Oilgae Blog - The Latest from the World of Algae Fuels
Virginia Tech Researcher Grows Algae Using Glycerol
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The rise in biodiesel production over the last decade means that the market can no longer absorb all the extra glycerol. Biodiesel producers must find alternative means for disposing of crude glycerol, which is prohibitively expensive to purify for industry use. Wen and his colleagues have developed a novel fermentation process using microalgae to produce omega-3 fatty acids from crude glycerol
"We have shown that it is possible to use the crude glycerol byproduct from the biodiesel industry as a carbon source for microalgae that produce omega-3 fatty acids," said Wen, who added that the impurities in crude glycerol may actually be beneficial to algal growth. "After thorough chemical analysis, we have also shown that the algae biomass composition has the same quality as the commercial algae product."After growing the algae in the crude glycerol, researchers can use it as an animal feed. This mimics a process in nature in which fish, the most common source of omega-3 fatty acid for humans, eat the algae and then retain the healthful compounds in their bodies. Humans who consume the fish in turn consume the omega 3s. Fish-derived products such as fish oil are an inexpensive alternative, but the taste has deterred widespread use.
Wen has partnered with Steven Craig, senior research scientist at Virginia Cobia Farms, to use crude glycerol-derived algae as a fish feed. "The results so far have been promising," Wen said. "The fish fed the algae had significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids."
He and Audrey McElroy, associate professor of animal and poultry sciences, are now trying to determine whether the algae would work as a chicken feed. Kumar Mallikarjunan, associate professor of biological systems engineering, is also working with Wen to determine the fate of omega 3s after they enter the food supply. Researchers do not yet know whether oxidation would have a major impact on omega-3 fatty acids stored in cheese, for example.
Funding for this research has come from the Virginia Agricultural Council, U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, Fats and Proteins Research Foundation, Virginia Sea Grant, and Virginia Commercial Fisheries and Shellfish Technologies.
Wen presented his paper, "Production of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid from biodiesel-waste glycerol by microalgal fermentation (AGFD 272)," as a part of a session sponsored by the ACS Division of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation
Algae-Covered Buildings Boost Biofuel Production
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A report recently released by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers suggests that sealed containers of algae photobioreactors could be integrated into the sides of buildings to produce biofuels and sequester carbon, adding a whole new meaning to the term ‘green building’. As the algae grows it sucks up CO2 from the surrounding air which can then be stored.
Currently photobioreactors are much more expensive to use than conventional open-pond systems, but this is why the The Institute of Mechanical Engineers wants more research funding to be pushed toward PBRs. Whereas open pond-style algaculture covers large areas of habitat, PBRs could be incorporated into our existing city infrastructure and provide the filtering and fuel production where we need it most.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Photobioreactor
Integrated Process of Algae Cultivation and Production of Diesel Fuel from Biorenewable Feedstocks
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An interesting patent filed on Aug 18, 2008 is about "Integrated Process of Algae Cultivation and Production of Diesel Fuel from Biorenewable feedstocks"
According to the claims, the said integrated process comprises the following :
a) treating the renewable feedstock in a reaction zone by hydrogenating and deoxygenating the feedstock using at least one catalyst at reaction conditions in the presence of hydrogen to provide a reaction zone product stream comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide, water and a paraffins having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms;
b) cooling the reaction zone product stream and separating to provide:
i) a gaseous component comprising at least hydrogen and carbon dioxide;
ii) a hydrocarbon product comprising the paraffins; and
iii) a water component;
c) recovering the hydrocarbon product;
d) separating the gaseous component comprising at least hydrogen and carbon dioxide into a stream comprising hydrogen and a stream comprising carbon dioxide; and
e) passing the stream comprising carbon dioxide to an algae cultivation operation and using the carbon dioxide stream to cultivate algae.
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Patents
Algae Project Faces Difficulty in Procuring Land
You are at: Oilgae Blog.The final application for the U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantee to be used in Project Green, also known as the Saline Green Project, has been submitted, said Hunter.In his report to the board, Executive Director Roy Hunter gave updates on the projects he has been working to bring to Saline County.
The plan for Saline Green Project (SGP) has been changed slightly to delay the production of biodiesel fuel from algae until the second year of operation, Hunter said. He explained this is due to the difficulty of finding and procuring 2,500 acres of flat land.
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
Algaepower Uses Cattle Waste to Grow Algae for Fuel
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The cow's manure from the Blue Spruce Farm in Bridport is used to produce power through the digester at the south side of the barns and some of the liquid manure has also been sent over to a mini greenhouse for growing algae.
A company called algaepower is growing algae using these liquid manure in a specially designed photobioreactor. This is indeed a significant improvement in the waste to energy industry.There are several other companies who are doing a similar kind of research using waste water ponds and algae.
Algepower expects to expand the algae growing operation in coming months and begin producing power sometime next year and Central Vermont Public Service is looking to fund them.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Cultivation-Sewage, Algae-Photobioreactor
US Biofuels to Produce 50 million gallon of Algae biodiesel
You are at: Oilgae Blog.US Biofuels, Inc, a CA based company is setting to launch major green fuel production with recent gains of twelve greenhouses expanding over eight acres in size. Each greenhouse will be used for the purpose of growing algae in a closed system, using the photobioreactor process for the production of Biofuel.
In addition to the operating algae plants the company already has it is also currently planning to set up undergoing negotiations with Co-op Greenhouse Inc. to acquire locations in Fresno, CA, Imperial Valley, CA, Ely, NV, and Palmdale, CA to name just a few.
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Photobioreactor
University of Georgia Researchers are Studing Algae
You are at: Oilgae Blog.University of Georgia engineers are searching for non-food crops that can be used to make alternative fuels.
The oilseed radish is one crop that could be used to produce biodiesel in Georgia, said Dan Geller, a biological engineer with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
The economic evaluation showed the oilseed radish had potential to be an economically viable crop for Georgia, McKissick said. But more research is needed to determine the yield and costs of producing the crop.
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences researchers in University of Georgia are also studying the use of algae, switchgrass and sunflower as oil sources for biodiesel production.
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation
Reuse of Algal Biomass Waste as Fertilizer for Algae Cultivation
You are at: Oilgae Blog.A recent French study explores ways to maximise the potential of using microalgae to produce biofuels. This includes issues surrounding management of the algal biomass waste, the reuse of the nitrogen and phosphorus inputs as fertilisers in cultivated production and recovery of methane as an additional source of energy from the algal waste.
Using microalgae as a source of biofuels require large quantities of fertilisers (nutrients) for cultivation of algae. While microalgae are estimated to be capable of producing 10-20 times more biodiesel than rapeseed, they need 55 to 111 times more nitrogen fertiliser: 8-16 tonnes per hectare per year. Such quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus could damage the environment. Additionally, it could limit the economic viability of using microalgae. Nitrogen and phosphorus found in algal waste, after the oils have been extracted, must therefore be recycled. The research suggests that 'anaerobic digestion' could accomplish this goal.
Anaerobic digestion of the algal waste produces carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia. Left-over nitrogen and phosphorus compounds can be reused as fertiliser to the algal process. Using the methane as an energy source can further enhance energy recovery from the process.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Methane, Algae-Nutrients
Algae Company - Aquatic Energy Moves Forward
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Stafford 'Doc' Williamson writes about Aquatic Energy - The company is preparing to go from 1 acre pilot to a demonstration of their algae systems on a 30 acre scale that produces approximately 2500 gallons of biofuels per acre of open pond cultivation in what they expect to prove will be an economically viable model of algae to fuel production. The key seems to be keeping it simple, starting with avoiding any elaborate construction for their cultivation ponds which are, in fact, raceways. A key advantage is that they use the native clay soil to construct their ponds. With rainfall exceeding the evaporation losses, and more than 70% of the CO˛ needed coming from the air, costs are minimal. But that does not mean they are not taking advantage of the secondary market for the algae after oil extraction; they also get 32 to 34 tons per acre of green animal feed (though they hope to raise this to 40 tons per acre in the new larger scale operation). By using land that was formerly used for rice cultivation they knew that they had appropriate zoning, and infrastructure of "aquaculture" already in place. David Johnson, the company CEO, says scaling up to 617 acres will be necessary as the minimum size they estimate for a stand alone venture, which he says will mean they need to raise an additional US$32 million to reach that phase, but that they hope to have 5000 acres under cultivation by 2016.
Source
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
Barstow Community College Develops Proposal To Create Algae Farm
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Barstow Community College is pursuing funding to set up a pilot project in conjunction with San Bernardino County in which members would grow and harvest algae to clean up contaminated water and create biofuel in the process.
Under the proposal, members from groups like the Urban Youth Conservation Corps would get 345 hours of training and would then operate the algae farm, collect and analyze the data, BCC spokeswoman Maureen Stokes said.
The project would monitor the success of the algae in eating contamination from nitrate-laden groundwater from the Soapmine Road area in Barstow and from chromium 6-polluted groundwater in Hinkley, she said.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research
HR BioPetroleum Receives Governor's Innovation Awards
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Gov. Linda Lingle named three recipients of the Governor's Innovation Awards including HR BioPetroleum for their commitment to creative thinking and new ideas which result in better products, services and processes.
HRBP is a Hawaii-based renewable energy technology company focused on utilizing marine microalgae to produce biofuel feedstocks and other valuable products. The company developed a proprietary process called ALDUO technology that leverages the photosynthetic power and rapid growth characteristics of microalgae to convert sunlight, CO2, and other nutrients into inexpensive vegetable oils and biomass. HRBP's algae cultivation technology has been demonstrated through a pilot facility on the Kona Coast of the Big Island.
HRBP is a Hawaii-based renewable energy technology company focused on utilizing marine microalgae to produce biofuel feedstocks and other valuable products. The company developed a proprietary process called ALDUO technology that leverages the photosynthetic power and rapid growth characteristics of microalgae to convert sunlight, CO2, and other nutrients into inexpensive vegetable oils and biomass. HRBP's algae cultivation technology has been demonstrated through a pilot facility on the Kona Coast of the Big Island.
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Algae Company BioCentric Energy Holdings Provides Update
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Dennis Fisher stated "we are building a new site that will carry all the hard assets (photobioreactors, nutrients, and nutrient management, automation, harvest, and VPN controls) and consultation to assist anyone with the desire to produce algae in a closed loop environment... although the site will continue to evolve, the first release of the shopping cart portion is expected to be completed by May 10th"
Dennis Fisher stated "we are building a new site that will carry all the hard assets (photobioreactors, nutrients, and nutrient management, automation, harvest, and VPN controls) and consultation to assist anyone with the desire to produce algae in a closed loop environment... although the site will continue to evolve, the first release of the shopping cart portion is expected to be completed by May 10th"
-- Today, BEHL brought Dale Baeten, of Investing In Stock Market, Inc., onboard as BioCentric Investor Relations
-- On April 28th Dennis Shen, President of BioCentric Algae, will be a guest speaker at the Algae World in Rotterdam -- afterwards Mr. Shen will then become one of the panelists for a roundtable discussion on the "Implementation of the Commercialization of Algae" Forum
-- On April 29th Mr. Shen will go to Berlin to meet with Mohammed Janus (Nobel Peace Prize winner in Economics) associate and author of Mr. Janus' best-selling autobiography, Peter Spiegel of Genesis Institute regarding Grameen Bank support for third world countries working with BEHL and the UN to implement the Algae Pro Photobioreactors for high value nutrition
-- On April 30th Mr. Fisher will be attending the National Algae Forum in Houston, Texas, where Mr. Fisher, on May 1st will release details of the Algae Pro Photobioreactor in his speech titled "Cost and Revenue of Algae Production"
-- On May 2nd Mr. Fisher will meet with Helmut Gass of Eccowerks in Port Arthur, Texas, to discuss a possible joint venture agreement
-- On May 2nd Mr. Shen will be meeting with the BioCentric Algae Scientists in Prague to begin the process of identifying which proprietary research will become our next co-owned patents in the USA
-- On May 3rd Dennis Fisher will meet with J.D. Wilshusen, of the Permian Sea Algae Farms in Imperial, Texas, to finalize a possible Joint Venture Agreement (presently there has been a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both parties) to build the Algae Pro Photobioreactor at their location
-- On May 4th and 5th Mr. Fisher is scheduled to meet with two different universities in the southwest to ascertain which institution (or possibly both) will receive grants from BEHL to work with our scientists on algae photobioreactor enhancements
Dennis Fisher, CEO for BioCentric Energy Inc. (BEHL), stated today, "This communication is to provide an update on our Plan of Action. I know most companies would spread this information out over the next few weeks but with all that is happening I thought my fiduciary responsibility was to keep our supporters aware. I personally would like to take this opportunity to thank all those supporters of BEHL on our climb to success."
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Energy-Investments, Algae-Photobioreactor
Midwest Research Institute Advances Algal Biofuels Research Utilizing Open and Closed Bioreactors
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Just five months after announcing the creation of a state-of-the-art Center for Integrated Algal Research, Midwest Research Institute (MRI) has installed and activated two technically distinct bioreactor technologies to accelerate the Institute's pursuits in algae research. MRI recently activated an open pond "raceway" cultivation system at its laboratory in Palm Bay, Fla., and a continuous flow, closed loop photobioreactor at its field station near Kansas City, Mo.
MRI's open bioreactor system in Palm Bay includes two open pond raceway channels, each 40 feet long and 4 feet wide. The two raceways combined have a capacity of 8,000 gallons of water and are currently producing approximately 330 pounds of dry algal biomass per month with projections to increase biomass output with new
R&D improvements. The pilot raceway cultivation system provides a platform ideally suited for the investigation of technologies related to scale-up of algae production in open systems.
MRI's closed loop photobioreactor in Kansas City provides a pilot scale algae production facility enclosed in a greenhouse to allow for year-round testing. This closed system has a capacity of approximately 1,000 gallons of algae dense medium and is capable of harvesting approximately 90 pounds of dry mass per month. Artificial lighting is available and allows for exploring effects from using a variety of real world and simulated environments. "This robust system provides a unique test bed for rigorous characterization of diverse algae strains and stringent monitoring of their associated growth conditions, said Roger Harris, Ph.D., MRI Associate Vice President and Director of the Energy and Life Sciences Division. "It also provides integration of harvesting and other processing equipment for end-to-end product operations."
By employing both systems, MRI will be better equipped to assist government and industry in maximizing the potential of algae for solving energy and environmental challenges. The Center's comprehensive focus includes characterization of preferred algal strains, growth optimization, contamination mitigation, harvesting methods, oil extraction, and carbon capture.
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Just five months after announcing the creation of a state-of-the-art Center for Integrated Algal Research, Midwest Research Institute (MRI) has installed and activated two technically distinct bioreactor technologies to accelerate the Institute's pursuits in algae research. MRI recently activated an open pond "raceway" cultivation system at its laboratory in Palm Bay, Fla., and a continuous flow, closed loop photobioreactor at its field station near Kansas City, Mo.
MRI's open bioreactor system in Palm Bay includes two open pond raceway channels, each 40 feet long and 4 feet wide. The two raceways combined have a capacity of 8,000 gallons of water and are currently producing approximately 330 pounds of dry algal biomass per month with projections to increase biomass output with new
R&D improvements. The pilot raceway cultivation system provides a platform ideally suited for the investigation of technologies related to scale-up of algae production in open systems.MRI's closed loop photobioreactor in Kansas City provides a pilot scale algae production facility enclosed in a greenhouse to allow for year-round testing. This closed system has a capacity of approximately 1,000 gallons of algae dense medium and is capable of harvesting approximately 90 pounds of dry mass per month. Artificial lighting is available and allows for exploring effects from using a variety of real world and simulated environments. "This robust system provides a unique test bed for rigorous characterization of diverse algae strains and stringent monitoring of their associated growth conditions, said Roger Harris, Ph.D., MRI Associate Vice President and Director of the Energy and Life Sciences Division. "It also provides integration of harvesting and other processing equipment for end-to-end product operations."
By employing both systems, MRI will be better equipped to assist government and industry in maximizing the potential of algae for solving energy and environmental challenges. The Center's comprehensive focus includes characterization of preferred algal strains, growth optimization, contamination mitigation, harvesting methods, oil extraction, and carbon capture.
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Labels: Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Cultivation-Open-Pond, Algae-Fuel-Research, Algae-Photobioreactor
Algae - boon to farmers and a solution to global warming
You are at: Oilgae Blog.CSIRO scientists are putting the humble algae to work as a source of biodiesel and the signs are very promising. With algae made up of a third oil, a third carbohydrate and a third protein, it was an ideal raw material for producing biodiesel and ethanol.
Dr Beer said theoretically all of Australia's diesel supplies could be produced from ponds covering just 10,000 hectares. The study found the establishment of a 500-hectare algal biodiesel plant in a rural area might create up to 45 jobs and provide opportunities to diversify in the agricultural sector.
While the technology was relatively simple, more research was needed, Dr Beer said.The next step was to build a pilot plant to see if the concept was commercial and viable and at what prices.
Like any crop, more work was also needed to identify the best species of algae to use and the conditions required for maximum yield. One challenge was to work out how to prevent other less productive algae taking over a pond, Dr Beer said.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Products, Algae-Fuel-Research
Powerful Ideas: Wringing Oil from Algae
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Currently, there are two main strategies for growing algae: open ponds or closed bioreactors. Ponds are cheaper, but there's a danger of unwanted species blowing in.
In either case, one of the difficult steps is separating the tiny organisms from the water. Ohio-based AlgaeVenture Systems announced a new way to "dewater" algae using capillary action rather than centrifuges.
"We have demonstrated a truly disruptive technology that reduces [the dewatering] cost by more than 99 percent - from $875 per ton to $1.92 per ton," said Ross Youngs, CEO of Univenture, parent corporation of AlgaeVenture Systems, in a press release.
Once the algae is dry, the oil can be extracted using mechanical or chemical crushing, Byrne explained. It could then be burned as is, but some chemical processing is usually done to make it into biodiesel or jet fuel.
For this last step, United Environment and Energy (UEE) in Horseheads, N.Y., has developed a solid catalyst that can drive the chemical reactions without generating as much waste as do current methods that rely on liquid catalysts.
"No water is used in our process so that no waste water is produced," said Ben Wen of UEE, who presented the new method at last week's American Chemical Society meeting.
And because the solid catalyst can be used over and over, the production of biodiesel can be more continuous.
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research
Lipid Productivity Of Algae Grown On Dairy Wastewater As A Possible Feedstock For Biodiesel
You are at: Oilgae Blog.An excellent document on using dairy waste water as a effort to produce energy from waste- "LIPID PRODUCTIVITY OF ALGAE GROWN ON DAIRY WASTEWATER AS A POSSIBLE FEEDSTOCK FOR BIODIESEL" byCalifornia Polytechnic University.
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Cultivation-Sewage
Exaggerated Claims in Algae Oil Yield
You are at: Oilgae Blog.While some companies (such as Solazyme) say they will be capable of producing algae oil at competitive prices in two to three years, only a little algae oil has been produced to date, very few of the fifty plus companies have received funding, and it will be a long way off before the infrastructure exists to actually get it into the fuel distribution system. It is also currently very expensive to make.
So it is important to squint at claims which seem a little too good to be true. A one acre, horizontal photo Bio reactor style Algae Farm can yield 50,000 gallons of Bio Feedstock compared to 700 gallons using Corn or Soy, but when set up using a vertical system it could yield 5 times as much or 250,000 gallons a year at the going rate of $2.00 per gallon.
50,000 gallons of feedstock? The general consensus is that someday we could get to 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of oil per acre. That’s still far better than anything else (Jatropha is worth only 175 gallons an acre), but way less than 50,000.
Bryan Wilson, a Colorado State professor and co-founder of algae specialist Solix, said earlier this year that claims beyond 14,000 gallons of oil an acre seem to be “unsupportable.” Valcent has claimed it might be possible to get into the 150,000 gallon an acre range, but it is on the extreme end of the issue.
So it is important to squint at claims which seem a little too good to be true. A one acre, horizontal photo Bio reactor style Algae Farm can yield 50,000 gallons of Bio Feedstock compared to 700 gallons using Corn or Soy, but when set up using a vertical system it could yield 5 times as much or 250,000 gallons a year at the going rate of $2.00 per gallon.
50,000 gallons of feedstock? The general consensus is that someday we could get to 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of oil per acre. That’s still far better than anything else (Jatropha is worth only 175 gallons an acre), but way less than 50,000.
Bryan Wilson, a Colorado State professor and co-founder of algae specialist Solix, said earlier this year that claims beyond 14,000 gallons of oil an acre seem to be “unsupportable.” Valcent has claimed it might be possible to get into the 150,000 gallon an acre range, but it is on the extreme end of the issue.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Energy-Cost
Algae Biofuel Gains Importance in Aviation Industry
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Starting in 2013, up to 100 European airports will take part in a plan to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over the continent’s airspace by half a million tonnes a year by using a different landing approach and planning the use of bio-fuels, aviation industry groups said.
Industry officials have described the approach as a “win-win for all.” The airline industry was also looking to start using bio-fuels within the next few years and was hoping for certification by as early as 2010. Boeing’s Bill Glover told reporters he expected bio-fuels to achieve “commercial availability in three to five years,” although critics have said their use is making farmers move toward growing food for fuel, raising food prices and lessening its availability of a resource that grows only annually in most cases.
Executives at the conference said they were aiming to use second- generation bio-fuels, including some derived from algae, so as to not drain food and water resources. “We want to get 100 percent from bio-fuels that don’t compete with food supplies,” said Peter Steele of the Air Transport Action Group.
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Labels: Algae-Aviation-Fuel, Algae-Cultivation
APS to Bury C02, Run Experimental Algae-biofuel Plants
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Arizona's largest utility, Arizona Public Service, received a one-year aquifer protection permit March 25 from US EPA Region 9 and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to experimentally pump 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide (also known as carbon sequestration) into a deep-aquifer saline formation of groundwater 3500 feet below their Cholla coal-fired power plant at Joseph City in northern Arizona. Arizona does not differentiate between very deep aquifers that may be naturally saline or those closer to the surface that are normally a source of potable water.
APS has also experimented with capturing carbon to grow algae at their Redhawk natural gas power plant near the Palo Verde nuclear plant. The algae then produced biofuel which fueled company vehicles, however a planned large-scale demonstration of algae capture at the Four-Corners Power Plant by the Greenfuels Corporation was halted. The hope was that either biofuel for external use or some form of algae based fuel could actually power one of the Four-Corners boilers in lieu of burning some coal.
Fox said that APS will be using their own algae creation technology to capture carbon emissions, "Our first bioreactor has been operating for a few weeks and shows great promise to be a design that can be commercialized. In fact, we are building a small operation at the Redhawk plant to prove its scalability. That should be operational later this year."
Fox said that the question of how long carbon capture of some sort could extend the life of the Cholla plant "is a very complicated question and the answer has a lot to do with the cost of carbon in a carbon-regulated program and the cost of sequestration versus other technologies, including algae. I will make the assumption that if CO2 can be successfully captured and managed (either geologic sequestration or algae or something else), there will be no reason to close the plants provide we are able to meet other environmental standards and I have little doubt that we can do that now and in the future"
APS has also experimented with capturing carbon to grow algae at their Redhawk natural gas power plant near the Palo Verde nuclear plant. The algae then produced biofuel which fueled company vehicles, however a planned large-scale demonstration of algae capture at the Four-Corners Power Plant by the Greenfuels Corporation was halted. The hope was that either biofuel for external use or some form of algae based fuel could actually power one of the Four-Corners boilers in lieu of burning some coal.
Fox said that APS will be using their own algae creation technology to capture carbon emissions, "Our first bioreactor has been operating for a few weeks and shows great promise to be a design that can be commercialized. In fact, we are building a small operation at the Redhawk plant to prove its scalability. That should be operational later this year."
Fox said that the question of how long carbon capture of some sort could extend the life of the Cholla plant "is a very complicated question and the answer has a lot to do with the cost of carbon in a carbon-regulated program and the cost of sequestration versus other technologies, including algae. I will make the assumption that if CO2 can be successfully captured and managed (either geologic sequestration or algae or something else), there will be no reason to close the plants provide we are able to meet other environmental standards and I have little doubt that we can do that now and in the future"
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Cultivation
Eastern Cape to Turn Algae into Power
You are at: Oilgae Blog.OWING to ideal climate and mix of industry, the Eastern Cape has been handpicked for a unique pilot project using marine algae to convert the greenhouse gas of carbon dioxide into biofuels and other products.
The use of algae as one of the next generation sources of biofuel has not been without controversy, but research at Jacobs University using marine algae to capture, through photosynthesis, the carbon dioxide in flue gases at two major power stations is yielding great results.
A low-cost, custom-built 800m˛ photobioreactor housed in a closed, greenhouse- type setting, and set up at a German lignite coal-based powerplant has been converting carbon dioxide into biomass since August last year.
By the end of June, a 200m˛ photobioreactor capable of producing two tons of dry biomass a year – will be up and running at NMMU. This will be followed early next year by the creation of two 1000m˛ photobioreactors at sites adjacent to interested industrial partners, to evaluate the technology in industrial applications.
To keep costs down, the photobioreactors will be built locally, based on the original Phytolutions designs. The use of black economically empowered enterprises has been planned.
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Labels: Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Photobioreactor
Redmond company Bionavitas developed a system of light-producing rods
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Now a Redmond company may have found a way to increase algae production tenfold. Engineers at Bionavitas say the problem with algae is it only grows on a very thick layer at the top of a pond or other body of water. Once it covers the surface it blocks the sunlight needed to grow at lower depths.
"As you know algae grows at the very top of a pond," said Michael Weaver, company spokesperson. "And then once it gets dense it starts blocking its own light."
This company has developed a system of light-producing rods it can use to penetrate the thin algae top layer and deliver the light source needed to produce algae down below. Company officials showed us they can do it in a laboratory setting. They say the next step is for mass production in man-made ponds in the Southwest.
Redmond's Bionavitas demonstrates their light immersion technology. The company is working on increasing algae production with a system of light-producing rods
"As you know algae grows at the very top of a pond," said Michael Weaver, company spokesperson. "And then once it gets dense it starts blocking its own light."
This company has developed a system of light-producing rods it can use to penetrate the thin algae top layer and deliver the light source needed to produce algae down below. Company officials showed us they can do it in a laboratory setting. They say the next step is for mass production in man-made ponds in the Southwest.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation
Bionavitas Develops Algae Growth Booster for Biodiesel
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Bionavitas is using what the company calls Light Immersion Technology.. pencil-shaped rods that bring more light to algae, stimulating growth.
The acrylic tubes can direct sunlight deeper into a pond of algae which could allow algae to grow up to 1.5 meters deep, rather than the about 10 centimetres depth now possible before “self-shading” prevents deeper growth.
And that density of growth per square meter could allow algae-based biofuel to compete with petroleum-based diesel and gasoline on price.
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Stellarwind Bio Energy Cultivates Algae in Indianapolis
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Stellarwind said the process of harvesting algae involves feeding the material into a processor, which extracts the oils. Residual bio-mass can then be converted into one of several valuable resources including methane, industrial grade charcoal, fertilizer and/or synthesis gas.
"Our goal is to produce a continuously renewable energy source that is ecologically friendly, uses everything, and wastes nothing," Will Kassebaum, president and CEO, said in a statement.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Harvesting
Catfish Farmers Becoming Landlords of Algae
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The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company wants to convert Barret's catfish ponds into an algae farm to produce alternative fuel, paying the owner of B&B Fish Farm thousands of dollars to baby-sit the new and unusual crop.
Barret and Jordan have agreed to lease their old catfish ponds to PetroSun to grow algae used in the production of biodiesel, ethanol, and livestock feed. The company plans to begin algae-to-biofuel operations after obtaining permits from the Department of Environmental Quality and other state agencies. Former catfish farm employees would help harvest the algae.
Terri Chiang, an authorized agent for PetroSun BioFuels, has been introducing the lease program to state officials and catfish farmers in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alabama. She said it's like an oil and gas lease.
Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Cultivation-Open-Pond
Useful Algae Culture and Cultivation Tutorials from Instructables
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Here's a detailed and excellent tutorial on how to cultivate algae. A must read for anyone interested in growing algae at home
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation
Ingrepro Algae Production Facility in Netherlands
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Set amid the placid fields and farmland in Borculo, in the eastern part of the Netherlands, a 21,500 square foot pool is rapidly turning green with Algae in Ingrepro’s Algae production facility.
The algae is harvested and processed and the carbon exhaust from the steam engine used to dry the algae is once again pumped back into the pool.
Ingrepro BV is Europe’s largest Industrial Algae producer and boasts in-depth knowledge of cultivating algae under extreme (stress) conditions in order to obtain Enriched Algal Biomass (EAB).
Ingrepro is offering a tour of its facilities for those attending the Algae World 2009 conference in the Netherlands in April 2009. More on this from here
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Advantages of Heterotropic Algae for Biofuels
You are at: Oilgae Blog.The following was a comment provided at one of the blog posts on ethanol I read recently. While I'm no expert on the heterotrophic processes, the arguments here really sound interesting;
"
The Advantages of Heterotrophic Algae Grown at Corn Ethanol Refineries
Solazyme and Solix use two distinctly different methods to produce algae. Solix grows photo-autotrophic algae in the light. Solazyme grows heterotrophic algae in the dark.
Heterotrophic algae does not require sunlight, but the tradeoff is you have to feed it some kind of sugar. Initially, that sounds inefficient. Why expend the cost of sugar, when you can grow algae in sunlight for free. Look a little deeper, and here are the advantages of growing heterotrophic algae in the dark: (1) By growing algae in the dark, the process is simplified. Otherwise, you have to get the algae exposed to the light, or get the light to the algae. That takes up solar surface area, which translates into large land masses. (2) Because the algae can be grown in the dark in tanks, it can be grown anywhere, with a minimum footprint. (3) Heterotrophic algae, grown in nutrient rich water, becomes many times more concentrated, at a hyper fast growth rate.
HETEROTROPHIC algae grows in the dark, and multiplies rapidly when fed sugars or local biomass cellulose converted to sugars. Beside Solazyme, this technology is also being developed by East Kentucky University and General Atomics, working together. They are leveraging local biomass sugars by feeding it to heterotrophic algae grown in vats. Researchers claim that heterotrophic algae can reach densities in the dark that are 1,000 times higher than strains of photo-autotrophic algae that must be grown in the light.
Heterotrophic algae can be grown in the dark in tanks, using very little land. Tanks can be stacked a hundred feet underground, or stack them a hundred feet high above ground. Stack them in a high rise. Grow it in gray water in your basement, on your roof, under your backyard, or under a parking lot, using no additional land. Grow it on a barge.
Take local sugars derived from biomass, corn or sweet sorghum, or food and paper waste, or sewage, or what have you. And leverage the sugars to multiply the algae many times. That is going to be your massive source of feedstock for ethanol, biodiesel, feed, fertilizer, or for whatever you want to make.
Corn ethanol refineries have readily available waste heat, CO2 waste, nutrient rich waste water effluent, and corn sugars. This is a perfect match for growing heterotrophic algae. Why take corn sugar and feed it to algae? Because you multiply the feedstock many times in a short period of time, onsite. It’s conceivable that you could combine a tablespoon full of live algae with a pound of corn sugar, and bubble CO2 waste through a medium of nutrient rich waste water effluent, keep it warm with waste heat, and get a return of 20 pounds of algae or more within 48 hours.
Take all the corn sugar that is now going straight to 10 billion gallons ethanol, and instead, feed it to heterotrophic algae in tanks. At only 20X, that would yield upwards of 200 billion gallons of ethanol per year in the U. S. alone.
Out of tens of thousands of strains of algae, thirty two types of heterotrophic algae have been identified thus far. Some are high in starch. Some are high in oil. Some are high in proteins. Depending on what you want to produce, you would select your strain accordingly. And after your primary product has been taken from the feedstock, you would also make value added products from the remaining materials. Grow a high starch variety of algae ideal for ethanol production. Grow a variety of algae ideal for oil production, or high protein feed production, or fertilizer production. Since corn ethanol plants already produce distillers grains and supply the livestock industry, they would now have a second high protein feed product to market alongside.
We now have 172 corn ethanol refineries, which form a viable framework for a much bigger biofuel and feed industry yet to come.
"
Well, I guess I have one big question for those who think heterotrophic growth method is great. Whatever be the X (10X, 20X) whatever, if the algae are growing to derive most of their energy from sugar (non-photosynthetic sources), you will need almost as much sugar or more as the energy generated ultimately from ethanol (if the only energy sources are sugar, nutrients, CO2 and some warmth). The following sentence sounds too good to be true: "It’s conceivable that you could combine a tablespoon full of live algae with a pound of corn sugar, and bubble CO2 waste through a medium of nutrient rich waste water effluent, keep it warm with waste heat, and get a return of 20 pounds of algae or more within 48 hours." How does it produce 20X mass from just less than 2X of sugar + initial amount algae? Are the rest 18+ pounds derived from CO2 and nutrients? In that case, we are going to need a lot of nutrients and CO2, and both have costs attached.
I need to dig deeper into the economics of heterotrophic growth, but the comment has surely tickled my interest. I doubt the numbers are as good as those presented at the comments, but let me first do more research on this.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Ethanol
Light Immersion Technology from Bionavitas to Increase Algae Yields
You are at: Oilgae Blog.A technology developed to increase commercially viable and scaleable algae yields was lauched recently by Bionavitas, Inc. The process, Light Immersion Technology™, involves immersing the light source, natural or artifical, in the algae culture which, says the company, produces an order of magnitude more algae biomass than existing growth methods.
Nearly every large scale approach to algae growth has been challenged by a simple fact of nature: as algae grow, they become so dense they block the light needed for continued growth. This "self-shading" phenomenon results in a layer that limits the amount of algae per acre that can be grown and harvested. The Light Immersion Technology enables algae growth layer in open ponds to be up to a meter deep. The company says this represents a 10 to 12 fold increase in yield over previous methods that produced only 3-5 centimeters of growth.
10-12 times increase. Now, that's really massive. Let's hope this is not just PR or a freak idea but is something that actually can be sustained in an energy effective way.
Essentially what they are doing is using "a system of light rods which extend deep into the algae culture." It will be interesting to know what materials these rods comprise of and more inputs on the same. Is this light distribution entirely passive, or is energy required for light distribution for layers underneath?
I tried their web site, but could not find more inputs...will keep an eye open for more developments on this...
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Cultivation-Open-Pond, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Fuel-Research
Pigs, Cows and Chicken Make Algae in Zambia
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Kayaletu Makasi lives on a pretty little smallholding on the road to Chintsa, Zambia. He has 17 cows, three pigs and a gaggle of chickens. He feeds their manure (about 20 litres a week) into a small digester and in return he gets an unlimited supply of free fuel, highly nutritious food for the pigs and chickens, and a treasure trove of organic fertilizer for his soil.
The animal food comes in the form of a bright green, protein- packed algae called Chlorella which forms on the water afterwords.
Well, as we have posted many times before, algae cultivation for dairy farms and related businesses that deal in animals is an exciting area and it is indeed an excellent approach towards producing energy from waste.
The trick is to simply grow the algae in the effluents from the digester. You have treated the water efficient, and you have algae - use it as a fertilizer, animal food or biofuels or as all three, that's your wish!
There is one another method by which you can further contribute to reduced GHGs. When you burn the methane, funnel the CO2 that results into the tank that contains the effluent water in which algae are growing. The algae grow even faster and the CO2 is consumed!
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Cultivation-Sewage, CO2-Sequestration
Algenol and Sapphire Energy Pursue Algae as Fuel
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Algenol Biofuels and Sapphire Energy still shows some progress in Algae Fuel Industry.
The latter, which rapidly raised over $100 million in venture capital last year, was recently involved in a test flight by Continental Airlines. Trying out biofuels in jets has become a popular PR move over the past few months, but they’re generally crop-based fuels. But Sapphire managed to provide half of a fuel mix for a Boeing 737 in a successful flight.
Sapphire is worth keeping an eye on mainly because it recently drew so much attention from investors. The company hasn’t talked extensively about its technology, although it did tell me last year that it will grow exotic strains of algae in open ponds of otherwise unusable water.
Algenol, on the other hand, appears to be moving along at a faster clip. The company claimed last year that it would be able to produce a billion gallons a year of algal biofuel by 2012. After that sort of announcement, and given the history of boastful algae companies, it seemed far more likely the outfit would quietly disappear.
The latter, which rapidly raised over $100 million in venture capital last year, was recently involved in a test flight by Continental Airlines. Trying out biofuels in jets has become a popular PR move over the past few months, but they’re generally crop-based fuels. But Sapphire managed to provide half of a fuel mix for a Boeing 737 in a successful flight.
Sapphire is worth keeping an eye on mainly because it recently drew so much attention from investors. The company hasn’t talked extensively about its technology, although it did tell me last year that it will grow exotic strains of algae in open ponds of otherwise unusable water.
Algenol, on the other hand, appears to be moving along at a faster clip. The company claimed last year that it would be able to produce a billion gallons a year of algal biofuel by 2012. After that sort of announcement, and given the history of boastful algae companies, it seemed far more likely the outfit would quietly disappear.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
Algae was Criticized by Leading Thinkers on Biodiesel
You are at: Oilgae Blog.This week, the country's leading thinkers on biodiesel are in San Francisco for the 2009 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo. Some of the highlights include:
One of the more cost effective places to grow biodiesel in the country could be the side of the road, according to Dallas Hanks from Utah State University. He heads up a project called Freeways to Fuel to study the feasibility of planting crops in the 30-foot wide shoulder next to roads.
The key is that the land would essentially be free. In the U.S. there are approximately 10 million acres lining 4 million miles of road that could be planted with oil seed crops, he said. There's another 1 million acres alongside the 140,000 miles of railroad right-of-ways.
Algae was criticized by some attendees for requiring too much water. An expert at the show said algae could still be four to five years away.
One of the more cost effective places to grow biodiesel in the country could be the side of the road, according to Dallas Hanks from Utah State University. He heads up a project called Freeways to Fuel to study the feasibility of planting crops in the 30-foot wide shoulder next to roads.
The key is that the land would essentially be free. In the U.S. there are approximately 10 million acres lining 4 million miles of road that could be planted with oil seed crops, he said. There's another 1 million acres alongside the 140,000 miles of railroad right-of-ways.
Algae was criticized by some attendees for requiring too much water. An expert at the show said algae could still be four to five years away.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation
Bionavitas Inc. Grows Algae In Fertllizer Run Off
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Bionavitas Inc. in Redmond, Washington, has a tricked out proposition for growing algae for biofuels.
Step one. Find a pond polluted with agricultural fertilizer, and toss in some algae.
Problem: Our algae love all the nitrogen in that lake, and they are growing like crazy. But, once the algae covers the surface of the pool, the sunlight is blocked, so no microflora can grow below the top layer.
Solution: Take some glass rods and partially stick them into the soupy mess, leaving their top ends exposed. When sunlight lands on the ends of the rods, at the surface of the water, the light travels down the glass and disperses into the water as it goes, thus providing our deeper algae-brethren with an internal, solar light source.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
Biofuels: The Next Generation - Algae
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The third generation of biofuels comes in the form of the water-based plants known as algae. The ability to transform algae into a biofuel is a burgeoning science, and could hold the future of the biofuel industry, although not without some hurdles to leap over first.
The algae oil specialists say that the hexane solvent method requires the use of chemicals, such as hexane, benzene and ether. The downsides to using these solvents include the hazard of an explosion, as well as the risk that benzene is classified as a carcinogen.Finally, the supercritical fluid extraction method can draw out up to nearly 100 percent of the oils. In this process, CO2 is pressurized and heated until it is both a gas and a liquid, at which point it is mixed with algae, removing the oil. The fact that this method requires additional complex machinery to create the pressure has detracted from its popularity.
The primary downside to using algal biofuels is that they are not economical to produce, at least not with current technology. EERE says, "Based on conservative estimates, algal biofuels produced in large volumes with current technology would cost more than US$8 per gallon (in contrast to US$4 per gallon for soybean oil today)."
According to EERE, to lower the cost of production, research must focus on a number of sectors, including controlled mass cultivation, algae for wastewater treatment, and harvesting and oil extraction technologies. The group says, "Particular attention must be paid to the engineering of sustainable microalgal systems and to the regulatory and environmental landscape."
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Oil-Extraction
Primafuel, Converting Algae to Green Gasoline
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"Algae can be used to make food, to produce pharmaceuticals, to combat disease and to create plastics," says Rahul Iyer, a founder of the California-based Primafuel company. "And it can also be used to make low-carbon automotive fuels."
According to Iyer, Primafuel's fertilizers are made from waste biomass, including grass clippings and woody residue. The biomass is converted into nitrogen-bearing ammonia, which is high in nitrogen. Since ammonia is usually produced from natural gas and coal, the process is a big improvement on business as usual. "We think it can help reduce the carbon intensity of all agriculture," Iyer said.
The fact that algae can make the desert bloom helps explain Primafuel's partnership with the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research at Israel's Ben-Gurion University. "Algae research was once considered the fringe of the fringe, but finally the world has come to see its incredible potential," says Professor Sammy Boussiba of the Microalgal Biotechnology Laboratory at the Institutes.
Algae can be made into many useful products, including motor fuels. (Primafuel photo)Primafuel produces algae in what Iyer describes as a "low-input" process. Instead of starting with a fat or sugar that takes energy to produce, it grows algae in shallow, open ponds. The algae are "fed" sunlight, carbon dioxide and small amounts of "green" fertilizer (less than is required for growing crops).
According to Iyer, Primafuel's fertilizers are made from waste biomass, including grass clippings and woody residue. The biomass is converted into nitrogen-bearing ammonia, which is high in nitrogen. Since ammonia is usually produced from natural gas and coal, the process is a big improvement on business as usual. "We think it can help reduce the carbon intensity of all agriculture," Iyer said.
The fact that algae can make the desert bloom helps explain Primafuel's partnership with the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research at Israel's Ben-Gurion University. "Algae research was once considered the fringe of the fringe, but finally the world has come to see its incredible potential," says Professor Sammy Boussiba of the Microalgal Biotechnology Laboratory at the Institutes.
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
An Old Letter from GreenFuel, But an Interesting One!
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Bumped across a rather old letter from the (then) GreenFuel Technologies CEO Bob Metcalfe. This was written in Jun 2007, but I thought I'd give a link to it because it lays out some interesting things that happened at the algae energy pioneer company.
What's really funny is that the main problem that the GreenFuel Tech folks faced at that time was overgrowth of algae in the greenhouse - that is, the algae productivity was much more than expected leading to problems in managing orderly growth and harvesting. So they had to shut down the entire greenhouse.
The letter also lays out other challenges and the efforts undertaken to overcome these challenges. The one other challenge that caught my eye was that the greenhouse (construction?) cost was twice as much as expected.
An interesting case study. I liked the final statement from Metcalfe - "I keep asking the trillion-dollar question that led to the founding of GreenFuel: Why expensively sequester CO2 when it can be profitably recycled?"...which in fact happens to be the tagline at their company web site as well
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Labels: Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
Liverpool John Lennon airport Uses Algae For CO2 Sequestration
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LIVERPOOL John Lennon airport is testing a revolutionary scheme to convert harmful CO˛ emissions into car and aviation fuel.Airport chiefs are running a 12-month trial of new hardware designed to capture CO˛ emissions from passengers and workers in the terminal.
They will then be passed through a gadget containing algae, which will convert them into material capable of being made into a biofuel.
This will be used to power some of the airport’s diesel vehicles and, depending on the trial’s success, could even produce aviation-grade fuel.
Spokesman Amy Dartington said: “This is a cynical piece of spin to make the airport look greener while they are planning on extending the runway.Algae-to-biofuel technologies are still in their infancy and it is not clear how this particular piece of kit actually works.We look forward to seeing concrete results so we can see if it has made any real difference.”
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Cultivation
Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) Executive Nigel Perry said Algae is Intresting
You are at: Oilgae Blog.This year will also see the CPI increase its research into the use of algae as a source of low-carbon biofuel and it has already received significant funding to produce sustainable algae crops this year.
The technology is currently undergoing trials to decide whether to ferment or heat the algae in order to produce a sludge like biomass, which is incredibly rich in energy-producing chemicals.
Chief executive of the CPI Nigel Perry said: “Despite worries that there may be less private investment in innovation this year, we are in reasonably good shape and are looking to take a number of projects onto the next stage.
“Although the research into algae is only in the early stages we are receiving interest from a number of parties excited about its potential as a major source of bio-fuel.”
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research
Lynch Explains Algae Technology in SCIA Annual Meeting
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"There is a lot of hope and excitement in Shenandoah, and that is rebolstered after tonight's meeting," SCIA Executive Director Gregg Connell told the record crowd.
From left: Gregg Connell, Nancy Maher and Kevin Lynch sit and watch as new SCIA Vice President Dick Profit talks on behalf of new President Ron Oestmann at Monday’s annual meeting.Lynch is the CEO of BioProcess Algae and talked about the impact algae could have on Shenandoah - and the world.BioProcess is a joint venture, involving Green Plains Renewable Energy, researching the feasibility for producing oil for biofuels at the ethanol plant in Shenandoah.Lynch, of Dublin, Ireland, has been tapped to lead his company through the first phase of the local algae project, which supporters are calling one of the first of its kind.
"Shenandoah could become the Saudi Arabia of ethanol," Lynch told the crowd. "Currently the US imports substantly over 50 percent of its petroleum, from a handful of countries. In the next couple of years those countries are going to dwindle to a few countries in the Middle East and Russia."Lynch said with the oil producing possibilities of algae, the focus of oil production could shift from overseas to the United States - in particular Iowa.Lynch said although several companies worldwide are researching algae as an energy source, he believes BioProcess has the upper hand for several reasons.
He believes the technology behind their process for growing the algae and extracted its oil is superior, plus they have all the necessary components - namely water and carbon dioxide which is a byproduct of producing ethanol.Lynch also said GPRE has another valuable asset once oil production from the algae gets underway, and that is distribution.Lynch went on to say not only is the energy producing capabilities of this project exciting, but also it was also be something that helps out the environment by using excess carbon dioxide."We have a possibility or probability that CO2 is bad, and the certainty that we can do something about it," he said. "It's certainly something we should act upon."
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research
Large-scale Algae-to-Biofuel Research Project in Nevada
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The first real-world, demonstration-scale project in Nevada for turning algae into biofuel has successfully completed the initial stage of research at the University of Nevada, Reno. The project is on track to show the process is an economical, commercially viable renewable energy source in Nevada.
University researchers have harvested their first outdoor cold-weather crop of algae as part of their collaborative algae-to-biofuels project with their industry partners Enegis, LLC and Bebout and Associates.
“We’ll be analyzing the algae for starches and lipids, the components that can be used for fuel,” said Professor John Cushman, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.
Nevada researchers and energy producers are uniquely enabled to leverage the geothermal, high solar radiation, ample land area, and salt basins to produce algae in a scalable and economically viable manner. Use of the uncovered ponds demonstrates that algae can be grown in commercial quantities year-round, even in a temperate climate. This will preclude the need for capital-intensive bioreactors or covered ponds.
University researchers have harvested their first outdoor cold-weather crop of algae as part of their collaborative algae-to-biofuels project with their industry partners Enegis, LLC and Bebout and Associates.
The project, using one of two 5,000-gallon ponds at the University’s greenhouse complex on Valley Road in Reno, produced several hundred gallons of concentrated algal slurry. The algae thrived in the outdoor pond despite nighttime temperatures that fell into the low 20s.
University researchers have harvested their first outdoor cold-weather crop of algae as part of their collaborative algae-to-biofuels project Photo provided by Mark Lemos.
“We’ll be analyzing the algae for starches and lipids, the components that can be used for fuel,” said Professor John Cushman, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.
Nevada researchers and energy producers are uniquely enabled to leverage the geothermal, high solar radiation, ample land area, and salt basins to produce algae in a scalable and economically viable manner. Use of the uncovered ponds demonstrates that algae can be grown in commercial quantities year-round, even in a temperate climate. This will preclude the need for capital-intensive bioreactors or covered ponds.
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research
Algae Protein Market -A Driving Force for Algae Biodiesel
You are at: Oilgae Blog.The growing use of algae biomass for nutraceutical purposes is expected to provide an attractive revenue stream for those using algae oil for biodiesel.The further development of a large-scale algae protein market will be the driving force to making algae oil a reality for biodiesel production. The path forward is awaiting, but more marketing and penetration into existing food sectors is needed. The sports nutrition market is worth more than $27 billion per year and has a great potential as an algae protein market.
Algae, are a fish food, used for many common species including tilapia. Algae are also used to feed the brine shrimp used to feed other species of farm-raised fish such as salmon. Regardless, algae are in high demand for fish food in the aquaculture market and provide a great revenue stream for the algae industry.
The vitamins and minerals within algae may be fractionated from the biomass. This application has been used for years for a wide array of products in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. After the algal biomass is fractionated, the remaining cellulosic material and sugars make a great feedstock whole, or blended with other feedstocks, for the production of cellulosic ethanol.
As these potential new markets open, and due to the high value of biomass, algae lipid oil will become a reality as a feedstock for biodiesel production. These are some of the factors that need to be considered in order to make an algae farm for lipid oil profitable and provide an inexpensive high-grade feedstock for biodiesel production.
A twin photobioreactor and lighting array is used to produce algae
Algae, are a fish food, used for many common species including tilapia. Algae are also used to feed the brine shrimp used to feed other species of farm-raised fish such as salmon. Regardless, algae are in high demand for fish food in the aquaculture market and provide a great revenue stream for the algae industry.
The vitamins and minerals within algae may be fractionated from the biomass. This application has been used for years for a wide array of products in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. After the algal biomass is fractionated, the remaining cellulosic material and sugars make a great feedstock whole, or blended with other feedstocks, for the production of cellulosic ethanol.
As these potential new markets open, and due to the high value of biomass, algae lipid oil will become a reality as a feedstock for biodiesel production. These are some of the factors that need to be considered in order to make an algae farm for lipid oil profitable and provide an inexpensive high-grade feedstock for biodiesel production.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Products
John Benemann - New Advisor to Future Fuels Consortium
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Dr John Benemann, who has worked in the area of microalgae biofuels in the United States for more than30 years, has been appointed as a specialist advisor to the Future Fuels Consortium comprising the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), Flinders University, CSIRO and major project sponsor SANCON.
Dr Benemann says SA has the potential to produce algal biodiesel feedstock but there are challenges in developing a sufficiently low-cost technology to produce microalgae biofuel economically, including stable cultivation at high productivity and harvesting.
By off-setting production costs with high value co-products such as nutraceuticals, and co-processes such as waste water treatment, the vision of algal biofuels could be realised in the nearer term, he said.
As an example of the potential of microalgae for biodiesel production, it has been estimated that only 400,000 hectares of land using seawater is required to replace Australia's current biodiesel needs, compared to 20 million hectares of canola growing on agricultural land and using freshwater resources.
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
Southern Invention Turns Sewage Algae Into Crude Oil
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Invercargill engineering firm BL Rayners Ltd and Christchurch recycling company Solvent Rescue Ltd have collaborated under the name Solray to develop the machine, which has taken them 18 years to perfect.
Solvent Rescue owner Chris Bathurst said the MKII had been operating for the past four months after performing to expectation during its testing phase.It was two to three months away from being used commercially at the Bromley oxidation ponds in Christchurch, he said"It's a high-risk project but we feel we're ahead of the game."
The machine left sewage water clean, while the algae absorbs carbon dioxide, making the technology appealing to councils and heavy polluters, Mr Bathurst said. Twelve councils had already made inquiries, he said.
- The machine uses high pressure to turn algae, grown in sewage ponds, into algal sludge.
- The sludge is then processed using pressure, temperature, timing and a secret catalyst to turn it into crude oil.
- The crude oil can then be refined into jet fuel (kerosene), petrol, methane, LPG, diesel, or bitumen.
- The sewage pond water is left clean enough to be re-used by industry.
- The algae absorbs carbon dioxide.
- The process replicates how oil is created naturally, but much faster.
Industrial Algae Plant Configuration Face Problems
You are at: Oilgae Blog.
Algae developers are riding a wave of interest due to the single-celled plant’s ability to grow rapidly and produce valuable products that can be used to make biodiesel. How industrial algae plants will be configured is yet unknown, but producers will face the same problems as other alternative energy producers—where to put the facility and how to get government permission to build it.
It is hard work getting an industrial plant built. Developers need to find a site with easy access to infrastructure for water, power and transportation yet not too close to residential or commercial areas that may object to noise, traffic, odor or any number of other inconveniences. They must then contend with a thicket of agencies, starting with local zoning boards and state pollution control agencies and sometimes even needing federal approvals before they can start pushing dirt and laying foundations. Even then, community residents and outsiders, who may believe they weren’t consulted properly can still swoop in and cause more headaches with lawsuits and media campaigns designed to delay or stop a project.
These problems can be magnified when a project is a “first-of-its-kind” facility for what promises to be a booming industry in the future. Algae production for biofuels, biomass, chemicals and other products faces these challenges. Companies pursuing algae production could learn from previous generations of alternative energy production, says Peter Mostow, a partner with Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, a law firm that works with many clean technology and renewable energy firms.
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Algae developers are riding a wave of interest due to the single-celled plant’s ability to grow rapidly and produce valuable products that can be used to make biodiesel. How industrial algae plants will be configured is yet unknown, but producers will face the same problems as other alternative energy producers—where to put the facility and how to get government permission to build it.
The illustration shows a future algae farm surrounding an integrated fossil carbon input plant and an algal biomass conversion plant.
It is hard work getting an industrial plant built. Developers need to find a site with easy access to infrastructure for water, power and transportation yet not too close to residential or commercial areas that may object to noise, traffic, odor or any number of other inconveniences. They must then contend with a thicket of agencies, starting with local zoning boards and state pollution control agencies and sometimes even needing federal approvals before they can start pushing dirt and laying foundations. Even then, community residents and outsiders, who may believe they weren’t consulted properly can still swoop in and cause more headaches with lawsuits and media campaigns designed to delay or stop a project.
These problems can be magnified when a project is a “first-of-its-kind” facility for what promises to be a booming industry in the future. Algae production for biofuels, biomass, chemicals and other products faces these challenges. Companies pursuing algae production could learn from previous generations of alternative energy production, says Peter Mostow, a partner with Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, a law firm that works with many clean technology and renewable energy firms.
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Cultivation
Ben Gurion University, Primafuel Join on Algae Biorefinery
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Ben Gurion University of the Negev and California-based low-carbon fuel developer Primafuel are partnering on an international algae biorefinery program.
The multi-year development deal, between Primafuel and Ben Gurion University's Microalgal Biotechnology Laboratory (MBL)is estimated to be worth several million dollars.
The MBL has three decade of experience in producing commercial quantities of algae for the food and nutraceutical markets. That venture includes one of the largest photobioreactors in the world.
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Photobioreactor
Green Plain Renewable Energy Inc.(GPRE) forms algae venture
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Nebraska-based Green Plain Renewable Energy Inc. has partnered with Tennessee-based filtration products manufacturer Clarcor Inc., Rhode Island-based photobioreactor and filtration system developer BioProcessH20 LLC, and Ireland-based NTR PLC to develop a pilot-scale algae production facility at GPRE’s 50 MMgy ethanol plant in Shenandoah, Iowa. GPRE said BioProcess Algae LLC will grow the algae, which will be used to produce biodiesel, ethanol and animal feed. The company will utilize an advanced photobioreactor based on technology licensed to the company by BioProcessH20. The size, scope and construction time line of the facility had not yet been determined.
Source:ethanolproducer.com
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Photobioreactor
Algae Could End the fuel Crisis
You are at: Oilgae Blog.
Will Thurmond, chairman of research and development at the National Algae Association in America (where all but one of the major algae biodiesel firms are based), believes that pure economics will eventually choose between them: "For research purposes, growing algae in photo-bioreactors is better, because you can control all the variables. But once the research has been completed by all the companies involved and moves into large-scale production, the debate will be resolved."
But once you've got the vast amounts of green sludge, how do you go about extracting oil from pond scum? "The old method is to take algae out of a pond with a fishing net, dry it out and literally squeeze the oil out," says Thurmond. "More modern methods have required chemical solvents, but recently the University of Texas has developed a way of using ultrasonic waves to rupture the cell walls: the oil rises to the top of the container and you can skim it off the top of the cells. This is the preferred method, as it's non-polluting, but it's not yet advanced enough to be commercially viable."
Whatever the method employed, the extraction procedure can be costly and complicated, and further processing is still required before the algae can be turned into vehicle fuel. The cost of this has dropped dramatically: to make algae biodiesel in the lab 25 years ago cost $3,000 per gallon; today it is less than $20. However, in the US, petrol costs $2 per gallon and diesel $2.70 – to be competitive, algae biodiesel would need to be around the $2 mark, too. As Thurmond admits, "It's the last yard that's hard."
Yet a solution to that cost problem could be available from a familiar figure in the world of genetic engineering. The renowned American scientist Craig Venter has – with his team at Synthetic Genomics in California – developed bacteria that require only sunlight and water to grow, and secrete the required oil as a by-product of the metabolic process. Professor Venter, who was the first person to have his entire genome sequenced and hopes to become the first to create an entirely synthetic life form, says that if he can raise the funding to build a pilot plant, his bacterial oil could be pumped straight into an existing refinery.
Whichever modified micro-organism the new oil comes from, there is one significant drawback. Although they will work in cars, biofuels aren't up to the demands of the aviation industry, as they freeze too easily in the sub-zero temperatures at high altitude.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Cost, Algae-Fuel-Research
NAA to discuss BioCentric Energy's Closed Loop Solution in Forum
You are at: Oilgae Blog.
Barry Cohen from The National Algae Association inquired BioCentric Energy Holdings about Their closed loop solution.
"We would like to know if you are available to speak about the BioCentric patent pending closed-loop system at our Algae Commercialization, Research and Business Networking Forum January 29-30, 2009 in Houston, Texas."
Dennis Fisher, CEO of BioCentric, replied, "We would be available, and very much interested to introduce our inexpensive closed loop solution to your meeting... As we have previously stated, our competitive advantage is our ability to produce our algae system, computer-controlled, that adjusts itself to varying conditions for less than $20 per square meter compared to other closed loop systems ranging from $77 per square meter to over $300 per square meter which is our Patent Pending Technology."
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"We would like to know if you are available to speak about the BioCentric patent pending closed-loop system at our Algae Commercialization, Research and Business Networking Forum January 29-30, 2009 in Houston, Texas."
Dennis Fisher, CEO of BioCentric, replied, "We would be available, and very much interested to introduce our inexpensive closed loop solution to your meeting... As we have previously stated, our competitive advantage is our ability to produce our algae system, computer-controlled, that adjusts itself to varying conditions for less than $20 per square meter compared to other closed loop systems ranging from $77 per square meter to over $300 per square meter which is our Patent Pending Technology."
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
The Algae Lab in the Shipyard @ Berkeley, California - for Open Source, DIY Community
You are at: Oilgae Blog.A nice attempt here to help people by teaching them all about algae, algaculture and more.
The Algaelab team has created a community algae lab for the development of open-source, DIY-oriented algae technology
The site says, "Whether you are looking for a job in the exploding algae biofuels field, or thinking about creating your own farm, we can help you get up to speed!"
The lab these folks have created is an independent, non-profit algae laboratory for teaching and research using low-cost, widely-available materials, and we would love to teach you how!
Get to know more from here
http://algaelab.org/
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research
Solix claims cut the costs of growing algae by 90-95%
You are at: Oilgae Blog.
Algae in bioreactors – clear, water-filled chambers that let the microorganisms absorb sunlight – need carbon dioxide to feed and grow. Typically, the carbon dioxide is pumped in from a smokestack at a nearby power plant. Injecting that CO2 and circulating it around the tank, however, requires quite a bit of energy, which in turn adds cost.
The Durango, Colo.-based company, which can trace its lineage, in part, back to the algae projects at the National Resources Energy Lab in the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, says it has come up with a way to lets CO2 essentially enter and swirl inside the tank in a relatively passive manner.
As a result, Solix claims that it has cut the costs of growing algae by around 90 percent to 95 percent. Solix's bioreactors are relatively flat plates that increase the amount of light that can be absorbed by the algae.
"Bubbling in CO2. That is where a large part of the energy costs come from," Henston said in an interview. "We understand where the big buttons are."
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The Durango, Colo.-based company, which can trace its lineage, in part, back to the algae projects at the National Resources Energy Lab in the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, says it has come up with a way to lets CO2 essentially enter and swirl inside the tank in a relatively passive manner.
As a result, Solix claims that it has cut the costs of growing algae by around 90 percent to 95 percent. Solix's bioreactors are relatively flat plates that increase the amount of light that can be absorbed by the algae.
"Bubbling in CO2. That is where a large part of the energy costs come from," Henston said in an interview. "We understand where the big buttons are."
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Photobioreactor
Japan Scientists Say Floating Seaweed Can Fight Global Warming
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Huge water-borne farms can turn the tide against increasing greenhouse gases
If a group of Japanese scientists is to be believed, the fate of humanity may rest on colossal floating islands of sargassum and Sostera marina.
The team envisages 100 vast nets full of quick-growing seaweed, each measuring six miles by six miles, floating off the northeast coast of Japan.
The seaweed in each net, growing to a weight of 270,000 tonnes a year, will absorb prodigious quantities of greenhouse gases and convert them to oxygen before being harvested 12 months later as a rich source of biomass energy.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry mentioned carbon dioxide absorption by seaweed in its Technology Roadmap for 2005. The project is led by Masahiro Notoya, a world expert on seaweed from the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. Dr Notoya believes that Sostera marina and sargassum, herded to the right parts of the ocean, will grow up to 40ft every year, absorbing about 36 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the process. Those seaweeds are also popular fare for a variety of fish whose stocks have dwindled.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation
Petroalgae Grows Algae in Plastic Tubes
You are at: Oilgae Blog.A picture of Fred Tennant, vice president of business development for Petro-Algae, examining plastic tubes filled with algae from floridatoday.com. The algae is used to innoculate larger tanks. Tennant said"This is where we grow our babies,". PetroAlgae plans to produce 6,000 gallons of biodiesel per acre per year at the operation in Fellsmere.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?template=zoom&Site=A9&Date=20090104&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=901040319&Ref=AR&Profile=1006
Source
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
Symbiotic Microalgae and Fish Production Method in Ponds
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Came across an interesting abstract for algae cultivation: "A method for producing biomass of microalgae and fishes economically by establishing a symbiotic relation between the above two organisms in a culture pond exposed to sunlight or artificial illumination."
A method for producing microalgae and fish biomass in commercial quantities through symbiotic co-culture, said method comprising continuously co-culturing microalgae and fish in high density in a body of water which is exposed to sunlight or artificial illumination, the density of said microalgae in said water being sufficient to supply the oxygen requirements of said fish, and to assimilate nitrogen excreted therefrom sufficient to prevent a level toxic to said fish from developing said microalgae density being at least 0.3 g (dry weight)/1, the density of said fish in said water being sufficient to supply the carbon dioxide and nitrogen requirements of said microalgae for optimal growth, and sufficient to prevent protozoal contamination, said fish denisty being at least 30 g/1, said microalgae and said fish being periodically harvested from said water thereby maintaining said density of said microalgae and said fish.
Read the full patent details here
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation
Algae Problems - Light Distribution, Agitation, Tough Cell Walls
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Here's a detailed and useful post on the problems and stand in the way of algae becoming the dominant biofuel feedstock.
While I'd say that the author has looked only at one aspect of algae energy (the biodiesel part), and not much from the algae ethanol or algae to hydrocarbons using the thermochemical routes, the post is still very useful because for the scope that the post has limited itself, it does a commendable job of pointing out the key issues - need for an even and effective light distribution, need to overcome the problems of agitation of medium that curtail algae growth and the need to make the cracking of the tough algae walls easier in order to extract oil.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation
Northern Arizona University(NAU) Student Finds Algae as Alternative Energy Source
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Camille Naaktgeboren, a NAU graduate student working on her PhD, is studying algae as an alternative source of energy. The lipids (fats) from these algae can be used to produce biodiesel. "To meet the energy needs of the future we will not rely on a single or a few sources as we do now. Instead we will diversify our energy sources. Though solar and wind power are very important, we still require a liquid fuel that can be used in our current engines," she said.
"Algal-derived biodiesel provides a viable alternative to diesel produced by fossil fuels.This fuel is carbon neutral it does not add to the total amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, renewable, and rapidly produced."
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation
OriginOil Grows Algae in a Better Way
You are at: Oilgae Blog.In an unassuming converted warehouse in Los Angeles, the 10 employees of OriginOil are working to perfect the way microscopic algae is grown and refined.They hope that within a few years the methods they use to make small batches of greenish-colored algae mixtures in the laboratory will be imitated in 2,500-gallon (9,460 liter) tanks around the world. And that the oil extracted from the algae will in many cases replace petroleum.
The company is led by co-founders and brothers Riggs Eckelberry, CEO and president, and inventor Nicholas Eckelberry. Recently hired Vikram Pattarkine is chief technology officer.
Riggs Eckelberry said costs of the technology were still being studied, along with oil yield but that yields compared favorably with large-scale algae refineries in Japan, although OriginOil's results were from small tanks in the laboratory.See more
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
Algae VC - Khosla Ventures, Hawaiian Electric to collaborate
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Khosla Ventures and Hawaiian Electric Co. have agreed to collaborate on evaluation and early deployment of green-energy technologies. The companies will work with entrepreneurs and start-up companies developing clean technology with the goal of accelerating the commercialization of promising new products and services.
Hawaiian Electric is partnering in an algae production project with Maui landowner Alexander & Baldwin Inc. and start-up HR BioPetroleum Inc. The plan is to create a commercial-scale algae facility adjacent to the Ma’alaea Power Plant. Hawaiian Electric is also a partner in the proposed BlueEarth Biofuels LLC 40 MMgy biodiesel processing plant on Maui, which is expected to be operational in early 2010. The goal is to use locally grown oil feedstocks such as algae, jatropha or palm.
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Indian Institute of Science Plans For Genetic Modification of Algae
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Indian Institute of Science will soon be 100 and enter its second century. Its founders wanted it to be the John Hopkins of India.There are three commitments of IISc. The first is to carry out research in frontier areas of science (includes technology) in the pursuit of excellence. The second is to help the country find solutions to its problems through the application of science and technology. The third is to provide human resource of the best kind to the nation through imparting training at the highest level, in various branches of science. The vision of big science is embedded in the first two. IIS's vision of big science can help the country in tackling its well-nigh insatiable energy needs.
K J Rao, professor, Solid State and Structural chemistry unit, IISc said "We are in need of Carbon neutral energy sources . We must genetically engineer new algae. Algae can synthesize huge quantities of lipids, 60% of their dry mass, at very high rates. Algae culturing requires only marginal land and small amounts of water and fertilizers."
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation
Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), Tezpur, India is working on fresh water algae as source for bio-diesel
You are at: Oilgae Blog.India's premier defence research agency, DRDO, will develop a medium-range and long- endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in association with an Indian industry partner.
Defence Minister A K Antony said the Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), Tezpur is working on fresh water algae to use them as source for bio-diesel.
"DRL is trying to identify a fresh water algal strain in North-Eastern region as a source of higher lipid content, which can be converted in to bio-diesel," he said.
"The laboratory is collecting samples of micro algae from different districts in North east for identification of a strain, which has higher amount of lipid contents for bio-fuel production," he added.
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Strains
Algae Bio-fertilizer Boosts Sugarcane Yield in India
You are at: Oilgae Blog.The ‘eco-friendly´ algae cultivation technology pioneered by Bhavnagar based Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) is emerging as a booster dose to enhance sugarcane yield.
“Using the thicking agent derived from this unique algae (Kappaphycus alvarezi) cultivation technology, sugarcane yield in a 1000 acre field shot up by 30% during first field trials conducted in Karnataka,and The second field trials are slated to start on 5,000 acres of land each in the state of Tamilnadu and Uttar Pradesh,” CSMCRI Director Pushpito K. Ghosh said.
“Also commercial skilled production of bio-fertilizer using this algae will kick start soon. The production volumes of bio-fertilizer will be as large as 20,000 tonnes,” he added.Presently, this unique algae is being cultivated in Tamilnadu in a big way, after CSMCRI licensed the technology to Pepsico Food.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research
Experiments on Algae by Thornton Academy students
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Irving Backman, a Newton Centre, Mass., resident who graduated from Thornton in 1943, has given a science class financial support to provide him with data on algae as he researches the likelihood of using the plant to make biodiesel.
The Thornton Academy Environmental Research Collaborative is a science elective with 12 students. Students in the class are performing experiments to determine what the best conditions are for algae growth.The students have been working with chlorella vulgaris, growing it in small jars and then transferring it to two-gallon tanks.
The students, through their research, have determined that the algae grows better in tap water as opposed to distilled water, and grows better under compact fluorescent lights as opposed to incandescent lights.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research
Simgae Low Cost Algae Production System from Diversified Energy & XL Renewables
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Diversified Energy Corporation has formed a partnership and licensing arrangement for a patent pending algae production system invented by XL Renewables, Inc. The approach, called Simgae™ (for simple algae), utilizes common agriculture and irrigation components to produce algae at a fraction of the cost of competing systems. It is claimed that the cost will be 1/2 - 1/16th the capital cost, and profitable oil production costs at $0.08 - $0.12/pound, and low operations and maintenance requirements...
Typical architectures currently rely on a series of rigid and complex frameworks and structures. As a consequence, capital costs can be anywhere from $100k’s to over $1M/acre. When factoring in the thousands of algae acres required, these up-front costs can kill a project.
Simgae™ offers a complete paradigm shift by delivering an agriculture-based solution to largescale algae production. Instead of creating elaborate architectures designed to push yield to its utmost maximum, the proposed system makes cost and simplicity the driving variables. The approach can be thought of as the “farmer’s solution” to algae production. The system uses unique thin walled polyethylene tubing, called Algae Biotape®, similar to conventional drip irrigation tubes. The patent pending biotape is laid out in parallel across a field. Under pressure, water containing the necessary nutrients and a small fraction of algae are slowly introduced into the biotape. Carbon dioxide is injected periodically and after roughly 24 hours the flow leaves the Algae Biotape® with a markedly greater concentration of algae than was started. All the supporting hardware components and processes involved in Simgae™ are direct applications from the agriculture industry. Re-use of these practices avoids the need for expensive and complex hardware and costly installation and maintenance.
The Simgae™ design is expected to provide an annual algae yield of 100 - 200 dry tons per acre. Capital costs are expected to be approximately $45k - $60k (a 2 - 16 times improvement over competing systems) and profitable oil production costs are estimated at only $0.08 - $0.12/pound. These oil costs compare to recent market prices of feedstock oils anywhere from $0.25 - $0.44/pound.
More information about Simgae™ can be found here
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Cost, Algae-Photobioreactor
Heterotropic Algae Fed on Sugars from Cellulosic Biomass
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Researchers at the Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Ky., are partnering with San Diego-based General Atomics to study the potential for converting cellulosic biomass into biodiesel and ultimately jet fuel.
According to Dr. Bruce Pratt, chairman of the Department of Agriculture at EKU, researchers will look at using commercially available cellulase enzymes to convert cellulosic biomass to sugars, which will then be fed to heterotrophic algae that can convert sugars to oils without photosynthesis. “These are not the phototrophic types (of algae) that use sunlight,” Pratt said. “These are membranous-type algae and they are heterotrophic, because we need to feed them the nutrients rather than getting the nutrients from the sun. These strains of algae have very high oil content.” The oils are then extracted from the algae and converted to biodiesel.
The process is similar to how cellulosic ethanol is produced, but the end product is biodiesel. “To get ethanol, you take those sugars and ferment them to make alcohol. Our difference is taking the sugars and feeding them to algae and having the algae produce the oils.”
Source: Biodiesel Magazine
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research
Algae Photobioreactor - Low Cost, High Efficiency, from Algasol Renewables
You are at: Oilgae Blog.You hear it everyday - "if only photobioreactors could be much cheaper, perhaps algae fuel could be cost effective".
Last few months, we have been seeing a number of companies start efforts into producing lower cost photobioreactors, and Algasol is one more to be added to this list.
Algasol Renewables SL, located in Spain is making interesting efforts at making high-performance low-cost photobioreactors. This is what their web site has to say: "The technology is based on a low-cost closed photobioreactor system. The closed process design allows for the growing of different species of algae optimized for productivity and end product. Contamination – a potential threat in open ponds is avoided.
The Algasol Renewables photobioreactor technology is superior both in terms of cost and efficiency compared to other photobioreactor designs.
Algasol Renewables expects to have the world’s largest and most cost efficient micro algae photobioreactor pilot plant in 2010."
2010 is still some time away but it is good to see more companies making efforts into PBRs.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Photobioreactor
Algae to Methanol to Fuel Cells to Electricity and Back to Algae!
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Was going through an interesting patent filing when I came across this paragraph: "A method of cultivating an algae, comprising: introducing oxygen produced by the algae into a hydrogen fuel cell assembly; introducing methanol produced by the gasification of an algae pulp of the algae into the hydrogen fuel assembly; processing the oxygen and the methanol in the hydrogen fuel cell assembly to produce carbon dioxide and water; and cultivating the algae with the carbon dioxide and the water."
So that appears like a neat little idea - grow algae and get oxygen during its growth, take the algae, gasify it to get methanol, use the methanol in a direct methanol fuel cell to get electricity, CO2 and water, and send the CO2 and water back again for algae growth. Interesting, not sure about the economics though.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation
Valcent technologies - Nearing Completion Of Its First Commercial H.D.V.G. Vegetable Production Plant
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Valcent technologies expects to complete construction of the first full scale commercial High Density Vertical Growing System project at its El Paso Research facility. Site preparation is complete and erection of the one eighth acre plant expects greenhouse containment structure is at an advanced stage. Valcent COO Forrest Ely has forecasted completion of the project to occur in mid - February, with the first harvest expected in mid-March. The High Density Vertical Growing System will now be known as "VertiCrop".
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Photobioreactor
Colorado Field Institute sponsors a program on algae biofuel on Dec 10
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Colorado Field Institute (CFI), in cooperation with San Luis Valley RC&D and Colorado State University, is sponsoring a program on how rural Colorado can benefit from the use of algae as a biofuel. First in CFI’s fourth annual Winter Lecture Series, the interactive program will be presented by Jeff Veres, president and Chris Reim, vice president of American Bioresources LLC. The two entrepreneurs indicate that ABR is currently in a startup phase, about 12 months from commercial operations.
ABR proposes to supply agriculture producers with the equipment and support required to improve their income by adding algae production for fuel and feedstock to their land use. The discussion will focus on ABR's technology application, the potential positive economic impact on producers and the practical wisdom of growing algae, which requires only limited water and can be grown on otherwise unproductive land.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Products
Increasing acidity of ocean correlates with increasing atmospheric CO2
You are at: Oilgae Blog.
University of Chicago scientists have documented that the ocean is growing more acidic faster than previously thought. In addition, they have found that the increasing acidity correlates with increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
The ocean plays a significant role in global carbon cycles. When atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in water it forms carbonic acid, increasing the acidity of the ocean. During the day, carbon dioxide levels in the ocean fall because photosynthesis takes it out of the water, but at night, levels increase again.Conducted at Tatoosh Island in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Washington, the study documented that the number of mussels and stalked barnacles fell as acidity increased. At the same time, populations of smaller, shelled species and noncalcareous algae increased.
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Labels: Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Cultivation
Eastern Kentucky University launches research on biofuels
You are at: Oilgae Blog.EKU will establish a Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies (CRAFT), that will be spearheaded by three professors from the agriculture and economics departments.The EKU biofuel project will be different from two energy-related research efforts conducted through the University of Kentucky's Center for Applied Energy Research.
That center is working with Nicholasville-based Alltech Inc. to see how the fermenting of plant cellulose could be made into fuels, said the center's director, Rodney Andrews. Another project uses algae to scrub coal power plants to reduce emissions.
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Labels: Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Cultivation
UCYN-A, a Bluegreen algae could fix nitrogen in broad daylighten
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Ocean scientist Jonathan Zehr and colleagues from the University of California, Santa Cruz, addressed this enigma by collecting UCYN-A from a station in the North Pacific Ocean, where the alga is one of the most abundant nitrogen-fixing organisms. The cyanobacterium proved impossible to cultivate in the laboratory, but Zehr's team nevertheless managed to sequence about 80% of its genome, including the section that contains the genes used in photosynthesis. The results were surprising, the authors say, because UCYN-A is very different from other known cyanobacteria. UCYN-A lacks the genes for photosystem II, the molecular equipment that breaks down water and releases oxygen during photosynthesis. This absence explains how UCYN-A is able to fix nitrogen during the day.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research
Wayne Hoovestol, CEO of Green Plains Renewable Energy belives in Microalgae technology
You are at: Oilgae Blog.At a press conference announcing the kickoff of Growth Energy, Ethanol & Biodiesel News spent some time with Wayne Hoovestol, CEO of Green Plains Renewable Energy, after the event.He said “We think algae will be big, but algae and cellulosic ethanol will be fed through existing plants in bolt-on applications.". He added “They will be percentage contributions [to ethanol output].”
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation
PetroSun BioFuels Proposes New Crop to Catfish Farmers at the Mississippi Biomass Council Meeting
You are at: Oilgae Blog.PetroSun, Inc. announced that PetroSun BioFuels, a wholly-owned subsidiary, and Biomass Partners presented an Aquaculture Algae to Algal Oil Program at the Mississippi Biomass Council meeting held November 5th in Jackson, Mississippi.
PetroSun BioFuels and Biomass Partners have identified in excess of 80,000 acres of catfish ponds within the state of Mississippi. Based on an annual potential production rate of 2,000 gallons per acre, the existing 80,000 acres of ponds would produce 160 million gallons of algal oil annually for conversion to biodiesel. The remaining algae biomass could be processed into ethanol, animal feed, fertilizer and other products.
Interested parties may contact Terri Chiang of Biomass Partners via email at terri@biomasspartner.com or 251-978-7788 to discuss qualifications and to schedule a site visit.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Meal
Biofuel industries need to be moved to sunny areas
You are at: Oilgae Blog.The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (AATSE) says it would like to see a biofuel industry developed in very sunny areas of Australia.
The group's president Professor Robin Batterham of the AATSE says most biofuel research concentrates on producing fuel from food by-products.
But he says the lack of water and good agricultural land in Australia means it would be better suited to developing fuel from other sources such as woody plants and algae.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation
OriginOil, Inc Reminds Investors of the Advanced Biofuels
You are at: Oilgae Blog.http://www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com, a leading investor news and research portal for the renewable energy sector within Investorideas.com, announces new featured showcase company OriginOil, Inc: (OTCBB: OOIL), an algae-to-oil technology company.
The company's technology is an advanced algae growth system that can grow multiple layers of algae biomass around-the-clock with daily harvests. According to the company, growing and harvesting algae on a high volume production basis is the key breakthrough that will allow algae to compete with petroleum.
The US Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy reports, "Algal biofuels are generating considerable interest around the world. They may represent a sustainable pathway for helping to meet the U.S. biofuel production targets set by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007."
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
Holcim Spanish Cement Plant Gets GreenFuel, Aurantia Algae CO2 Recycling Project
You are at: Oilgae Blog.GreenFuel Technologies Corporation and Aurantia, SA announced the second phase of their joint project to develop and scale algae farming technologies in the Iberian Peninsula. Initiated in December 2007 at the Holcim cement plant near Jerez, Spain, the project's goal is to demonstrate that industrial CO2 emissions can be economically recycled to grow algae for use in high-value feeds, foods and fuels.
The Aurantia-GreenFuel project at Holcim consists of a series of development stages that could eventually scale to 100 hectares of algae greenhouses producing 25,000 tons of algae biomass per year. Aurantia anticipates the project will be eligible for subsidies from both regional authorities and the central government which will partially offset its development costs.
The second phase of the project commenced with the successful inoculation and subsequent harvests of a 100m2 prototype vertical thin-film algae-solar bioreactor. The next phase of the Aurantia-GreenFuel project at Holcim will be the construction of a 1,000m2 algae greenhouse and harvesting facilities adjacent to the cement plant.
Source
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Labels: Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Photobioreactor
Rapid Algae Farming Systems from AlgaeVenture Systems
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Algae Venture Systems is developing a Rapid Algae Farming (RAF) System, which will serve as the platform for the creation of numerous products from algae, specifically biofuels and bioplastics. The RAF System is a fully automated network of enclosed photo-bioreactors that efficiently grows and processes algae. The design is fully adaptable, giving it the capability to utilize virtually any species of algae.
AlgaeVenture, belonging to the Univenture Group, believes that plastics technology is continually evolving and are seeking to provide the missing link to commercialize a strong algae industry with their unique manufacturing technologies, engineering and product development - to successfully commercialize algae production systems rapidly.
More from their web site
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Photobioreactor
Green Star Products: Energy from Algae is Being Recognized as a Major Solution
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Press Release Source: Green Star Products, Inc.
Thursday October 30, 2008
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Green Star Products, Inc. today announced that it is releasing part two of a report covering the assessment of the 2nd Algae Biomass Summit hosted by Byrne & Company and Wilson Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati.
Part one of this report was published on October 27, 2008 (see 10/27/2008 GSPI press release titled “Green Star States: Energy From Algae Is Being Recognized As A Major Solution” at http://www.greenstarusa.com/news/08-10-27.html).
Joseph LaStella, President of Green Star Products, attended the conference and reported, “Prominent speakers from all over the world displayed their research and the potential of algae to permanently solve the oil crisis, food crisis, and to control the buildup of global warming gases. The algae biological makeup was also investigated for the possibility to produce chemicals and new products limited only by our ingenuity to create them.
“One of the conference highlights was the presentation given by Congressman Jay Inslee (D-WA) from the state of Washington. Representative Inslee, being a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming, has been a long term supporter of national sustainability and energy independence.
“Congressman Inslee started his speech by giving an account of what his father had told him as a young boy in 1959. Holding up a flask of algae, his father (a biologist) told him, 'Someday this will cure the world's energy needs.'
“Congressman Inslee went on to say that the United States needs an energy, environmental and job creation program similar in national commitment to the Apollo Space Program launched by President John F. Kennedy. He also stated that President Kennedy knew that the U.S.A. could beat the Russians to the moon if the United States ingenuity engine was unleashed. A similar program sponsored by Congressman Inslee is called 'The New Apollo Energy Act' which challenges us on energy independence, global warming and creating jobs.
“Congressman Inslee outlined a four point program, to address the triple threat to the U.S.: imported oil, global warming and job losses (http://www.house.gov/inslee/). Representative Inslee asked all 600 participants of the algae summit to go to Washington, D.C., and help him on Capitol Hill.
“Congressman Inslee reminded us that our fathers fought in World War II and left a legacy for Democracy. Those born after World War II, the 'baby boomers,' must now leave a legacy of Clean Energy. Industries cannot keep dumping their garbage into the atmosphere like it's a free sewer, and it is obvious that the U.S. addiction to foreign oil now has critical economic and national security implications.”
Mr. LaStella also states, “There was a clear consensus of opinion from all the industries, including airline, energy and chemical industries, that algae biomass is the answer to this dilemma. Presently, there is no clear pathway to the reduction of cost to produce commercial algae biomass.
“In summary, the summit speakers identified the most important items challenging the commercial production of algae biomass were the reduction of costs associated with capital construction and operation.
“Green Star's Hybrid Algae Production System (HAPS), one of the largest demonstration facilities, was operated for a continuous nine month period that created a foundation for addressing these cost issues. The HAPS system is protected by 23 individual patent pending components involving construction and operating techniques which will make it very cost competitive. None of these 23 high tech components were incorporated in any presentation at this summit by other companies.
“Therefore, it is my opinion that Green Star is ahead of the technology curve associated with the production of commercial scale algae biomass. Green Star is planning an exciting year for 2009 in developing two 500-acre commercial algae production facilities.”
As an additional comment, our last press release (part one) contained some minor inaccurate information. The Algae Biomass Summit was hosted by Byrne & Company and Wilson Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, and we would also like to give credit to John Williams of Scoville PR and the Algal Biomass Organization (ABO) (algalbiomass.org) because we used several phrases from their press release to describe the attendance spectrum at the conference. We did reference their document in the previous press release; however, we would like to acknowledge again the efforts of Vinod Khosla in supporting this great industry.
Green Star Products, Inc. (OTC: GSPI - News) is an environmentally friendly company dedicated to creating innovative, cost-effective products to improve the quality of life and clean up the environment. Green Star Products and its Consortium are involved in the production of green sustainable goods including renewable resources like algae biodiesel and clean-burning biofuels, cellulosic ethanol and other products, as well as lubricants, additives and devices that reduce emissions and improve fuel economy in vehicles, machinery and power plants. For more information, see Green Star Products' Web site at http://www.GreenStarUSA.com, or call Public Relations at 1-800-741-7648 and 1-800-340-9784, or fax 619-789-4743, or email info@GreenStarUSA.com. Information about trading prices and volume can be obtained at several Internet sites, including http://www.pinksheets.com, http://www.bloomberg.com and http://www.bigcharts.com under the ticker symbol "GSPI".
Forward-looking statements in the release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, continued acceptance of the company's products, increased levels of competition for the company, new products and technological changes, the company's dependence on third-party suppliers, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Green Star Products, Inc.
Joseph LaStella, President
800-741-7648
800-340-9784
619-864-4010
619-789-4743 (fax)
info@GreenStarUSA.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Green Star Products, Inc.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Energy-Products
Algenol Biofuels Announces Opening of U.S. Headquarters
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Algenol Biofuels, developers of DIRECT TO ETHANOL(TM), the most advanced third generation biofuels technology, today announced the official opening of the Company's U.S. headquarters in Naples, Florida. The new headquarters joins established locations in Baltimore, Maryland and Palm Beach county Florida. The office will house the Company's business development and executive teams.
"The opening of our Florida offices is a significant milestone in our company's continued growth," said Paul Woods, co-founder and CEO of Algenol Biofuels. "The establishment of our North American headquarters underscores our commitment to bringing affordable biofuel options to the U.S. as we look to lessen our dependence on foreign fuel sources and reducing CO2 levels."
Algenol's Direct to Ethanol(TM) process links photosynthesis with the natural enzymes to produce ethanol inside each tiny algae cell and does not use food, farmland, or fresh water. The Company currently has the capability of producing ethanol at a rate of over 6,000 gallons per acre per year and will be producing ethanol for commercial sales in 2009.
About Algenol Biofuels
Algenol Biofuels, Inc., a privately owned company, was founded in early 2006 and is engaged in broad research and development efforts to develop industrial-scale production systems to make ethanol from algae. The company's DIRECT TO ETHANOL(TM) process is the most advanced third generation biofuels technology that produces industrial-scale, low cost ethanol using algae, sunlight, CO2 and seawater. It is the only end-to-end commercial process that stabilizes and reduces CO2 levels. Algenol is slated for commercial sales of ethanol in 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.algenolbiofuels.com.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Ethanol
Sapphire Energy's Method - GM + Open Ponds?
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Genetic engineering also influences how Sapphire will grow its algae. It wants to grow the algae in open, saline ponds, rather than sealed bioreactors, like Greenfuel. The company also says that it has minimized the danger of rogue algal blooms from its genetically enhanced algae ponds as well as the risk that natural strains will out-compete its algae or eliminate its special qualities through hybridization.
Algae execs at competitors tend to scoff at this notion. The challenges keeping wild species at bay, getting consistent results generation to generation represent massive problems. And one can only imagine the land-use hearings when Sapphire says it wants to build a pond to raise GMO algae. Again, it is their job to scoff, but they have a point.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Strains
Skip Kemp, instructor of CCC’s aquaculture program use Bogue Sound for algae cultivation
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Mr. Kemp and his students start the process of creating “oilgae” by collecting phytoplankton (microscopic algae) from Bogue Sound, then growing it in special ponds. As the water is pumped from the sound into the ponds, a filter separates the phytoplankton from other microscopic animals that would eat it.
The phytoplankton is fertilized to speed up the growth process. It only takes a few days to grow a harvestable crop, which is one reason it’s attractive as a potential fuel source.
The algae-rich water is pumped from the pond into a centrifuge, where the algae are separated from the pond water through a spinning process. The algae create a thick, dark paste, which is scraped from the sides of the centrifuge.
The oil-rich paste is spread into a thin layer on a flat surface and placed in a dehydrator to be dried out. The end result is a series of thin pieces of a dark substance that almost looks like beef jerky. Those pieces are highly flammable from the high concentration of oil.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Cultivation-Open-Pond, Algae-Harvesting
Algal Sciences - Growing, Harvesting, Processing Algae for Food, Fuel, Research
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Thought I'd profile this company.
Products
They grow agal species specifically tailored to your requirements. Quantities and dry processing and packaging is available for all species harvested at their facility.
Bioreactor
Bioreactor Forest(tm) 20 System - 2000L photobioreactor system is skid mounted and can process up to 1000L of wet algae per day. This system includes all necessary tanks, pumps and plumbing. Harvesting can be done in batch or continuous basis depending on the operational requirements and processing system in place.
More on Algal Sciences from their web site
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Photobioreactor
Algal Biodiesel Powers Dune Buggy @ Old Dominion University
You are at: Oilgae Blog.What looks just like a dune buggy -- for researchers at Old Dominion University -- is much, much more. Powered by what grows in ponds and aquariums, what's bubbling inside these large vats is being called the fuel of the future.
Dr. Patrick Hatcher is a leader of the Algae-to-Biodiesel Pilot Project at ODU. He says the project has hit some snags -- mostly because of the need for more microscopic plants. But they are going to continue the good efforts
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation
Carbon Trust’s Algae Biofuels Challenge
You are at: Oilgae Blog.The Carbon Trust’s multi-million pound initiative into algae to transport fuels*
As part of our Advanced Bioenergy Accelerator, the Carbon Trust intends to make a multi-million pound investment to support the development and commercialisation of microalgae biofuel technologies that have the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Microalgae can be cultivated and manipulated to produce high yields of oil that can be used as a feedstock for further refining into transport oil. The potential biomass yield of microalgae is vast compared to conventional agricultural biofuel feedstocks and it has few of their negative impacts (it does not require arable land or freshwater and does not compete with commodity food crops). Therefore, the production of microalgae biofuels at scale would represent a disruptive technological breakthrough. However, many challenges remain to make low cost algae biofuels a commercial reality.
Following an extensive programme of work over the last year, analysing the algae biofuel opportunity and developing an appropriate R&D investment strategy to overcome these challenges, the Carbon Trust intends to fund R&D into microalgae derived transport fuels through the Algae Biofuels Challenge, ABC.
The ABC is a two phase programme with the first phase addressing fundamental R&D challenges and the second phase moving to large scale production of algal oil. The total programme cost is expected to be in the region of Ł20m-30m, with up to Ł10m-16m of Carbon Trust funding. Further details about the two phases of the ABC can be downloaded using the links on the right hand side of this page.
The call for proposals for Phase 1 of the ABC opened on the 23rd October 2008 and closes on 15th December 2008. To accompany the launch of the ABC, we will be holding a launch event on the afternoon and evening of Thursday 30th October in London.
The launch event will be used to explain our strategy for the Algae Biofuels Challenge and will provide facilitated opportunities for networking and an evening drinks reception. The networking opportunities will be designed to provide a forum for attendees to generate inter-disciplinary and inter-organisational collaborations to deliver the requirements of the Algae Biofuels Challenge. The event will also provide you with the opportunity to discuss the call for EoIs with members of the Carbon Trust research and development management team who will be on hand to address any questions you may have related to your own plans.
In order to register for the event, please complete our registration form and return it by email to events_team@carbontrust.co.uk. If you have questions about the event, please email the same address, or call us on 0845 136 0103. Otherwise, for more general information about our bioenergy activities, or to be added to our interest list to receive regular updates and announcements about the Algae Biofuels Challenge, please email us at pipeline@carbontrust.co.uk.
Source page @ Carbon Trust, UK
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research, Algae-Oil-Yield
Aurantia, GreenFuel Joint Algae Project in Spain
You are at: Oilgae Blog.GreenFuel Technologies, Aurantia developing joint algae project in Spain
Biofuels company GreenFuel Technologies said it is moving forward on a 247 acre project in Spain that will grow algae for use in fuel, as well as food and animal feed. The company is partnering with Spain's Aurantia SA on the $92 million venture at the Holcim cement plant near Jerez, Spain, where they plan to build greenhouses producing 25,000 tons of algae biomass per year.
Full report from here
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Labels: Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
Algae Has Assets says this Chron report on NAA Meet @ Texas
You are at: Oilgae Blog.From laboratory to the fuel tank
"One man’s pond scum is another man’s ticket to energy independence.
Just ask attendees of a conference Friday in The Woodlands that focused on the potential of algae in making renewable fuels." says this short report on the recently held National Algae Association conference @ Woodlands Texas.
Read the full report from here
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation
PetroSun meets Shanghai Jun Ya Yan in China
You are at: Oilgae Blog.The algae farms at YanCheng, Xiangshui County and New Zone Cixi, Zhejiang were inspected by the joint venture for large scale commercial production of algae biofuel
A Meeting held between Petrosun and Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology provided a pathway for agreement to acquire a Certificate of Authority for the use of selected algae strains for commercial operations.
PetroSun China has reached an agreement to open its Shanghai office at Number 619 Hong Gu Road.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
A patented a process to extract biofuel from sewage
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Has a sewage farm just outside the New Zealand city of Blenheim provided a solution to the world's energy shortages? Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation, a local start-up, has patented a process to extract biofuel from sewage, and last year the country's minister for energy, David Parker, roadtested a car run on the oil of microscopic algae.
"Wild algae is one of the ubiquitous units of nature," says Nick Gerritsen, a partner in the firm. "If you leave a bucket of water outside, the water will turn green as it is settled by wild algae. We realised very early that we needed to create a model that took advantage of wild algae feedstocks."
The challenge was to catch what he calls "the little blighters", the algae that contain oils or lipids, in the work's outflow pipe, a cleansing process known as bio-remediation. In May 2006, the company produced what it claimed was "the first biodiesel crude from wild algae". The process is secret, although oil was extracted from algae that had been separated from water, which Aquaflow wants to leave clean enough to drink.
Self-sufficient
Aquaflow first had to pass the energy balance test, creating a fuel that produced at least as much energy as went into creating it. The company went from pond scum to biodiesel in just over a year and says its fuel is suitable for domestic use and transport. Furthermore, it claims its technology fits "on the back of a truck", and is cheap enough to be adopted anywhere. "Our aim is to enable communities to use their wild algae feedstock and become as self-sufficient as they can," says Gerritsen.
Faith in algae to provide energy has spread. Last month, Shell announced it had formed a joint venture with HR Biopetroleum that will construct a demonstration plant to harvest algae they claim can double their mass several times a day, providing 15 times more oil per hectare than alternatives such as rape.
"Algae have great potential as a sustainable feedstock for production of diesel-type fuels, with a very small C02 footprint," says Graeme Sweeney, Shell's executive vice-president of future fuels and carbon, but admits the commercial potential of the scheme is yet to be proved.
Meanwhile, the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, an alliance of aircraft manufacturers, industry organisations and entrepreneurs, is seeking a biojet fuel that could come from algae.
Last month, a San Francisco "algae summit" drew more than 300 delegates. One participant was Kelly Ogilvie, co-founder of Seattle firm Blue Marble Energy, which plans to harvest wild algae from sewage farms, lakes and rivers, mining ponds and algae blooms caused by pollution. It says its method is "low cost" and "low tech".
Unlike corn, soya beans, rapeseed and sugar cane - unsustainable monocultures that threaten food production already jeopardised by climate change - algae thrive in shallow, brackish water. Like all plants, they convert sunlight into energy and voraciously consume CO2.
Algae also emit CO2, but this can be offset by injecting nutrient rich CO2 emissions into algae-rich water. No one knows how much CO2 could be absorbed but Gerritsen believes it could be "quite significant". Best of all, he says, algae can double their mass in hours.
And they need less space than other biofuels. While corn produces 60 or so gallons of ethanol an acre annually, algae can provide up to 10,000 gallons of biofuel, says Dave Daggett, research chief at Boeing.
However, getting there is a challenge. "There are hurdles throughout the process stream," says Eric Jarvis, a senior scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The US company, funded by energy company Chevron, has resumed work on identifying strains of algae likely to produce abundant lipid oils.
"You have to find an algae strain that thrives in your particular conditions. It must divide at a reasonable rate and produce oil. These things are tough. Then you need to separate the algae from water and extract oil from the paste. Once you have lipid oil, you have to create a fuel that passes specification tests," Jarvis adds.
Those who advocate algae monoculture believe ponds or bioreactors, closed systems that manipulate growing conditions, will do the trick eventually. But wild algae believers reject both methods as costly and unproductive.
"If the future of biofuels is algae, and I believe it is, you're never going to get enough volume in bioreactors or ponds," says Ogilvie. "It has to be something with greater volume." He says the best approach is to mimic nature by creating algae farms, or by harvesting algae blooms. "Why try to out-engineer nature?" he asks.
"It could be done really cheaply if people would shift their paradigm," says Ogilvie. "There has to be a rethinking of how we interact with the environment. Can you clean up the environment? Can you make money and energy doing so?
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Cultivation-Sewage, Algae-Energy-Companies
Diagnostic Technology for Algae-Derived Biofuels from International Energy Announces
You are at: Oilgae Blog.News release
BioGauge(TM), International Energy's new patent-pending 'bio-profiling' technology, helps determine peak production of oil in algae for extraction of bio-crude -- an important innovation in optimizing development and production of commercial algae-based biofuels.
International Energy, a developer of leading-edge technologies for the renewable generation of photosynthetic biofuels, today announced that researchers have devised and instituted an important patent-pending technology capable of rapidly determining the accumulation of bio-oil and other high-value compounds in microalgae, an important advancement in the development of tools for the commercial production of biofuels from algae.
"In order to extract the maximum quantity and quality of bio-oil or bio-polymer from microalgae, it is vital that engineers are able to rapidly determine exactly how much of the compound of interest is present in the algae feedstock at all times during its growth. In all cases, we want to extract oil at the peak moment in the algae's natural oil production cycle, and this newest innovation uniquely positions International Energy with a fast, reliable technology to do so," explained Mr. Gregory B. O'Reilly, President and CEO of International Energy, Inc.
"Notably, BioGauge(TM), our patent-pending breakthrough, gives us the competitive edge in rapidly screening multiple samples for the content of the desired compound(s) in microalgae and photosynthetic bacteria, a know-how that can maximize harvest yields and ultimately help hedge against the risk of product degradation."
According to researchers, one of the most important steps in the production of commercial bio-crude and biofuels from algae is the ability to determine the right time to extract oil from the microalgae feedstock during the algae's growth-cycle. To date, scientists have often used a series of time-consuming, expensive, and sometimes unreliable laboratory methods. In contrast, International Energy's new BioGauge(TM) bio-profiling technology is easy-to-use, instantaneous, and highly-reliable.
"These technical achievements collectively offer us special commercial advantages, and are especially timely in light of recent, key advances in the development of our biofuels from algae, a safe, renewable, non-food-source energy feedstock," concluded Mr. O'Reilly.
In addition to today's news, the Company has previously announced major technological advances in nutrient delivery and bio-oil extraction processes. International Energy's proprietary nutrient delivery protocol alleviates specific nutrient absorption limitations in microalgae, thereby enhancing growth and hydrocarbon production.
Researchers have also developed a novel, continuous bio-oil extraction process that is safe for the Company's proprietary microalgae. Microalgae processed utilizing International Energy's OilFlow(TM) extraction process remain viable hydrocarbon producers, reducing expected maintenance costs while maximizing yield per acre.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INC.
International Energy, Inc. (Symbol: IENI) is developing leading edge technologies for the production of biofuels derived directly from the photosynthesis of green microalgae, which can accumulate up to 30% of their biomass in the form of valuable biofuels.
As a result of current high oil prices, depleting fossil oil reserves and growing concerns about increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, algae have emerged as one of the most promising sources for biofuel production.
Our technology seeks to convert water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) into useful long-chain liquid hydrocarbons from the photosynthesis of proprietary unicellular microalgae, which offer advantages in the production, storage and utilization of renewable biofuels, as they can be harvested easily, stored in liquid form and do not require special containment systems.
The process of industrial scale algae growth in photo-bioreactors is non-toxic and non-polluting, can be scaled-up, offers a renewable energy supply, and aids in carbon sequestration and the mitigation of climate change.
In contrast to biofuels from food crops or cellulosic materials, certain algae produce and accumulate oil naturally and can in the process clean up waste by absorbing and utilizing nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. Additionally, raw algae can be processed to make biofuel, the renewable equivalent of petroleum, and refined to make gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and chemical feedstock for plastics and drugs.
OilFlow(TM) and BioGauge(TM) are trademarks of International Energy, Inc.
For additional information, please visit www.InternationalEnergyInc.com
To view the full HTML text of this release, please visit: http://www.internationalenergyinc.com/10-09-08.php
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research
Algae's Many Applications to Be Showcased at National Algae Association Conference October 23-24 in Houston
You are at: Oilgae Blog.News release
HOUSTON -- For more than 20 years, Algae biofuels projects have been primarily focused on biodiesel production. “In recent years, the algae industry has evolved in size, scope, technologies and applications to produce several different types of fuels for transport and power generation,” notes Will Thurmond, Chairman of Research and Development for the National Algae Association and author of the 685 page Biodiesel 2020 study. “There are dozens of new algae projects and applications emerging to produce biodiesel, ethanol, commercial jet fuel, renewable diesel, biogasoline, biomass for power generation and hydrogen fuels,” said Thurmond.
Algae are the fastest-growing plants in the world. Compared to 1st generation feedstocks, algae holds enormous potential to provide a high-yield, non-arable land use, non-food, non-rainforest source of fuels. Like other plants, Algae use photo-synthesis to harness sunlight and carbon dioxide in order to capture energy stored inside the cell as lipids (the source for oil) and starches/carbohydrates.
“Many of the National Algae Association’s members are now starting to create ethanol from starch-rich algae strains. Other NAA members are utilizing waste streams from municipal water authorities to grow algae. In addition there is a great deal of interest to capture carbon from the smokestacks of a power plant, and use the carbon to produce algae for low-emissions biofuels for transport - a double benefit for environmental pollution,” said Thurmond. “The petroleum, defense, and aviation industries are increasingly investing in converting algae into bio-oil (also called bio-crude, or syncrude) that can either be sold directly to petrol refineries, or to aviation companies to be processed into JP8 jet fuels.”
Barry Cohen, founder of the National Algae Association Industry, notes, “the US commercial aviation industry spends upwards of $1.6 billion a month on jet fuel. Due to these rising demands and concerns, the NAA is witnessing an increasing number of members and projects from petroleum, defense, and aviation industries to reduce commercial aviation fuel costs and to support of US government and defense efforts for energy independence,” said Cohen.
The National Algae Association will host its third event from October 23-24 near Houston to showcase many of its members’ projects, including algae to: biodiesel, ethanol, aviation fuel, renewable diesel, biocrude, hydrogen, and bio-gasoline from algae. Several companies, including Sapphire Energy, Origin Oil, and representatives from the biofuels, aviation and petroleum industries will present their leading-edge algae technologies and projects at the NAA’s next event.
For more information on this event, or to become a member of the NAA visit: http://www.nationalalgaeassociation.com.
Contacts
National Algae Association
Barry Cohen, 936-321-1125
info(at)nationalalgaeassociation.com
www.nationalalgaeassociation.com
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
Portland General Electric - Algae Turns CO2 Gases into Fuel, Livestock Feed
You are at: Oilgae Blog.This is a press release courtesy of Portland General Electric (PGE)
A cutting-edge experiment now underway at the Boardman Power Plant in Morrow County, Ore., could help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from coal-fired electric generating stations nationwide.
Portland General Electric (PGE) and Columbia Energy Partners (CEP) are testing whether algae grown at the 600-megawatt Boardman power plant can turn carbon dioxide and other emissions into biofuels and livestock feed.
The process involves capturing CO2 and feeding it to algae, which are being grown adjacent to the plant. During photosynthesis, the algae ingest CO2 and release oxygen into the air, retaining oil and other byproducts. The oil is "squeezed" out of the algae and used to produce clean-burning biodiesel. The remaining biomass is used to produce ethanol and proteins for livestock feed.
PGE is among the first utilities to investigate using algae to reduce CO2 and other emissions. This small-scale study will investigate the effectiveness and commercial viability of a large-scale algae carbon-capture project.
"PGE is working on several fronts to reduce emissions at the Boardman plant, which is an important part of our mix of energy resources," said Jaisen Mody, generation projects director. "We already have proposed an aggressive plan to cut haze-causing emissions by more than 76 percent, and mercury emissions by 90 percent. We are excited to be working with Columbia Energy Partners to explore options for reducing the plant's carbon footprint as well."
Chris Crowley, president of Columbia Energy Partners, said, "Columbia Energy Partners is committed to building Oregon's renewable energy economy with innovative projects like this one, in addition to our traditional wind and solar projects.
"This cutting-edge effort with PGE to reduce carbon dioxide emissions while producing sustainable feedstock for biofuels will reduce our dependence on foreign oil while capturing greenhouse gas emissions, benefiting both the economy and the environment," Crowley said.
In the current exploratory phase, PGE and Columbia Energy Partners hope to learn which of the available naturally occurring algae strains are best suited to capture and consume CO2. Scientists working at the plant will study how each algae strain lives and reproduces, how fast it grows, how resistant it is to temperature and how much CO2 it consumes. The results will determine if further analysis in a larger second phase is warranted.
"Pursuing promising technologies and strategies is one way PGE seeks to meet growing demand, while protecting the environment and keeping prices reasonable for our customers," Mody said.
Full article here
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Labels: Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Cultivation
Green Star's Breakthrough Micronutrient to Boost Algae Growth
You are at: Oilgae Blog.One of the companies working on making algal fuels viable is Green Star, and they just announced the creation of a new micronutrient that can help boost algae daily growth rate by 34% and "increase the total biomass quantity in a harvest algae growth cycle by well over 100%."
"The UABC testing has shown that 1:10,000 nutrient dilution rates were very productive (i.e. one gallon of MMB mixed with 10,000 gallons of water). Even at 1:20,000 dilution levels, the MMB was still effective."
More from here
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
Breakthrough Diagnostic Technology for Algae-Derived Biofuels from International Energy
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Press release
BioGauge(TM), International Energy's new patent-pending 'bio-profiling' technology, helps determine peak production of oil in algae for extraction of bio-crude -- an important innovation in optimizing development and production of commercial algae-based biofuels.
NEWARK, N.J., Sep 10, 2008 -- International Energy, Inc., a developer of leading-edge technologies for the renewable generation of photosynthetic biofuels, today announced that researchers have devised and instituted an important patent-pending technology capable of rapidly determining the accumulation of bio-oil and other high-value compounds in microalgae, an important advancement in the development of tools for the commercial production of biofuels from algae.
"In order to extract the maximum quantity and quality of bio-oil or bio-polymer from microalgae, it is vital that engineers are able to rapidly determine exactly how much of the compound of interest is present in the algae feedstock at all times during its growth. In all cases, we want to extract oil at the peak moment in the algae's natural oil production cycle, and this newest innovation uniquely positions International Energy with a fast, reliable technology to do so," explained Mr. Gregory B. O'Reilly, President and CEO of International Energy, Inc.
"Notably, BioGauge(TM), our patent-pending breakthrough, gives us the competitive edge in rapidly screening multiple samples for the content of the desired compound(s) in microalgae and photosynthetic bacteria, a know-how that can maximize harvest yields and ultimately help hedge against the risk of product degradation."
According to researchers, one of the most important steps in the production of commercial bio-crude and biofuels from algae is the ability to determine the right time to extract oil from the microalgae feedstock during the algae's growth-cycle. To date, scientists have often used a series of time-consuming, expensive, and sometimes unreliable laboratory methods. In contrast, International Energy's new BioGauge(TM) bio-profiling technology is easy-to-use, instantaneous, and highly-reliable.
"These technical achievements collectively offer us special commercial advantages, and are especially timely in light of recent, key advances in the development of our biofuels from algae, a safe, renewable, non-food-source energy feedstock," concluded Mr. O'Reilly.
In addition to today's news, the Company has previously announced major technological advances in nutrient delivery and bio-oil extraction processes. International Energy's proprietary nutrient delivery protocol alleviates specific nutrient absorption limitations in microalgae, thereby enhancing growth and hydrocarbon production.
Researchers have also developed a novel, continuous bio-oil extraction process that is safe for the Company's proprietary microalgae. Microalgae processed utilizing International Energy's OilFlow(TM) extraction process remain viable hydrocarbon producers, reducing expected maintenance costs while maximizing yield per acre.
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INC.
International Energy, Inc. (Symbol: IENI) is developing leading edge technologies for the production of biofuels derived directly from the photosynthesis of green microalgae, which can accumulate up to 30% of their biomass in the form of valuable biofuels.
As a result of current high oil prices, depleting fossil oil reserves and growing concerns about increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, algae have emerged as one of the most promising sources for biofuel production.
Our technology seeks to convert water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) into useful long-chain liquid hydrocarbons from the photosynthesis of proprietary unicellular microalgae, which offer advantages in the production, storage and utilization of renewable biofuels, as they can be harvested easily, stored in liquid form and do not require special containment systems.
The process of industrial scale algae growth in photo-bioreactors is non-toxic and non-polluting, can be scaled-up, offers a renewable energy supply, and aids in carbon sequestration and the mitigation of climate change.
In contrast to biofuels from food crops or cellulosic materials, certain algae produce and accumulate oil naturally and can in the process clean up waste by absorbing and utilizing nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. Additionally, raw algae can be processed to make biofuel, the renewable equivalent of petroleum, and refined to make gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and chemical feedstock for plastics and drugs.
OilFlow(TM) and BioGauge(TM) are trademarks of International Energy, Inc.
For additional information, please visit www.InternationalEnergyInc.com
To receive future press releases via email, please visit: http://www.internationalenergyinc.com/investor-relations.php
To view the full HTML text of this release, please visit: http://www.internationalenergyinc.com/10-09-08.php
SOURCE: International Energy, Inc.
International Energy, Inc.
Mr. Gregory O'Reilly, 800-676-1006
www.internationalenergyinc.com
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research
New Zealand Councils see potential in sewage oil machine
You are at: Oilgae Blog.The Southland Times | Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Invercargill-designed machinery that turns sewage-pond algae into crude oil and leaves the water clean enough for reuse has generated strong interest from southern councils.
Invercargill engineering firm B L Rayners Ltd and Christchurch company Solvent Rescue Ltd are working together to develop the machinery and plan to market and sell it as early as next year.
B L Rayners owner Wayne Harpur said New Zealand councils would be ideal customers because they collectively own 220 oxidation ponds that grow the oil-rich algae.
Source
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Algae Ponds for Biodiese in Nevada by Bebout and Associates
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Bebout and Associates of Savannah and its partners Enegis LLC of Virginia and the University of Nevada at Reno (UNR) recently completed construction of four algae ponds on the Reno campus. The first algae crop is expected to be harvested in October of this year.
The ponds were constructed so that they may be used individually or in tandem, permitting the widest possible range of experimentation with different species/varieties of algae as well as factors which control algae productivity and growth.
Work has already begun on the downstream aspects of algae-to-biodiesel production. Bebout and Enegis are developing several low-energy demand methods for extracting the oil from the algae which will be tested over the next nine to twelve months.
Source: The Creative Coast
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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research
Algae Biofuel Takes Lead Over Jatropha
You are at: Oilgae Blog.In the endevour to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and cut carbon emissions to achieve a clean environment, humble algae appears to be taking a lead over the more-talked-about biodiesel source jatropha.
Experts say that algae farming in less than 1 per cent of India’s total land can make the country self-sufficient in liquid fuel. Algae yield from one acre of wasteland can be 10 times more than jatropha and by a conservative estimate over 10,000 litres of oil can be produced from one acre of waste/degraded land, they add.
And not just this, algae farming for biofuels can also provide a solution to the food versus fuel debate. As algae do not need agriculture land, it can be grown using non-potable or sea water.
Read the full article here
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Oil-Yield
Companies Trying to Bring Down Cost of Producing Oil from Algae
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Here are some excerpts on what companies are doing to reduce the cost of making oil and fuel from algae. This is from a recent article at Scientific American
Costs for algae-based fuel currently range from $10 to $100 per gallon, according to systems engineer Ron Pate at Sandia National Laboratories. "The idea [is] bringing algal oil down to $1 or $2 per gallon at a scale of 50 million gallons [190 million liters] per year."
High cost is a problem throughout the algal biofuels industry. "It's energy cost to pump the water," says Craig Harting, chief operating officer for Vancouver-based Global Green Solutions, which is building 100 bioreactors (large plastic devices used to grow algae) at a pilot plant in El Paso, Tex. "It's capital cost to build bioreactors. It's the harvesting and extraction process."
As a result, most companies say they have yet to determine the consumer price tag for algae-derived oil—or to produce much of the stuff—though Wolfson says Solazyme's goal is $40 to $80 a barrel—competitive with fossil oil.
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Cost, Algae-Photobioreactor
Key to making Algae Fuels Financially Feasible is for Algae Farms to Get Paid Two Waysl
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Found something interesting in this article which gives the latest updates on PetroAlgae in Melbourne, Australia
"
The key to making it financially feasible is for algae farms to get paid two ways, John Benneman said. First, farms should get paid for getting rid of unwanted products that algae will eat, like wastewater and carbon dioxide. Second, farms can then harvest and sell the oil. Within the next five years, algae farms could be getting paid for taking over wastewater treatment, Benneman said.
Tennant hopes to create a similar model. The United States could soon commit to greenhouse gas legislation that will make it expensive to pollute by carbon dioxide. Power plants will have to pay to pollute. Since algae eats carbon dioxide, Tennant hopes he can locate algae farms near power plants, and get paid to take their carbon dioxide problem off their hands.
"
Interesting perspective.
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Labels: Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Cultivation-Sewage
Green Star Creates Breakthrough Micronutrient that Boosts Algae Growth
You are at: Oilgae Blog.One of the companies working on making algal fuels viable is Green Star, and they just announced the creation of a new micronutrient that can help boost algae daily growth rate by 34% and "increase the total biomass quantity in a harvest algae growth cycle by well over 100%."
The UABC testing has shown that 1:10,000 nutrient dilution rates were very productive (i.e. one gallon of MMB mixed with 10,000 gallons of water). Even at 1:20,000 dilution levels, the MMB was still effective. " Green Star will make available 12-oz sample bottles to all universities [either at no cost or with $50 shipping fees], research institutes and commercial facilities for testing on their specific strains of algae."
More from this TreeHugger post
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Oil-Yield
National Algae Association Conference Oct 23, 34 - Call for Papers
You are at: Oilgae Blog.News release
National Algae Association Conference
October 23 -24, 2008
CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS AND PAPERS
The National Algae Association is growing at an astronomical rate. We are the first national trade association for the algae industry in the United States, and we have doubled in size just in the last three months. Due to the high cost of oil, commercializing the algae oil industry is now put on a fast track. We need to get off foreign oil and to bring back energy security to the US. Collaboration, innovation and commercialization are the motivating factors of our organization.
Due to the high demand to attend our conferences, we have changed our venue to The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center for the next quarterly National Algae Association conference, which will be held on October 23-24, 2008. The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center will be able to better accommodate us with much larger facilities for our conference and break-out sessions.
The National Algae Association announcing a Call for Presentations on the following subjects:
Group 1 - Algae Species Selection
Group 2 - Algae Production Systems
Group 3 - Algae Extraction Technologies
Group 4 - Algae Biorefining Technologies
If you are an algae researcher and you are working on innovative or breakthrough technology you would like to present to a large group of algae researchers and algae producers, you are invited to submit your presentations for review for the next National Algae Association event.
We are planning for the biggest conference to date and we need to start preparing for it now.
Submit presentations and papers to:
National Algae Association
4747 Research Forest Dr., Suite 180
The Woodlands, Texas 77381
936.321.1125
info@nationalalgaeassociation.com
www.nationalalgaeassociation.com
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Fuel-Research
National Algae Association Networking Forum @ Texas - Oct 23, 24 2008
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Press release
The Woodlands, Texas – The National Algae Association announces its Algae Commercialization Business Plan, Research, and Networking Forum. Existing algae oil production companies, algae researchers and algaeprenuers will present leading-edge technologies for commercialization of Algae: The New Oil on October 23-24, 2008, at The Woodlands Conference Center and Resort in The Woodlands, Texas. The NAA brings companies and researchers together to share ideas and exchange information to overcome technological hurdles to fast track commercialization of the algae oil industry.
Current high oil prices, the collapse of food-for-fuel initiatives and concerns about increased levels of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere have all created awareness of the need for alternative fuel solutions. Algae has emerged as one of the lowest cost feedstocks for the biofuels and cellulosic industries. Algae is considered to be a promising source of renewable oil which can be processed and refined into a variety of transportation fuels.
Recent breakthroughs in pond development and closed end loop systems put algae oil production companies on the leading-edge of the renewable oil industry.
When: October 23-24, 2008
Where: The Woodlands Conference Center and Resort
The Woodlands, Texas
Website: www.nationalalgaeassociation.com
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Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies
AXI Plans to Develop Algae Strains for Fuel
You are at: Oilgae Blog.Allied Minds, an investment company, has invested in the work of Rose Ann Cattolico, University of Washington biology professor, who has studied the physiology of algae for more than 30 years and sees it as a source of fuel for transportation. Allied Minds has formed a startup company called AXI.
AXI won't be in the business of making fuel. Instead, it will work with biofuel producers to develop strains of algae that produce just the right lipids, or oils, for the fuel that the producer wants to make. The methods will not employ genetic modification, Cattolico said.
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Nature gave us oil from algae; perhaps we should try Nature's way again
Labels: Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Oil-Yield
