excited about the opportunities ahead.”

Financial Results

Total revenue for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013 was $6.7 million compared with $13.6 million in the first quarter of 2012. Revenues in the first quarter of 2012 included $5.5 million in government funded revenues, which as expected did not recur during the first quarter of 2013. First quarter GAAP net loss attributable to Solazyme, Inc. common stockholders was $26.5 million, which compares with net loss of $16.8 million in the prior year period. On a non-GAAP basis, the net loss was $21.5 million for the first quarter of 2013, compared with net loss of $12.8 million in the prior year quarter. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is included below.

“We strengthened our financial position with over $250 million in new capital through a number of strategic initiatives including a successful convertible offering, a strategic project financing from the Brazilian Development Bank and a new credit facility with one of our commercial banking partners,” said Tyler Painter, CFO of Solazyme. “Our enhanced capital structure and operating flexibility position us well as we pursue a number of exciting opportunities for Solazyme.”

Recent Business Highlights

Conference Call

Solazyme will hold a conference call for investors on May 8, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. PT (4:30 p.m. ET). Investors may access the call by dialing 973-409-9250. A live webcast of the call will be available from the Investor Relations section of www.solazyme.com. A recording of the call will also be available by calling 404-537-3406; access code 43763171 beginning approximately two hours after the call, and will be available for one week. A webcast replay of the call will also be available from the Investor Relations section of www.solazyme.com approximately two hours after the call and will be available for up to thirty days.

About Solazyme, Inc.

Solazyme, Inc. (SZYM) is a renewable oil and bioproducts company that transforms a range of low-cost plant-based sugars into high-value oils. Headquartered in South San Francisco, Solazyme’s renewable products can replace or enhance oils derived from the world’s three existing sources – petroleum, plants and animal fats. Initially, Solazyme is focused on commercializing its products into three target markets: (1) chemicals and fuels, (2) nutrition and (3) skin and personal care.

Solazyme^®, the Solazyme logo and other trademarks or service names are trademarks of Solazyme, Inc.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes the following financial measure defined as a “non-GAAP financial measure” by the Securities and Exchange Commission: non-GAAP net loss. This measure may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. The presentation of this financial information, which is not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. For a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the nearest comparable GAAP measure, see “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Net-Loss Per Share” included in the tables to this press release.

This non-GAAP measure is provided to enhance investors’ overall understanding of Solazyme’s current financial performance and Solazyme’s prospects for the future. Specifically, Solazyme believes the non-GAAP measure provides useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses that may not be indicative of its core operating results and business outlook.

For its internal budgeting process, Solazyme’s management uses financial measures that do not include stock-based compensation expense or special expenses such as non-cash gains or losses due to warrant revaluations. In addition to the corresponding GAAP measures, Solazyme’s management also uses the foregoing non-GAAP measure in reviewing the financial results of Solazyme. Solazyme excludes stock-based compensation expenses and special non-cash charges from its non-GAAP measures primarily because they are non-cash expenses that management does not believe are reflective of ongoing operating results.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about Solazyme, including statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning: its commercialization plans and commercialization timetable for tailored oils; market opportunities; agreement on definitive supply terms for products, including selling prices for products; the capacity of planned facilities; the timetable for bringing facilities online; the ability to bring manufacturing facilities online with partners; the ability to

have access and/or continue to have access to manufacturing facilities constructed and/or owned by partners; development of additional tailored oils; meeting commercialization and technology targets; and Solazyme’s ability to maintain its relationships with its partners and customers. When used in this press release, the words “will”, “expects”, “intends” and other similar expressions and any other statements that are not historical facts are intended to identify those assertions as forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any such statement may be influenced by a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Solazyme, that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected, described, expressed or implied in this press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others: Solazyme’s limited operating history; its limited history in commercializing products; implementation risk in deploying new technologies; its limited experience in constructing and operating commercial manufacturing facilities; market acceptance of its products; its ability to sell its products at a profit; delays related to construction, start-up or funding of production facilities; its access to adequate supply of feedstock on favorable terms; its ability to manage operational costs at production facilities; its ability to enter into and maintain strategic collaborations, including the funding thereof; its ability to obtain requisite regulatory approvals; and its access, on favorable terms, to any required financing. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on the results of operations or financial condition of Solazyme.

In addition, please refer to the documents that Solazyme, Inc. files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, for a discussion of these and other risks. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Solazyme is not under any duty to update any of the information in this press release.

Contacts

Solazyme, Inc.

Corporate Communications:

Genet Garamendi

press@solazyme.com

Or

Jeff Majtyka

Brad Edwards

Brainerd Communicators, Inc.

212-986-6667

majtyka@braincomm.com

edwards@braincomm.com

SOLAZYME, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

In thousands, except per share amounts

(UNAUDITED)

SOLAZYME, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP BASIC NET LOSS PER SHARE

In thousands, except per share amounts

(UNAUDITED)

SOLAZYME, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

In thousands

(UNAUDITED)