Oilgae Blog - The Latest from the World of Algae Fuels
CPI and Arup to try Algae Based Carbon-di-oxide Sequestration
You are at: Oilgae Blog.The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) in Redcar has linked up with engineering giant Arup by growing algae, which naturally draws in carbon dioxide, and using it to produce environmentally friendly products.
Both CPI and Arup believe the plant, which could also produce a rich compost and a non-chemical soil conditioner for crop production, has the potential to reduce the carbon dioxide that power plants emit by 70% to 80%, and dramatically reduce their carbon footprint.
Dr. Graham Hillier, low carbon energy director at CPI,said, "We are planning a rapid research and development programme to move the concept from small-scale testing to larger scale demonstration. We are also looking at ways of integrating the processes into existing power supply and waste management systems."
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Cana Algae for Venice? - Enalg, Italy is Going to Try
You are at: Oilgae Blog.“Sargassum muticum” and “Undaria pinnatifida” are the names of two kinds of algae brought by the ships coming from Japan and the Sargassi sea. The algea grows over the seaport of Venice, causing problems for gondolas and ferry boats. But today it could be turned into a resource.
Italy recently announced a 200 million euro eco-friendly project to harvest the prolific seaweed that lines Venice’s canals and transform it into emissions-free energy. The idea is to set up a power plant fuelled by algae, the first facility of its kind in Italy. The plant, to be built in collaboration with renewable energy services company Enalg, will be operative in two years and will produce 40 megawatts of electricity, equivalent to half of the energy required by the entire city centre of Venice.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation-Power-Plants, Algae-Energy-Companies
GreenFuel Cuts Staff, Outsources Aurantia Cement Factory Project
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Algae biofuel outfit GreenFuel Technologies has laid off 19 people, or about half of its staff, another sign of the difficulty that fledgling alternative fuels face.
A company representative confirmed the staff reduction on Monday and said one of GreenFuel's two major customers--the Aurantia cement factory in Spain--remains a customer.
GreenFuel has developed a method for growing and harvesting algae in a greenhouse.
Company CEO Simon Upfill-Brown, who was recruited last year from Dow Chemical to head the 8-year-old firm, told Xconomy that the engineering for its Spanish deal, previously estimated at $92 million, will be outsourced.
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Labels: Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Cultivation-Power-Plants, Algae-Energy-Companies
Algae CO2 growth trials to be carried out at coal-burning plant
You are at: Oilgae Blog. See the complete list of Oilgae Blog articles.Algae CO2 growth trials to be carried out at coal-burning plant
GreenFuel Technologies Corp. and Arizona Public Service Co. announced that emission-fed algae from a natural gas plant showed biomass growth rates 37 times higher than corn and 140 times higher than soybeans. GreenFuel's algae farms reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions from industrial facilities while producing high yield biofuel and feed.
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Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again
Labels: Algae-Cultivation-Power-Plants
Use algae for biofuel @ Monona Bay - A Letter to Editor
You are at: Oilgae Blog. See the complete list of Oilgae Blog articles.Use algae for biofuel @ Monona Bay
One Frank Furillo from Stoughton thas this to say in his letter to the editor of Capital Times, Madison
"
A letter to the editor — 11/10/2007 9:05 am
Dear Editor: The "blue green" algae in our lakes and Monona Bay is especially high in oils used for biofuel. Higher, in fact, than rapeseed oil, and other high-quality biomass products. So, DUH!
Not only that, but in the winter we could use the emissions from the MGE plant as nutrients, and grow algae at the plant. Grow biofuel, scrub dangerous emissions. The classic no-brainer.
We put a plant on Monona Bay, and eliminate the transport cost, while providing a clean water ski area not seen since the early '80s. We could then save our corn for the cows.
Frank Furillo, Stoughton"
Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again
Labels: Algae-Cultivation-Power-Plants
The use of simulated flue gas as a feedstock for the growth of microalgae
You are at: Oilgae Blog. See the complete list of Oilgae Blog articles.Do you know that oil derived from algae is an exciting renewable fuel possibility? - see Oilgae for more.
The use of simulated flue gas as a feedstock for the growth of microalgae
Zeiler, KG; Heacox, DA; Toon, ST; Brown, LM PHYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA. PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1995 MEETING HELD IN BRECKENRIDGE, 6-10 AUGUST 1995. suppl uppl, 9 p. Journal of Phycology [J. PHYCOL.]. Vol. 31, suppl uppl.
Carbon dioxide is the major feedstock for the growth of photosynthetic microorganisms and has been identified as the primary contributor to the cost of microalgal mass culture. Fossil fuel-fired power plant flue gas can provide a point source of carbon dioxide for a microalgal mass culture facility and large amounts of CO sub(2) could be trapped using this technology. A major question for this process is whether or not microalgal species can tolerate the high levels of carbon dioxide, as well as other pollutants, in flue gas. We report here that at least one species of green microalgae, Monoraphidium minutum, is tolerant to the levels of carbon dioxide, nitric oxide and sulfur dioxide present in Clean Air Act 1990 simulated flue gas. Cultures of M. minutum were able to grow equally well whether exposed to simulated flue gas containing 13.6% CO2, 150 ppm NO and 200 ppm SO2 or to control gas lacking the NO and SO2. Growth of M. minutum was very good (2g/L ash-free dry weight final accumulation in batch culture) when exposed to simulated flue gas and grown in either 10% Artificial Sea Water (ASW) or in a defined medium analogous to saline ground water (roughly equivalent to similar to 30% ASW). It appeared that the cultures were able to assimilate nitrogen oxides arising as a result of exposure to the simulated flue gas, as well. The pH of the cultures was unchanged after the first 24 h of growth in either simulated flue gas or control gas, suggesting that under these conditions SO sub(2) does not significantly contribute to the acidity of the culture. Varying the delivery schedule, although not the total amount of gas, did not result in any significant changes in accumulation of biomass. Current efforts are directed at identifying other classes and species of microalgae tolerant to simulated flue gas which may be useful for the production of commodity chemicals such as biodiesel, other high value products, or co-combusted for power generation.
Descriptors: {Q1}; pollution control; carbon dioxide; growth; biotechnology; algal culture; {Q2}; Monoraphidium minutum
Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog; The complete list of Oilgae Blog articles.
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
About Oilgae - Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general. Algae present an exciting possibility as a feedstock for biodiesel, and when you realise that oil was originally formed from algae - among other related plants - you think "Hey! Why not oil again from algae!"
Labels: Algae-Cultivation-Power-Plants
CO2 fixation by microalgae photosynthesis using flue gas from a boiler
You are at: Oilgae Blog. See the complete list of Oilgae Blog articles.Do you know that oil derived from algae is an exciting renewable fuel possibility? - see Oilgae for more.
Carbon dioxide fixation by microalgae photosynthesis using actual flue gas discharged from a boiler
From the Energy Citations Database, Office of Scientific & Technical Info, Govt of USA
Creator/Author - Matsumoto, H. ; Shioji, N. ; Hamasaki, A. ; Ikuta, Y. ; Fukuda, Y. ; Sato, M. ; Endo, N. ; Tsukamoto, T. [Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Company Ltd., Takasago (Japan)]
Publication Date - 1995 Aug 01
OSTI Identifier - OSTI ID: 82295
Other Number(s)
ABIBDL; ISSN 0273-2289
Resource Type
Journal Article
Resource Relation
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology ; VOL. 51 ; ISSUE: 2 ; PBD: Spr 1995
Key words - 01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT;54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES ; CARBON DIOXIDE FIXATION; ALGAE; PHOTOSYNTHESIS; FLUE GAS; FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS; FEASIBILITY STUDIES
Description/Abstract
To mitigate CO{sub 2} discharged from thermal power plants, studies on CO{sub 2} fixation by the photosynthesis of microalgae using actual exhaust gas have been carried out. The results are as follows: a method is proposed for evaluating the maximum photosynthesis rate in the raceway cultivator using only the algal physical properties; outdoor cultivation tests taking actual flue gas were performed with no trouble or break throughout 1 yr using the strain collected in the test; the produced microalgae is effective as solid fuel; and the feasibility studies of this system were performed. The system required large land area, but the area is smaller than that required for other biomass systems, such as tree farms.
Original source of the citation here
Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
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algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
About Oilgae - Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general. Algae present an exciting possibility as a feedstock for biodiesel, and when you realise that oil was originally formed from algae - among other related plants - you think "Hey! Why not oil again from algae!"
Removal of CO2 from flue gases by algae. Final technical report to DoE, USA
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Removal of CO2 from flue gases by algae. Final technical report to DoE, September 1, 1992--August 31, 1993
Creator/Author
Akin, C. ; Maka, A. ; Patel, S. ; Conrad, J. [Inst. of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (United States)] ; Benemann, J.
Publication Date - 1993 Dec 31
OSTI Identifier - OSTI ID: 10132222; Legacy ID: DE94008039
Report Number(s) - DOE/PC/92521--T97
Resource Type - Technical Report
Specific Type - Progress Report
Research Org - Illinois Dept. of Energy and Natural Resources, Springfield, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org - USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
Key words: 01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS; FLUE GAS; AIR POLLUTION CONTROL; ALGAE; CATALYTIC EFFECTS; CARBON DIOXIDE; BIOCONVERSION; SCRUBBING; PROGRESS REPORT; FEASIBILITY STUDIES; BIOREACTORS; COST ESTIMATION; BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS; PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Abstract
The objective of this research program is to determine the feasibility of the alga Botryococcus braunii as a biocatalyst for the photosynthetic conversion of flue gas CO{sub 2} to hydrocarbons. Free and immobilized cells of Botryococcus braunii were grown in aqueous medium supplemented with nitrogen, phosphorus and mineral nutrients. Air and CO{sub 2} enriched air [10% to 15% (V/V) CO{sub 2}] in the gas phase and 0.2% to 2% NaHCO{sub 3} in the liquid medium served as the carbon source. Growth and hydrocarbon formation characteristics of free and immobilized cultures of Botryococcus braunii were determined in bench-scale photobioreactors. Technical and economic feasibility of the conversion of flue gas CO{sub 2} to hydrocarbons by Botryococcus braunii culture systems was evaluated. In free cell systems, the hexane extractable oil productivity was about 15 to 37 grams of oil per 100 grams of cell dry weight. In immobilized cell systems, the oil production ranged between 5% and 47% at different immobilization systems and immobilized surface locations, with an average of 19% of cell biomass dry weight. The feasibility and economic evaluation estimated the cost of oil produced from flue gas CO{sub 2} by algae to range between $45 and $75 per barrel assuming that a hydrocarbon yield of about 50% of the biomass weight is achievable and a credit of $60 per ton of carbon removed is available. A future research program leading to development of a multistage process, consisting of closed systems for heavy inoculum buildup followed by lower cost open systems for oil production is recommended.
Format: Adobe PDF Document with Extractable Text
Original link and link to the complete PDF document here
Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog; The complete list of Oilgae Blog articles.
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
About Oilgae - Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae has a focus on biodiesel production from algae while also discussing alternative energy in general. Algae present an exciting possibility as a feedstock for biodiesel, and when you realise that oil was originally formed from algae - among other related plants - you think "Hey! Why not oil again from algae!"
Labels: Algae-Cultivation-Power-Plants
Microalgae Production from Power Plant Fuel Gas
You are at: Oilgae Blog (Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae Home Page)See also: Oilgae Blog Article Directory for a complete listing of all Oilgae blog posts - covering news, research and updates on biodiesel from algae & other plant feedstock, ethanol, and other renewable energy such as wind energy, hydrogen, hydro-energy, tidal/wave energy, geothermal, solar energy & nuclear energy
Microalgae Production from Power Plant Flue Gas: Environmental Implications on a Life Cycle Basis
Creator/Author Kadam, K. L., Publication Date 2001 Jun 22, OSTI Identifier OSTI ID: 783405, Report Number(s) NREL/TP-510-29417, DOE Contract Number AC36-99GO10337
Other Number(s) TRN: AH200128%%152, Resource Type Technical Report, Resource Relation PBD: 22 Jun 2001, Research Org National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (US).
Sponsoring Org US Department of Energy (US)
Subject 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES ; CARBON DIOXIDE; CARBON MONOXIDE; COCOMBUSTION; DECISION MAKING; ENERGY CONSUMPTION; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; FLUE GAS; LIFE CYCLE; POWER PLANTS; PRODUCTION
Related Subject MICROALGAE; CARBON DIOXIDE; POWER GENERATION; COFIRING; LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
Abstract
Power-plant flue gas can serve as a source of CO{sub 2} for microalgae cultivation, and the algae can be cofired with coal. This life cycle assessment (LCA) compared the environmental impacts of electricity production via coal firing versus coal/algae cofiring. The LCA results demonstrated lower net values for the algae cofiring scenario for the following using the direct injection process (in which the flue gas is directly transported to the algae ponds): SOx, NOx, particulates, carbon dioxide, methane, and fossil energy consumption. Carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons emissions were statistically unchanged. Lower values for the algae cofiring scenario, when compared to the burning scenario, were observed for greenhouse potential and air acidification potential. However, impact assessment for depletion of natural resources and eutrophication potential showed much higher values. This LCA gives us an overall picture of impacts across different environmental boundaries, and hence, can help in the decision-making process for implementation of the algae scenario.
Abstract link here
The complete PDF document here
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Biofuel Made from Power Plant CO2
You are at: Oilgae Blog (Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae Home Page)See also: Oilgae Blog Article Directory for a complete listing of all Oilgae blog posts - covering news, research and updates on biodiesel from algae & other plant feedstock, ethanol, and other renewable energy such as wind energy, hydrogen, hydro-energy, tidal/wave energy, geothermal, solar energy & nuclear energy
Biofuel made from power plant CO2
A New Scientist Article
Excerpts:
1. Two of the world's greatest energy users are electricity generation
and transport. Both are responsible for huge quantities of greenhouse gas
emissions. Now companies such as GreenFuel Technologies are hoping to marry the two together with an emerging technology that uses a by-product of one to supply fuel to the other. Doing so could dramatically reduce their overall carbon dioxide emissions.
2. At the heart of the technology is algae, which literally sucks the CO2 out of a power plant's exhaust. The algae can in turn be converted into biofuel, creating a cycle that takes the carbon from the smokestack to the gas tank before it enters the atmosphere.
3. If successful, the technology could capture all of a power plant's CO2 emissions.
4. CO2 is fed into bioreactors where they help in the growth of algae.
5. The algal oil can then be converted into biodiesel through a routine process called transesterification
6. GreenFuel is testing a pilot facility at the Redhawk power station in
the Arizona desert.
7. The main energy requirement is recovering the solvent from the oil once it is extracted
8. GreenFuel has so far received more than $18 million in venture capital funding, and hopes to install a full-scale algal farm by 2009.
9. The idea of producing biofuel from algae is not new. The US Department of Energy began investigating algae in the 1970s during the global oil shortage.
10. GreenFuel is not the first to use algae to produce samples of biofuel from power plant exhaust. In March (2006) Laurenz Thomsen and his team at the Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Project at the International University Bremen in Germany used microalgae to produce 10 millilitres of biodiesel.
11. Another company building a pilot algae reactor is New York-based Greenshift.
12. Instead of exposing the algae directly to sunlight, Greenshift uses an array of mirrored troughs and fibre optics to carry sunlight to the plants. By diffusing the sunlight, the utilisation of solar energy could be maximised.
13. Indeed, one key advantage of algae farms over other sources of biofuel such as corn and soybeans is that they need much less space. In Germany, where rapeseed is the primary crop used for biodiesel, it would take up to 33 times as much land as is needed by the algae bioreactors to produce the same amount of fuel
14. Algae can also to munch on the organic matter in human waste, producing a carbon-rich oil. Aquaflow Bionomic of Marlborough, New Zealand, is extracting oil from the algae that grow naturally in wastewater treatment facilities.
Article from current issue of New Scientist
Personalities mentioned: Michael Berzin of GreenFuel Technologies; Laurenz Thomsen and his team at the Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Project at the International University Bremen in Germany; Barry Worthington of the US Energy Association in Washington DC; Nick Gerritsen of Aquaflow, New Zealand
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
