Money from the state tech fund is also going to two South Texas businesses.

Houston-based ScanTech Sciences, which is developing a food sterilization process through electronic pasteurization, was awarded $2 million. Another $1 million is going to Brownsville-based Photon8 Inc., which is working on producing bio-fuel from algae. The grants are to help with the development and commercialization of their research.

Photon8 moved its offices from New Jersey to the University of Texas-Brownsville/Texas Southmost College’s campus last year and is working with the university to develop bio-fuel technology. The company already received $250,000 of its grant, said Brad W. Bartilson, Photon8’s president and chief executive officer.

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Energy-Investments

Endicott Biofuels, LLC, a Houston-based, next-generation biodiesel producer, and TransAlgae, Ltd., an algal biotechnology company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of algae as a potential transportation fuel and renewable chemical feedstock source.

TransAlgae’s mission is to develop commercially viable algae strains for a variety of algae biomass growth platforms in order to deliver cost effective transportation fuels as well as other non-energy applications.

For the past year, Endicott has been involved in a fully flexible feedstock development program for the production of biodiesel, which includes algae oil-to-biodiesel commercialization. Among its future development plans are technologies that provide a higher degree of freedom for algae producers in algae strain selection and algae oil extraction for the production of biofuels.

Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Strains

Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Energy-Companies

The New Mexico Environment Department has reached a settlement with Marathon Oil Corp. under which the Houston company will pay $5.1 million in environmental projects and penalties to resolve air quality violations alleged by the state at Marathon's Indian Basin Gas Plant near Carlsbad.

The environmental projects include $3.75 million to build and maintain new pollution controls to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions and $750,000 for an algae-to-biofuels project in Carlsbad.

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Punjab-based Beckons Industries is planning to set up a bio-diesel plant using algae as a feedstock at Derabassi (Punjab) at an investment of Rs 600 million. The plant will be the first of its kind in this part of the region. For the purpose, the company has technological collaborative agreement with Austria-based company Energia and also an agreement with Germany-based GTZ for carbon credits.

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At Seattle's Blue Marble Energy, chemists are cooking up a perfume made from the waste products of a local organic brewery, including rancid beer grains, green algae and a "sludge" consisting of 50,000 different kinds of bacteria. The grains replace petroleum in the production process making the perfume, called Eos, completely carbon neutral.

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U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack have announced the selection of 19 integrated bio-refinery projects to receive up to $564 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

California-based Sapphire Energy will receive a non-ARRA loan guarantee for up to $54.5 million through the Biorefinery Assistance Program (BFA) to demonstrate a biorefinery process that will cultivate algae in ponds. The BFA program authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill promotes the development of new technologies for fuel production from non-corn kernel starch biomass sources.

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Seambiotic, one of the oldest companies in algae, has signed a deal with China Guodian Corp. to build algae farms near power plants in that country.

The first farm, opening in 2010 in Penglai, will cover 12 hectares and cost about $10 million. Seambiotic specializes in open "racetrack" ponds. In these ponds, flue gas from a power plant is circulated into water where multiple strains of algae grow. Add sunlight and time and careful cultivation techniques and in a few weeks you have mounds of slime. Guodian has 100 power plants to the deal could grow. Since 2003, Israel-based Seambiotic has been in the prototyping and pilot stage: this marks a transition toward larger commercial production.

Instead of producing algae for cars, Seambiotic grows it for the nutraceutical and pet food markets: oil for nutraceuticals and protein for pets.

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Labels: Algae-Carbon-Capture, Algae-Energy-Companies

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Foster Wheeler will provide engineering services to help PetroAlgae develop commercial solutions that will allow existing oil refineries to convert micro-crop biomass into green fuels, according to a memorandum of understanding signed by the companies.

PetroAlgae believes the partnership will fully advance processes that will transform large quantities of biomass into green diesel, gasoline, jet fuel and specialty chemicals.

“These solutions offer the promise of transforming sunlight into fuels, thereby providing countries around the world with yet another option on the path to sustainable and clean energy independence,” says PetroAlgae chief executive John Scott.

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Truman State University held its 2nd Annual Bioenergy Conference earlier today. The conference addressed production and handling of bio-mass feedstock’s, algae oil production and utilization, as well as developments in bio-energy. Throughout the afternoon, several presentations were going on including hands on bio-energy demonstrations and exhibits at the University Farm.

Dr. David E. Brune was one of eleven featured speakers. Dr. Brune is currently Professor of Bioprocess and Bioenergy at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He gave two presentations on algae production and energy generation systems.

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UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced that its Ecofining process technology was used to convert second-generation, renewable feedstocks to green diesel fuel that will power vehicles at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Conference (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

UOP's process technology converted oil from algae provided by Solazyme, a renewable oil company, to green diesel, which will be utilized during the Driving the Future showcase organized by Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A Mercedes Benz E-Class Sedan, an unmodified, factory-standard diesel vehicle, will be powered by unblended (B100) green diesel for the duration of the event.

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A San Francisco company's will tap into under-used large vats at Cherokee Pharmaceuticals plant in Riverside to open its first facility to make biodiesel fuel from algae oil. 

"Cherokee has under-utilized vats and our company hopes to use them to execute this grant to produce fuel from algae," said Michael Meehan, of Blue Line Strategic Communications which handles public relations for Solazyme Inc. Solazyme Inc. was awarded a $21.8 million federal grant to build its first integrated biorefinery at Cherokee.

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The Washington State Algae Alliance, comprised of bioscience firm Targeted Growth, Inc. (TGI), Inventure Chemical (Inventure) and Washington State University (WSU), will benefit from $2 million in funding through WSU as part of the 2010 Senate Energy and Water Development appropriations bill. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) was instrumental in securing funding for the Alliance, which will jointly develop a new system for the production of sustainable and renewable fuels, chemicals, and chemical intermediates, creating jobs and furthering the state’s growing clean technology base.

The Alliance has three objectives: First, to develop an efficient and integrated algae cultivation system for the production of fuel and other products; second, to build first class capabilities; and third, to advance related science and technologies. These objectives align with initiatives identified in the National Algae Fuel Roadmap developed by the US Department of Energy.

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OriginOil Inc. of Los Angeles has been listed as one of the 50 hottest biofuel companies in the world. OriginOil was chosen out of a field of more than 1,400 companies worldwide, working in algae, ethanol, renewable diesel and biobutanol.

Biofuels Digest, the most widely read daily biofuels newsletter in the world published the list. The companies on the list were chosen by an international panel of invited selectors and subscribers to the daily newsletter. Jim Lane, the editor of the Biofuels Digest newsletter said, “Thirteen of the top 50 companies are working on micro-crops and algae-based biofuels, including three of the top five. With companies such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell and BP investing in algae-based fuels, there could not be clearer signs that algae is now viewed as the most promising of all the emerging biofuel platforms.”

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Press Release

The National Algae Association's Mid-South Chapter workshop "Algae: Exploring Open Pond Production Opportunities, "  which brought top experts in open pond production together with catfish pond owners, investors and algaepreneurs to learn from each other and fast-track commercial-scale algae open pond production for energy, animal feedstock, organic fertilizer and many other products, far exceeded all expectations, with comments like "... I believe your approach to getting people together to advance the industry is very valuable for all involved ..." and " keep up the good work - your efforts are helping to form our future!"   The next workshop focusing on open pond production is in the works!
 
Save the Dates:
 
National Algae Association's West Coast Chapter is planning a workshop at the Monte Carlo in Las Vegas on February 24-25, 2010, focusing on the latest innovations in algae growing, harvesting and extraction systems; details to follow.
 
The next Houston conference will be held at the Doubletree Houston on April 29-30, 2010.   Presentations are now being accepted for consideration.  
 
We are pleased to announce that a new NAA algae production certification program will begin the first quarter of 2010.  An intensive 3 day course will be taught in Houston.   If you are interested in signing up for the course, please let us know.

National Algae Association
4747 Research Forest Dr., Suite 180

The Woodlands, Texas 77381

936.321.1125

www.nationalalgaeassociation.com 

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United States corporation Bio Architecture Lab (BAL) has founded a subsidiary, BAL Chile, through which the company has already begun cultivating 100 hectares of seaweed on the island of Chiloé, with the aim of producing bio-fuel.

BAL developed micro-organisms that trigger a fermentation process in the algae, which in turn produces bio-fuel and by-products that can also be commercialised, such as iodine and feed for the salmon industry.

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Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Energy-Investments

SRS' Pilot Plant for algae oil extraction allows SRS to support clients who do not have their own extraction facilities by offering toll processing of large quantities of algae. SRS also has a benchtop system which allows for screening of small samples to identify the true oil (lipid) content of algae species. Both the Pilot Plant and the bench top system employ new techniques for fractionation of algae which were developed by SRS; providing for the highest recovery of lipids for biofuel production.

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Florida-based PetroAlgae Inc. is collaborating with India’s largest company to develop algae strains and technology to suit Indian conditions. PetroAlgae’s subsidiary PA LLC recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian Oil Company Ltd. to build a pilot plant meant to demonstrate the commercial viability of the company’s technology. “A commercial production facility with a capacity of 200,000 tons per year of biodiesel is proposed in the near future,” IOCL said. The process will also produce a high-value protein for animal feed.

Source: Biomass magazine

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies

Solazyme, Inc., welcomes Michael S. Golembieski to the management team as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Nutritionals. Golembieski will be responsible for growing Solazyme’s global food and feed ingredient business for renewable oils, purified microalgae, and microalgae extracts.

Golembieski is a recognized growth and development expert in the biotechnology and renewable food industries, most recently leading strategy and business development for the SPLENDA ® Sucralose ingredient business of Tate & Lyle, PLC. He has spent more than 30 years in finance, business and strategy development; successfully initiating and managing acquisitions ranging from $10 to $100 million in total revenue. He brings additional knowledge and skill in intellectual property portfolio management, market development, and manufacturing platform optimization.

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The Cleantech Open is a business competition created to find, fund and foster startup clean technology companies. Winnders were announced this week at the annual Cleantech Open Expo and Awards Gala in San Francisco. Dubbed the "Academy Awards of Clean Technology," the event marks the grand finale of the Cleantech Open's yearlong business competition.

2009 Global Cleantech Open Ideas was won by winner Replenish Energy (www.replenishenergy.org) of Puerto Rico. Replenish is a micro-algae based fuel program of Bio-Lipids of Puerto Rico, a private innovation company. Micro-algae are said to be the World's most efficient renewable energy source currently available, capable of delivering 48,000 kilowatts of electricity per million dollars capital invested.

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Marlborough bio-energy entrepreneur Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation, has teamed up with a Chinese company Greenleaf Environmental of Sichuan.

The companies are investigating sites in China for the Blenheim-based company's patented approach to growing wild algae in sewage ponds to clean up the waste, and refine the algae for biodiesel.

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Labels: Algae-Cultivation-Sewage, Algae-Energy-Companies

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The Minister of Energy Hon Gerry Brownlee will open the largest wastewater algae to bio-crude oil demonstration project in the world this week.

The project combines NIWA’s scientific expertise on advanced wastewater treatment and algal production pond technology with Solray’s bio-crude oil conversion technology and is hosted by Christchurch City Council at the Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The aim of the project is for NIWA to produce between 150 and 300 tonnes of algae per year from the 5 hectares of wastewater treatment High Rate Algal Ponds. After harvesting and dewatering, this algae could potentially be converted into 45,000 - 90,000 litres (275 - 550 barrels) of bio-crude oil by Solray.

This bio-crude oil would normally be converted into a variety of products such as LPG, petrol, kerosene, diesel and bitumen, but if this amount were completely converted to petrol, it would power between 22 and 45 cars per year.

See more: Science alert

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A New Hampshire company, Simply Green Biofuels, hopes to use sewage as the feedstock for oil-producing algae.

Simply Green currently re-purposes waste vegetable oil from restaurants into biodiesel. Processing oil-producing algae into fuel is just an extension of what they already do, which is why they have partnered with Clean Power Development to build an algae farm that they hope will be fed by sewage from the Berlin wastewater treatment facility.

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Press Release:

PetroSun, Inc.announced a progress report on the firm's algae and alternative energy programs. 

D.O.E. Integrated Biorefinery Proposal

The D.O.E. Integrated Biorefinery oral presentation was completed on October 15th by the University of Arizona-led team that included Texas A&M, Los Alamos National Lab, Air Liquide, Lurgi and PetroSun. The D.O.E. moderator indicated that a decision on the awards for this program is anticipated during December 2009.

Gulf Coast Algaculture Lease Program

This program was placed on hold until acceptable terms are reached for the capital required to retrofit the existing aquaculture farm ponds for commercial algae production. The global economic crisis crippled the capital markets during the past twelve months that PetroSun had engaged for this program, but those markets and new sources of foreign investment are now in the negotiation stage to provide potential funding for this program.

Business Model Moving Forward

The future implementation and operation of the commercial algae integrated biorefinery facilities by PetroSun BioFuels in the Gulf Coast Algaculture Program and the pilot scale Arid Raceway Integrated Design designed in collaboration with the University of Arizona team. The focus of the algae operation is to produce algal oil for conversion to fuel, recognizing however that a major revenue contributor to the program will be the value of the co-products, including animal feed and fertilizer.

The Company will continue to contract with existing biodiesel refineries to enhance the biodiesel production output of its domestic biorefinery cooperative that will utilize palm oil feedstock as it transitions into algal oil feedstock.

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Cereplast have been developing what it calls a breakthrough technology that will transform algae into bioplastics. The company aims to commercialise this development and launch a new family of algae-based resins that will complement its existing line of Compostables and Hybrid resins.

Cereplast has initiated contact with several companies that plan to use algae to minimize the CO2 and NOX gases from polluting smoke-stack environments. According to their researchers, algae from a typical photo-bioreactor is harvested daily and may be treated as biomass, which can be used as biofuel or as a raw material source for biopolymer feed stock.

The company is in direct communication with potential chemical conversion companies that could convert the algae biomass into viable monomers for further conversion into potential biopolymers. “Algae as biomass makes sense in that it helps close the loop on polluting gases and can be a significant renewable resource,” added Mr. Scheer.

The company hopes that this new line of algae-based resins could eventually replace 50% or more of the petroleum content used in traditional plastic resins.

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Press Release:

8th European Workshop “Biotechnology of Microalgae“

Date June 7-10, 2010
announcement 10/2009
call for papers

Organized by
IGV Institut für Getreideverarbeitung GmbH
Nuthetal, Germany

University of West-Hungary,
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary

University of Applied Sciences
Lausitz, Senftenberg, Germany


GENERAL INFORMATION

We ask for your contribution to the success of the workshop, which will bring together research teams of the unified Europe, especially in the field of practice application oriented R&D.

The main purpose of the workshop is to discuss the present state and the future possibilities of phototrophic biotechnology especially in the field of PBR design, cosmetics, food and feed applications, as well as to give new ideas and initiatives to progress in the field of bioenergy.

As innovative component of the photoproduction we intend to renew a very controversy discussion about photosynthetic efficiency.

The workshop will be accompanied by an exhibition of industrial users of microalgal biotechnology.

The official language of the meeting is English.

PLACE OF THE WOKSHOP
IGV Institut für Getreideverarbeitung GmbH
Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 40-41
14558 Nuthetal,
Germany


PROGRAM
TOPICS OF THE 8TH EUROPEAN WORKSHOP “BIOTECHNOLOGY OF MICROALGAE”

The Scientific scope of the workshop will be :

Day 1 & 2 - June 7 & 8
1. Photosynthesis & photosynthetic efficiency
2. Photobioreactors
3. Microalgae as food and feed
4. Microalgae in cosmetics
5. Phototrophic cell cultures of organisms with medicinal
activities

Day 3 – June 9

Excursion-Day
Satellite meetings:
1. biological recovery of acidic mining lakes
2. Lausitz-Spreewald Innovative Energy Region,
ILA International air show 2010

Day 4 – June 10

Bioenergy/ Biofuels

The participants can participate on all events or only on parts.

FORMAT OF THE WORKSHOP
Lectures
Poster session
Exhibition
Excursion


CONTACT:
Mrs. Antje Boback
IGV Institut für Getreideverarbeitung GmbH
Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 40-41
14558 Nuthetal
Germany

Phone: +49-33200-89156
Fax: +49-33200-89158
E-Mail: boback@igv-gmbh.de

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies

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Ternion Bio Industries has selected EnviroKing™, a unique UV resistant clear PVC piping by Harvel® Plastics, Inc., as a key component in the manufacturer of its distinct, patent-pending photobioreactor system. 

Ternion Bio's advanced photobioreactor technology captures carbon dioxide emissions and processes them to serve as the catalyst for the growth of algae, which then becomes the raw material for a wide range of beneficial products.

"EnviroKing UV ThinWall 4-inch pipe provided an additional 11 percent better growth environment than any other pipe we tested," says Chris Schuring, Ternion Bio's chief operations officer. "In the ability to be used as a scalable product, we feel it has no issue that would make the product unavailable for scaled systems. EnviroKing is the standard by which we will measure all others, and we look to use this pipe in all of our scaled Photo BioReactors."

Source: PRWEB

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The Algal Biomass Organization (ABO), the leading trade association for Algae fuel industry, applauds the leadership of Senator Barbara Boxer, Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, for including the RFS amendment offered by Senator Jeff Bingaman, Chair of the Senate Energy Committee, and Senator Tom Carper in the Chairman`s mark of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. 

The amendment supports advanced green biofuel feedstocks, and recognizes the potential of algae to reduce CO2 emissions, create jobs and increase the nation`s energy independence.

The "Advanced Green Biofuels" amendment establishes greenhouse gas reduction targets for the fuels produced from the renewable biomass and clarifies that algae and other renewable biomass which meet these standards qualify under the RFS.

See more: Reuters

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In this process, hydrogen is added to remove oxygen from the biological feedstock resulting in a high quality, bio-derived fuel that blends seamlessly with petroleum-based fuel and acts as a drop-in replacement. The fuel meets all the critical specifications for flight.

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Alternative Energy Resources (AER), the alternative energy company which supplies bioethanol to the Irish market and is developing algae-fuel technology for the worldwide market, has been awarded the national ‘Rising Star’ Award at the 2009 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards. 

The Fast 50 Programme, now in its 10th year in Ireland, ranks the 50 fastest growing technology companies, operating for a minimum of 5-years, in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The ‘Rising Star’ Award recognises younger technology companies with the fastest growth over the past three years.

On receiving the Award, John Travers, CEO, AER said, “I am delighted to accept the award on behalf of our wider team of colleagues and partners, who have enabled AER to grow successfully over the last three years and position us for future sustainable growth.”

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W2 Energy is forming a joint venture with Canadian battery recycler Toxco to generate electricity from battery waste. W2 will annually process 600 tons of plastics and carbon from recycled batteries and convert it into electricity and liquid fuel using gasification technology. This will be done in a mass-to-energy unit fitted into a truck trailer. The fuel and electricity generated will be supplied back to Toxco.

W2 plans to sequester the carbon and nitrogen oxides produced from the waste combustion and use it to grow algae in a reactor. In February, the firm paid USD375,000 to acquire plasma gasification technology from Kinectrics.

Source: StrategyEye

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Several partners are proposing to develop a $50 million algae farm on city-owned land where the slimy, aquatic growth would be converted into biodiesel fuel and other forms of alternative energy.

Much of the proposal, however, hinges on federal stimulus money from the U.S. Department of Energy. ODU and its partners are asking for $46 million from a $100 million pool set aside by the Obama administration for advancing algae-to-biodiesel technology.

A decision about the funding is expected as soon as next month, and by the end of the year at the latest, project sponsors said.The Virginia Beach proposal includes three private companies that are committing money and support for the bigger farm, and involves researchers from ODU, George Washington University, Jacksonville State University, the University of Michigan and South Dakota State University, according to a prospectus.

Pat Hatcher, a professor leading the initiative said “There’s a lot of interest in this technology, and we have lots of avenues open to us.”

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Senator Tom Harkin congratulated the Green Plains Renewable Energy Algae for their Project in Shenandoah. The project has been working on new technologies to grow algae for the purpose of producing biodiesel and feed for livestock.

 “As a longtime frontrunner in the biofuels industry, Iowa is no stranger to the benefits of producing clean, domestic sources of energy. This algae project is truly innovative and will generate good jobs here in our state and test a new approach to utilizing the carbon dioxide emitted from ethanol plants to grow algae, which has the potential to one day be converted into fuel,” said Harkin. “Additionally, this facility will provide feedstock for our farmers and ranchers in an environmentally sustainable way. The renewable energy industry, the environment, farmers and the Iowa economy all stand to benefit from this project, and I congratulate the organizations involved.”

 If their algae production process is successful, Green Plains expects to scale up and expand the facility to mass produce algae and extract oil from it, which will be used to make biodiesel. After the oil is extracted, the remaining high protein meal product will be used to feed poultry and swine. It is expected that the plant will produce 51,000 tons of high protein meal product and $5.8 million gallons of biodiesel each year.

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EmergingGreenCompanies.com today announced its airing of its correspondent Danielle Ford touring the Algal Biomass Summit in San Diego, California and asking questions. 

During this tour you can see interviews with companies such as Airbus, Renewed World Energies, and Biocentric Energy Holdings Inc.

Several key topics were discussed by Danielle including the uses of Algae for skin care. Dennis Fisher of Biocentric Energy indicated his intent to become involved with strains of algae used for skin care.

Other topics included Renewed World Energies expressing an interest to work with the group at Biocentric Energy.

The Summit itself is a three-day event exploring the development of algae-based solutions to global energy, environmental, and economic issues. We hope that some of the large companies attending such as Boeing, Exxon, and Raytheon pay attention to companies such as Biocentric Energy. Seeing how according to Biocentric Energy, they posses technology and strains of algae that are far ahead of their competition.

Danielle Fords tour can be seen on the Emerging Green Companies Media page.
http://emerginggreencompanies.com/home/?page_id=124

See the video of this release: http://www.vodnewswire.com/vodnewswire/news/emerging-green-20091012B/

Source: Marketwire

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Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Fuel-Research

Press Release:

Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. announces the unveiling of BioProcessAlgae, LLC's Phase I photobioreactor pilot project. Green Plains is hosting the event at its Shenandoah, Iowa ethanol plant on October 14, 2009 in conjunction with the Iowa Power Fund Board meeting. BioProcessAlgae has completed the installation of Phase I of the multi-phase pilot project and algae production has commenced at the plant. The Company's research team will begin to collect production data over the next 120 days from the pilot project that will be instrumental in determining the scalability and functionality for future commercial deployment. 

"We have directly linked the carbon dioxide (CO2) from the plant into our algae producing Grower Harvester(TM) technology and we believe this to be the first ever deployment of this type in the United States," stated Tim Burns, Chief Executive Officer of BioProcessAlgae, LLC. "The objective of this multi-phase pilot project is to gather critical data to determine the scalability of our Grower Harvester technology as we look to commercialize it in the future. Our focus is to perfect the growing and harvesting of algae in an industrial process." 

"We are excited by the opportunities this technology offers to sequester the CO2 emitted at our ethanol plants," said Todd Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Plains Renewable Energy. "Our plants have warm water, waste heat and C02 which provide a perfect environment for the BioProcessAlgae Grower Harvester technology to be deployed. The algae produced have the potential to be used for advanced bio-fuel production, high quality animal feed, or as biomass for energy production, but our focus is solely on efficiently growing algae and sequestering carbon dioxide at this point."

"We are honored to have Iowa Governor Chet Culver attend this technology unveiling. The State of Iowa has been extremely supportive of this project, with the Iowa Power Fund providing a matching funds grant of $2.1 million for research and development. We firmly believe this technology has the potential to significantly help the environment, the ethanol industry and the Iowa economy," Becker added.

Labels: Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Photobioreactor

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W2 Energy Inc., a developer of green energy, is pleased to announce its marketing arm has begun negotiating with several organizations and governments in the Caribbean to build commercial scale Algae bioreactor to produce biofuel. The company's Sunfilter Bioreactor is a low cost, low energy consuming bioreactor capable of producing biodiesel.

The algae for fuel market is a quickly growing market. Recently Exxon announced on CNN and through commercials that it is beginning to develop algae production for the production of fuel in the US. W2 Energy has already developed the technology and expects to have several production units in the Caribbean by the middle of 2010.

The significant number of sun hours in the Caribbean are ideal for the production of biofuel using the the W2 Energy Sunfilter bioreactor. The Company expects that the algae to biofuel program in the Caribbean will be a great success.

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Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies

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Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Fuel-Research

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The Algae Fuel Prize, offered by Del Mar-based Prize Capital, was announced at this week's Algae Biomass Summit, a meeting in San Diego of experts in using algae for fuel, food, purifying water and other purposes.

The goal is to offer $10 million, said Lee Stein, Prize Capital's founder.

Stein said the actual amount may change, because the rules and guidelines for the prize aren't final. But the main goal is fixed, he said, which is to add a new source of fuel and not to compete with food crops, as with ethanol made from corn.

"We want to work with third-generation biofuels: Land that cannot be used for food," Stein said. "That was our primary concern."

Stein made the announcement at the close of Wednesday's session of the Algae Biomass Summit, briefly taking the stage to show a video about the prize and explain its goals. A sponsor for the prize will be announced soon, he told the audience.

The Algae Fuel Prize's rules specify that the winner must produce 3,000 net gallons of diesel fuel per acre at a cost of no more than $3 per gallon. The net quantity is obtained by subtracting the gallons of fuel used in producing the algae from the yield. Prize Capital will also work to arrange buyers for the fuel.

More information is available at www.prizecapital.net.

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Energy-Investments

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Origin Oil recently filed for patent protection of the new Attached Growth System, its tenth patent application, entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Growing Algae on a Solid Surface.” OriginOil will integrate the process into the demonstration algae system now being built at its headquarters.

Growing algae in water is a challenge because as it grows, the algae thickens and stops light. One solution is OriginOil’s Helix Bioreactor™ which puts the lights inside the tank. Another method is to rotate the algae periodically out of the water so it can be exposed to the light. OriginOil’s Attached Growth System uses types of algae that will attach to surfaces rotating in and out of the water, exposing the algae to sunlight or artificial light. At harvest time, the algae is scraped off as a sludge, greatly decreasing the energy cost of dewatering during oil extraction.

In wastewater treatment plants, OriginOil’s Attached Growth System can be configured to encourage bacterial growth in addition to the algae. Combining algal and bacterial growth makes for better nutrient extraction than either one of them alone, contributing to clean water goals while making fuel and absorbing CO2.

OriginOil Chief Scientist and clean water veteran Dr. Vikram Pattarkine said: “We demonstrated in our cost analysis, at the National Algae Association in Houston earlier this month, that algae can be far more profitable when located in wastewater treatment environments. This technology will multiply the benefit.”

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Labels: Algae-Cultivation-Sewage, Algae-Energy-Companies

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Blue Sun Energy is working on a project, funded by a federal grant, to find a way to turn the seaweed into a high quality jet biofuel. 

"It's probably still several years away before we're going to get to that point," explained Steve Bond, Blue Sun Energy's marketing manager.

The idea of making biodiesel out of algae is not revolutionary, but finding the production process that makes it affordable can make a big difference.

"Algae costs $20 a gallon to produce right now, which is not feasible for regular use. Our goal is to get it under $2 a gallon. We think that's feasible to do," Bond said.

Biodiesel can actually be made from a variety of products from vegetable oil to animal fat. Currently, Blue Sun Energy uses high quality virgin oil from soybean and canola. The company says algae and another option, camolina oil, are both attractive options because they require little water, can be grown during the winter season and are not food crops. Still, even without the advances expected with algae and seaweed, the company says their biodiesels are already greener and more versatile than other biodiesels on the market.

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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Energy-Companies

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The Glenturret Distillery in Perthshire will use the ground-breaking system to turn fumes generated by whisky production into biodiesel.

David Van Alstyne, head of Scottish Bioenergy, said: "A couple of years ago the idea of using algae as carbon recycler sounded absurd but with the support of Shell, Edrington Group and the Scottish Environmental Technology Network we have built Britain's first pilot scale bioreactor."

Green MSP Robin Harper officially switched on the bioreactor, which could have implications for others in the industry.

He said: "This project is tremendously exciting, and I hope that it will be thoroughly successful.

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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Energy-Companies

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Algaeus, the world’s first algae-powered plug-in hybrid car, was unveiled in San Francisco last week. The pet project of algae fuel producer, Sapphire Energy, Algaeus is so efficient that SE is claiming it could make an entire coast to coast cross country trip on as little as 25 gallons of fuel. Just to prove it, the prototype will be traveling with a host of other ‘green’ vehicles to tour the US and promote alternative fuel.

Sapphire Energy hopes to use its algae-based fuel to work in the three major petrol markets: gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. They plan on ramping up production to a rate of than 2 million gallons of diesel per year in the next two years.

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Press Release:

Sunrise Ridge Algae announced today that it has produced and tested a one liter sample of crude bio-oil from algae.   The bio-oil appears suitable for use as a refinery feedstock, where it would be processed to become diesel, jet fuel and gasoline.  The company is working with a large refiner and refining technology licensor for further testing, and is developing plans to scale up to commercial size. 

Algae-derived  bio-oil is seen by many industry experts as a high-potential “third generation” renewable fuel.  Algae grows quickly, and can be grown using brackish water or wastewater.  Unlike corn-derived ethanol, algae-derived biofuels do not compete with food.   Large investors, including the Department of Energy and several major petroleum companies, have directed hundreds of millions of dollars into research in this area. 

Sunrise Ridge Algae used its patent-pending catalytic thermolysis process for converting low-lipid algae to crude oil with high yields.  Lipids are naturally occurring vegetable oils.  The process starts with algae containing only 4% lipid – typical of most algae grown at large scale or in open ponds.  In the process, the whole algae biomass was converted to crude oil using moderate temperatures and a specialized catalyst.  The bio-oil yield was approximately 25% of the original algae – far larger than the original lipid content.  Other algae-to-fuel processes are limited to extracting only the original lipid content. 

Sunrise Ridge Algae’s CEO, Norman Whitton, said, “After more than three years of research and development, we have achieved a major milestone by producing sample quantities of crude bio-oil from algae.  Our process is surprisingly efficient, and we plan to move rapidly to demonstration scale-up at a site in Texas.” 

Whitton, 49, started the company after a career in petroleum and management consulting.  He has been involved in four other startups.  Whitton also serves as the co-Chair of the Greater Houston Partnership’s Biofuels Task Force. 

Whitton elaborated, “One of the main challenges in the current algae-to-fuels industry is that it is difficult to continuously grow algae with high lipid content, at large scale.  On the other hand, it is easy to grow low-lipid algae.  Previously, the industry required 20% or more lipid content for economic operation.  Now, with our process, we can use algae with only 4% lipid.  It is much more readily available and cheaper to grow.  And, the overall economics for production of renewable fuels are much improved.” 

The algae oil, which the company calls “bioleum,” appears suitable to displace crude petroleum in existing refineries. The company has delivered samples to a major petroleum company and a refining technology licensor, where they are currently being tested. 

Dr. Robert Weber, the company’s Chief Technology Officer, provided more detail on the conversion process.  “We actually chemically convert the whole algae – we are not just extracting the lipids.  That is key to our high yields.” 

The product is a heavy crude oil, similar to vacuum gas oil (a heavy intermediate in the refining process).  It does not contain triglycerides, which are the main components of vegetable oil. David Griffith, Senior Vice President for Licensing and Ventures for the company and former employee of ConocoPhillips, said “Bioleum looks something like heavy Venezuelan crude oil that is run routinely in Gulf Coast  refineries today.”  

The bioleum has a sulfur content of only 0.22%, much less than the 2-4% sulfur in a typical Venezuelan crude oil.  On the other hand, the bioleum contains about 4% nitrogen, and the company is currently examining options to reduce this level.  Griffith also noted that the oil contains less than 2 ppm phosphorus, which is fully acceptable for refinery processing.  “Some other crude vegetable oils contain much higher phosphorus levels, which makes them hard to process in a petroleum refinery.” 

Algae-derived bioleum is superior to pyrolysis oil from wood.  For example, the heating value of Sunrise Ridge Algae’s bioleum is 38 MJ/kg, which is similar to diesel fuel (42 MJ/kg), and almost double the value for wood pyrolysis oil which is typically around 20 MJ/kg. 

Weber elaborated, “Our process is highly efficient.  The catalyzed thermolysis keeps almost all of the algae’s original energy content in our products.  About half of the incoming heating value in the raw algae is converted to crude bioleum.  Another third is converted to a char that could displace coal.  Only about 10-15% is lost in the process.  We also operate at moderate temperatures, so we can use waste heat from third party industrial processes to operate our unit.  And, because we start with whole algae, we obviate the need for lysing and extraction, which are expensive steps used in other algae-to-fuel processes.” 

Sunrise Ridge was founded in Houston in 2006 and has algae-growing operations in Austin, Texas, at the City of Austin’s Hornsby Bend wastewater sludge treatment plant.  The company has demonstrated that algae can remove nutrient pollutants from the waste water.  Nutrient pollutants cause harmful anoxic zones that kill sea life in the ocean.  Reduction of these pollutants will be increasingly important as new 2012 wastewater standards phase in. Algae also consume carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that has been implicated in climate change. 

The company is working to integrate wastewater treatment, carbon dioxide consumption and bio-oil production to create a highly efficient process for cleaning up pollution while generating revenues from bioleum sales.  This process may be interesting to municipal utilities, industrial companies and agricultural firms, since it helps solve many of their pollution issues.  At the same time, the bioleum can help reduce the amount of imported oil and reduce dependence on foreign oil sources. 

Sunrise Ridge Algae is a client of the Houston Technology Center (HTC), in the Energy program. About 60 other companies currently participate in the program.  HTC is a business accelerator and the largest technology business incubator in Texas.  HTC was founded to accelerate the commercialization of emerging technology companies in the greater Houston  area by providing in-depth business guidance, access to capital and service providers, and entrepreneurial education. 

In 2008, Sunrise Ridge Algae received an investment by the State of Texas Emerging Technology Fund.  The company has also received substantial seed capital from its founders, and has obtained further revenues from federal and private research contracts. 

Sunrise Ridge Algae has collaborated in leading algae industry research with Texas institutions, and continues to work closely with experts including Dr. Jerry Brand, Director of the UTEX Culture Collection of Algae at the University of Texas at Austin, and Dr. Mike Harold, Director of the Texas Diesel Testing and Research Center at the University of Houston. 

For more information, please contact: 

Norman Whitton

Sunrise Ridge Algae Inc.

norm.whitton@sunrise-ridge.com

832-782-0362   

company website at http://www.sunrise-ridge.com 

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies

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Following the success of the International Algae Congress which took place in ‘t Westindisch Huis in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in December last year, the organisers APP, DLG e.V. and ESMB European Society of Microalgal Biotechnology are pleased to announce an international successor of this congress to take place in Hamburg later this year.

Programme;  Phototropic aquaculture - Microalgae, Cyanobacteria & Microcrops

Sessions will be chaired by important authorities in the field of algae. During the sessions and breaks there will be sufficient time to interact and network with fellow professionals with whom one can exchange ideas and visions on the algae sector.

Presenters

The following presenters amongst others have confirmed to speak during the International Algae Congress:

• Mr. J. (Jens) Högel , Biotechnologies, Agriculture & Food, European Commission 
• Prof. Dr. O. (Otto) Pulz, Institut für Getreideverarbeitung, Germany 
• Mr. M. (Michael) Wimmer, Flottweg AG, Germany
• Dr. ir. M. (Maria) Barbosa , Wageningen UR, AFSG Biobased Products, The Netherlands
• Prof. Dr. S. Appelbaum, Ben-Gurion Univerity of the Negev (BIDR), Israel
• Prof. Dr. L. ( Laurenz) Thomsen, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany
• Dr. P. (Peter) Ripplinger, Subitec GmbH, Germany
• Mr. A. (Alexander) Piek, Westfalia Separator, Germany
• Mr. R. (Rudolf) Hahlweg, IBAU, Germany
• Dr. W.A. (Willem) Brandenburg, Wageningen UR IMARES, The Netherlands
• Dr. D. (Dieter) Sell, DECHEMA,Germany

• Dr. B. (Bernd) Kroon, Robian, Saudi Arabia

• Prof. Dr. A. (Amos) Richmond,

  Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel

  If you wish to register for the International Algae Congress or if you wish to receive additional information please send an email to  tdeboer@agriprojects.nl

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  Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies

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Press Release:

OriginOil, Inc, the developer of a breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum, announced that the National Algae Association's (NAA) quarterly conference applauded OriginOil’s presentation of a first-ever comprehensive algae production model, developed with the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) of the Department of Energy under its collaborative research agreement with OriginOil. 

CEO Riggs Eckelberry and chief scientist Dr. Vikram Pattarkine took turns outlining the new model in an OriginOil presentation. They used the extensive spreadsheet to illustrate their points interactively.

"We knew that the first company to actually come out and openly document the real productivity picture would face a tough challenge," said Barry Cohen, executive director of the National Algae Association. "OriginOil did it and now we have the beginning of an industry model."

Key contributors included the Idaho National Lab (INL) of the Department of Energy, which helped develop the energy and mass balance model as part of its collaborative research agreement with OriginOil; leading multinational oil and fats producer Desmet Ballestra, for capital costs and materials pricing; and principals of Orineo Renewables, for guidance on pricing and value-add product strategy.

At the end of the presentation, CEO Eckelberry outlined plans to share this first-ever interactive model for algae production through a process of publishing various calculators on the company's website and also making the detailed model available to researchers.

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Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Equipments

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Cyclone Power Technologies (Pink Sheets:CYPW) received the “Algaepreneur 2009 Award” at the National Algae Association Conference, held last week in Houston, TX.

The Algaepreneur Award honors companies and individuals who make important contributions to the development and commercialization of algae-based fuels. It is usually bestowed on algae fuel producers and marketers; however, Cyclone is the first honoree of the award outside these fields. The National Algae Association (NAA) is the leading trade organization for algae researchers, producers and financiers.

Cyclone received the NAA award for its heat regenerative, Rankine cycle engine, an efficient and earth-friendly modern steam engine capable of running on virtually any fuel, including today’s most promising biofuels. In tests performed by the company earlier this year, the Cyclone engine’s fuel atomizers and combustion chamber successfully burned several different variations and grades of the same strain of algae fuel without engine modification and, equally important, without expensive processing of the fuel. It is this adaptability in utilizing algae fuels, as well as other renewable and traditional fossil fuels, to power generators, automobiles and virtually any other engine application in the near future which marks a major milestone for the industry.

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Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Equipments

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The Australian Biofuels 2009 report declares that algae has significant potential advantages over existing biofuel crops. APAC Biofuel Consultants joint chief executive Mike Cochran said that South Australia had taken a lead in producing biofuels from algae. 

Mr Cochran said SA seemed to be on the right track with its focus on biofuel production from algae which was backed by the Premier's Department and the Government. SA's leadership includes the Algal Fuels Consortium, comprising SARDI and CSIRO, which has a pilot plant on Torrens Island. General Atomics, which owns the Beverley Uranium project has also committed to support it.

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Organisers of the Second Algae Biofuel Summit 2009 in New Delhi (India) held during the second week of September are very satisfied with the outcome of the event, which was attended by researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs and industry delegates from over 20 Indian states and 12 countries across the globe.

Mr. Saxena said that his organization is currently working on various innovative projects in the sector. One full session at the summit is devoted to discuss the technology to convert carbon dioxide emissions into fuel using algae, non-potable water and sunlight.  Another important area focused is the treatment of waste water using algae. It is now possible to link the production of algae-based fuel with an inexpensive method of sewage treatment. 

Mr. Saxena concluded that companies all over the world are talking of commercializing algae biofuels within five to ten years. Growdiesel’s mission is to establish the world's first commercial scale integrated biofuel farm in India with the support of India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Source: Renewable Energy Magazine

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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Energy-Companies

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Eric Wesoff  writes about algae to ethanol company Algenol under the title "Algenol: The Elephant in the Room" in greentech media

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Ethanol

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LiveFuels recently announced a shift in its business plan – moving from algae fuel company to fish aquaculturist/fish oil/biofuel/co-products supplier.

To date, the company has largely discussed raising different species of algae in open ponds to produce fuels. Today, it stated that it will grow algae, but then let filter-feeding fish eat it. It will then capture the fish, squeeze them for oil, and then feed the oil to a refinery.

Having the fish feed on algae clearly will require more algae than would be required if the algae were harvested directly. The company will also have to find ways to optimize the growth of its grazer fish and algae.

But the food-chain business model has other advantages. LiveFuels won't have to build complex bioreactors complete with carbon dioxide bubblers. It also won't have to extract algae from water, an arduous task considering that only a few grams of usable algae are found in every liter of water. The fish will make the oil and sequester it in easily recognizable organs in their bodies. Some other researchers have discussed employing tilapia for this and harvesting fish oil and fish excrement.

"We know a lot more about fish aquaculture than algae farming," said Eric Wesoff with GTM Research, who nonetheless added that the science and economic challenges await.

The company has a test pond in Brownsville, Texas. Algae blooms will be fertilized by pollution streams from the Mississippi. 

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Labels: Algae-Cultivation-Open-Pond, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Meal

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Press Release:

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies

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Press Release:

September 17-18, 2009
Sheraton North Houston

Algae has been researched in the U.S. for over 35 years. Algae is renewable fuel, does not affect the food channel and consumes CO2. The US needs to get off foreign oil, become energy independent and create new green jobs.

Due to the high cost of oil and lack of energy security, commercializing the algae oil industry is now on a fast track! Collaboration, innovation and commercialization are the motivating factors of the National Algae Association.

The algae production industry is moving forward at an astronomical rate. Over the course of two days we will learn from algae researchers, algae producers, algae equipment companies and project finance lenders. In addition to universities throughout the country, presenters include:

LiveFuels, XL Renewables, Alfa Laval, EPA, Cyclone Power Technologies, Schaefer Bio-Engineering, AlgaeVenture Systems, Origin Oil, Phycal, Jacobs Engineering, Bayer Materials, Sheffield Forgemasters, Bruker Optics, BARD, LLC, Stoel Rives, White Rock Advisors, Westar Trade Resources and the Korean Phycology Society.

Schedule:
Thursday, September 17, 2009
8:00am - 5:30 p.m. Conference and Breakout Sessions

Friday, September 18, 2009
8:00- 1:30 p.m. Conference and Breakout Sessions

Cost:
General Attendee registration rate: $500 ($400 prior to September 15; NAA members receive additional discount)

Academic/Government registration: $250
College Students: $25


Contact information:
National Algae Association
4747 Research Forest Drive #180-175
The Woodlands, TX 77381
936-321-1125
info@nationalalgaeassociation.com

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Solazyme Inc. said that it had a contract from the Defense Department for 20,000 gallons of algae-derived diesel fuel for testing and certification that could be used in Navy ships

"The military wants new fuels that meet the old petroleum specifications and reduce carbon dramatically and can be produced domestically at the same time," said Jonathan Wolfson, CEO of Solazyme Inc.

"This is an important first step with algae oil derived alternative fuels," said Kim Huntley, director of the Defense Energy Support Center, which awarded the Solazyme contract. "Not only are we helping the Navy meet its energy security and alternative fuels objectives, this contract also demonstrates the continued successful partnering of DESC with our warfighter customers to help them meet their emergent energy needs."

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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Energy-Investments

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Cyclone Power Technologies will present its award winning,all-fuel external combustion engine technology at the National Algae Association Conference, to be held September 17-18 in Houston, TX. 

The Cyclone Engine is a modern steam engine capable of running on virtually any fuel, including today`s most promising biofuels made from algae. In tests performed by the company earlier this year, the Cyclone Engine`s fuel atomizers and combustion chamber successfully burned several different varieties of fuel derived from algae without engine modification and, equally important, without expensive processing of the fuels. 

"Algae is a wonderful fuel source," stated Harry Schoell, CEO of Cyclone. "It has a high BTU content relative to other biofuels, and burns cleanly and efficiently in our engine."

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Bengal is taking the lead in algae fuel a third-generation biofuel that has generated tremendous excitement worldwide. A city-based organization is conducting a pilot project at the Kolaghat thermal power plant and is expected to start production next year.

"Algae yields a very high amount of bio-fuel compared with jatropha or soyabean because almost the entire algal organism uses sunlight to produce lipids or oil. Studies show that algae can produce 60-80% of their biomass in the form of oil," said professor Sarajit Basu, the mentor of the project and an expert on bio-fuel.

The possibilities are immense. Fifty per cent of the CO2 emitted can be used for algal farming, 25% for farming of spirulina (an edible algae, very high in protein content), and the rest can be compressed in its uncontaminated form to produce dry ice. The oil-cakes again are an excellent fuel which can be burnt to generate power to run this entire process. So, it will be a self-sustaining technology," said S M Ghosh, the head of Bio-Fuel Mission of Sun Plant Agro, which plans to start commercial production of algae bio-fuel by 2010. "We are taking land on lease near Canning for this," said A K Singh, managing director of Sun Plant Agro.

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Press Release:

A St. Petersburg, FL company, AgOil International, LLC, has teamed up with a Pendergrass, GA company, Georgia Alternative Fuels, LLC (GAF), to generate a start-to-finish renewable fuel production system. 

By undertaking this joint effort, they can link together their processes in sequence and deliver home-grown biodiesel that meets the ASTM fuel standard. This means their biodiesel output can serve as a replacement for petroleum diesel, in whole or in part, for cars, busses, trucks, boats, tractors, and generators.

Frank Preg, AgOil CEO regards the reliability of their system as key to commercial success, noting that “Predictable harvests with consistently high yields are essential prerequisites in achieving cost effectiveness in a mass culturing system.” Proprietary components and custom devices, a result of years of research and development, have been integrated into AgOil’s system to maintain a fully controlled microbiological growth environment in large scale culture. This approach results in faster, denser cultures, higher oil yields, smaller footprint, and overcomes the shortcomings that have caused previous endeavors to fail.

The research and development phase of AgOil’s new system has been successfully completed. This includes overall system design, testing of proprietary inventions, submission of two patent applications, culture of many strains of microalgae, production of algal oil, and methods for maximization of lipid (oil) production. Their next step is to build a pilot plant to grow and process the algae, demonstrating the full process from the test tube to the fuel-tank.

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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Energy-Companies

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Aquacarotene is looking to reinvent itself as a bio-processing company based on algae
and other complementary bio-processing projects that produce energy and/or nutraceuticals.
Aquacarotene has a potentially excellent site for the production of biodiesel through the growing of algae in open raceway ponds. The company claims to have

· 380 hectares of leased land 
· Gravel to expand the ponds 
· Abundant CO2 nearby 
· Native title issues cleared 
· Abundant pristine sea water within close pumping range 
· Excellent practical knowledge on the growing of Algae especially Dunaliella Salina 
· Land to house production facilities.

The company is actively looking for a partner for the successful production of biodiesel.

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Eastern officially announced its partnership with General Atomics, an energy-related company based in San Diego, in December 2008. The partnership was formed in order to undertake a new project known as the Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies, or CRAFT. CRAFT is developing processes of converting biomass into a biodiesel fuel that could be used to run most engines. 

Bruce Pratt, the chair of Eastern's Department of Agriculture, said that biomass, or plant-derived material, will be broken down to release sugars (namely glucose). These sugars will be fed to a special type of heterotrophic algae that does not require sunlight to grow. The algae will then be harvested and the oil used to create diesel fuel will be extracted.

Pratt said that CRAFT is different from other alternative fuel projects because it will not cause as much controversy.CRAFT has been researching biofuel possibilities in nearby Winchester in Clark County, according to Selby and Pratt.

The research the CRAFT team has gathered so far is to determine whether a useful biodiesel can be extracted from the algae, but if a plant is built, then the experiment will be whether the plant could mass-produce the biodiesel fuel.

General Atomics would provide the funds for the creation of the plant, Selby said. He also said that if the pilot plant is successful, then other pilot plants across the U.S. might be built in the future.

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In an effort to drum up attention and support for their algae-based biofuel, Sapphire Energy has announced that they will conduct a coast-to-coast journey in their “Algaeus” plug-in hybrid. Part electric hybrid, part biofuel vehicle, Sapphire claimes the Algaeus will get 150 miles per gallon from its hybrid/biofuel drivetrain.

The Algaeus will visit 10 cities, starting in San Francisco on September 8th and ending in New York City on the 18th.

This will be the first street-ready and legal algae-fueled vehicle to compete a trans-continental journey. The engine itself has not been modified in anyway, but an additional battery pack and advanced energy-management system have been added to increase the mileage.

The high-octane algae fuel is a drop-in replacement for gasoline. No engine modifications required. Using a mixture of hydrocarbons refined from “green crude”, this is a low-emission, renewable fuel. The algae is “engineered” to meet certain driving dynamics, and grown in open ponds where it is then removed from the water in a 4-15 day process. The resulting oil can be used in any petrol-powered vehicle.

The Algaeus will visit 10 cities, starting in San Francisco on September 8th and ending in New York City on the 18th.

The list of cities the Algaeus will visit:
San Fancisco, CA (September 8th)
Sacramento, CA (September 9th)
Salt Lake City, UT (September 10th)
Cheyenne, WY (September 11th)
Lincoln, NE (September 12th)
Chicago, IL (September 13th)
Detroit, MI (September 14th)
Cleveland, OH (September 15th)
Erie, PA (September 16th)
Washington DC (September 17th)
New York, NY (September 18th)

For more on Sapphire Energy check out their website.

Source: Biofuels Digest

Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Energy-Products

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Press Release:

BUILDING THE NEW EXCITING ALGAE BIOFUEL AND BIOMASS INDUSTRY ONE COMPANY AT A TIME

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies

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Press Release

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies

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A pilot project is underway in Vermont. Testing whether algae along with milfoil, an invasive water weed, can generate energy on farms. This system builds on cow power- recycling even more of the waste to grow the algae.

Mark Hoffman is busy growing the farm's newest crop inside a small greenhouse at the Blue Spruce farm in Bridport, Vermont. Hoffman is managing this project for Algepower- a Montpelier company that has developed and patented a photobioreactor to cultivate algae as a fuel and food source.

Labels: Algae-Cultivation-Sewage, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Photobioreactor

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Press Release: 

September 17-18, 2009 
Sheraton North Houston  

THE WOODLANDS, Texas (August 25, 2009) In support of its recent Response to The Department of Energy's National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap, the National Algae Association's next conference, Algae: The New Oil, will cover a full range of subjects focusing on the commercialization of the algae production industry, including research, growing, harvesting, extraction and by-products, as well as project financing issues and grant-writing techniques. 
 
Winstead, PC has joined as a sponsor of the conference, which will be held on September 17-18, 2009, at the Sheraton North Houston.
 
In addition to the previously-announced topics and presentations, which are available on our website, we are pleased to add Phycal LLC, who will present its Olexal non-destructive extraction milking process, and Barry Rosen, Ph.D., of the USGS Florida Integrated Science Center, will discuss enhancing lipid production in algae.
 
Registration information can be found at www.nationalalgaeassociation.com. 
 
The National Algae Association is the first algae trade association in the US whose mission is to reduce US dependence on foreign oil without affecting the food channel. NAA provides forums and workshops for algae producers, researchers, equipment manufacturers and other algaepreneurs to collaborate in their efforts to fast-track commercialization of algae as a biofuel. 
 
Contact Information: 
National Algae Association
4747 Research Forest Drive #180-175
The Woodlands, TX 77381
936-321-1125
info@nationalalgaeassociation.com

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Aquentium, Inc., a publicly traded company in the United States of America announced that the company has secured 475 acres in the State of New Mexico for the development of an algae bio-fuel production facility.

“As we enter this Green Era, by getting ahead of the curve, Aquentium can produce a new generation of transportation fuels for the world that are low-carbon, produced right here in the United States of America, and that generate renewed economic growth and new jobs,” stated Aquentium President Mark Taggatz.

Aquentium’s algae-based fuels will emit approximately two-thirds less CO2 than petroleum-based fuels at scale. When compared with conventional biofuels, such as corn ethanol and soy biodiesel, Aquentium’s Green Crude has significantly less than half their carbon impact, while delivering far greater energy density than either alternative.

“Algae-based fuels, one of the most promising technological developments to positively transform the world’s transportation industry. Fuel from algae is an extremely logical approach to meet the needs for a green solution to our dependence on fossil fuels. Fuel from algae is not just a laboratory experiment. The technology is ready now,” added Taggatz.

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Labels: Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Energy-Companies

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CNN news says, three years ago many would have dismissed the notion that a significant supply of the world's automotive fuel could come from algae. But today the idea, while still an adventurous one, is getting much harder to ignore.

Back then there were only a handful of companies seriously focused on producing algae fuel. Now there are well over 50, according to Samhitha Udupa, a research associate with Lux Research. 

The number should double within the next year or two, she adds, and private investment in algae fuel ventures has at least doubled every year since 2006, a trend likely to continue.

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Algae business potential is growing rapidly. PetroAlgae does not make fuel from algae, but sells licenses -- blueprints for how to make oil from algae, one of the oldest life forms on the planet. PetroAlgae says its process of maximizing the flow of light to organisms pushes algae to grow between two to three times faster than it would in its natural state.

The licenses also show buyers how to make protein from algae into animal feed or a human nutrition supplement. The company says selling the protein will offset infrastructure costs and help the fuel be competitive with the price of crude oil at current prices and even lower.

The company is in talks with several national oil companies, mostly from Latin America and Asia, some power generators and agricultural companies, Scott said.

PetroAlgae's stock price spiked from $8 to over $32 and down again recently after oil major Exxon Mobil signed a $600 million research and development deal with a competing algae company last month.

Source: Reuters.com

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Energy-Investments

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Aurora Biofuels says it has a species of algae that breeds like a rabbit.

The Alameda, Calif.-based company has identified and optimized a genetic pathway in a species of wild algae that effectively turbocharges the growth and breeding cycle of the single-celled creature. As a result, the company says it will be able to double the oil production, and ability to sequester carbon dioxide, of its algae ponds.

"This gets us to 5,000 gallons per acre a year, which we think is economically viable," said CEO Bob Walsh in an interview.

Aurora is now negotiating leases to build a 50-acre pond that could produce 100 gallons a day by the second quarter of next year. If all goes well, and further optimizations arise, Aurora could have a 2,000 acre pond by 2011 or 2012. Such a pond set up with Aurora's algae and equipment could produced lipids for around $1.75 a gallon, which would translate to $2 gallon diesel. he said.

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Labels: Algae-Cultivation-Open-Pond, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Oil-Yield

Managing director Andrew Lawson says testing at James Cook University in Townsville suggests for every two tonnes of carbon captured, the MBD technology can produce almost 1 tonne of algae, of which one-third can be made into oil products and two-thirds into meal. With meal sales about $400/tonne (rival soymeal product sells at about $780/tonne) and oil selling at $800/tonne, that equates to about $570 of revenue from each tonne of algae, or more than $250 for each tonne of CO2 captured.

The first 1ha display plant of its "fuel synthesiser" is to be installed at the Loy Yang A coal-fired power station in the next six months. If the concept is proved over six to 12 months, MBD will move ahead to build a commercial pilot plant over 80ha. 

That will require a $25 million investment, but Lawson estimates it will produce earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of $15 million. If that project succeeds, the facility can quickly be scaled up to a $300m demonstration facility. 

Australia's largest power station, NSW's Eraring Energy, and a large-scale emitter in Queensland have signed agreements with MBD to instal display plants over the next 12 months.

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LiveFuels CEO Lissa Morgenthaler-Jones describes her San Carlos, Calif.-based company’s process as 'we cook them and squeeze them' for turning algae-fed fish into oil for fuel using heat and high pressure. It’s a gruesome way of harvesting pond scum than the mechanical equipment employed by other startups working on algal fuels, but it might be cheaper.

According to a spokesman for LiveFuels, which was founded in 2006 and announced the kickoff of pilot operations at a 45-acre open pond test facility in Brownsville, Texas, this week.

Some investors think LiveFuels has a good shot at making the technology and economics work. The company raised $10 million in May 2007 from David Gelbaum’s quiet Quercus Trust. At the time, LiveFuels reportedly hoped to have its biofuel ready for launch by 2010. NYT’s Green Inc. reports that the company is still trying to bring down costs, and will spend what’s left of that $10 million on additional research and development. 

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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation-Open-Pond, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Energy-Investments

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Press release:

Algae: The New Oil September 17-18, 2009 
 
THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Algae Association is pleased to announce that it has awarded the first scholarship from its scholarship fund to Waldemar Juschin, a student at Delta State University. We hope to present the check at our next conference, which will focus on commercialization of "Algae: The New Oil" on September 17-18, 2009, at the Sheraton North Houston. 

Topics and presentations from the companies and people who have diligently worked towards commercialization include: 
 
GROWING: XL Renewables, BARD, LLC and VERSATILE (Village-Energy-Reactor-Solar-Algae-Technology-Integrated-Life-Enhancement), the first prize winner of the international Invent Your World contest sponsored by the Lemelson Foundation; 
 
PROCESS: process engineering as applicable to algae utilization for biofuels (Jacobs Engineering), vision image analysis system for bubble analysis and optimization of algal production processes, EnviroCam™ (Sheffield Forgemasters), high-throughput bulk lipid content analysis in algae using TD-NMR technology without using chemicals (Bruker Optics), an economical solution to water analysis control and monitoring requirements as well as alarming and data logging in a single, user-friendly control package (Iwakiamerica), and photobioreactors using Makrolon Polycarbonate (Bayer Material Science); 
 
HARVESTING: Algae Venture Systems; 
 
SEPARATION/EXTRACTION: break-through extraction technology (OriginOil) and algae/water separability tests using different centrifuge test units (Alfa Laval); 
 
NEW ADVANCEMENTS: will include an all-fuel, earth-friendly engine (Cyclone Power Technologies), industrial applications for carbon capture and conversion (Schaefer Bio-Engineering), and HydroMentia, the future multi-use algal turf scrubber; 
 
RESEARCH: will cover screening of strains of algae from South Florida to find potential for diesel production (Florida International University), uses of algae that grows in the Gulf of Mexico (University of Louisiana), the effect of environmental conditions on lipid production of a Louisiana native microalgae strain (Louisiana State University), conversion of algal biomass growth from polluted water systems into biofuels and other co-products (Smithsonian Science Institute), and how to enhance microalgae (Marine Science Research Center at Yeungnam University & EcoPhyco Tech Ltd., Korea), and; 
 
FINANCING THE INDUSTRY will be aided by project financing (Stoel Rives LLP) and grant writing (Westar Trade Resources). 
 
Registration information is available at NAA's website, www.nationalalgaeassociation.com. 

Contact:  
National Algae Association
B. Cohen, 936-321-1125
info@nationalalgaeassociation.com 

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Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies

BP Amoco Plc is collaborating with Martek Biosciences Corp., a company with over 20 years of experience growing algae for the nutritional supplement market, in the latest bid to bring large-scale algae biofuels to commercialization. Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, the two firms will work together to establish proof of concept for large-scale, cost-effective microbial biodiesel production through fermentation, according to the joint announcement. 

The two companies announced the signing of a joint development agreement on Aug. 11. BP will contribute up to $10 million in the initial phase of the collaboration, which leverages Martek’s expertise in microbial oil production and BP’s production and commercialization experience in biofuels. Martek will perform the biotechnology research and development while BP will contribute to its integration within the biofuels value chain.

"Martek is pleased to partner with BP's Alternative Energy team, to combine our unique algae-based technologies and intellectual property for the creation of sustainable and affordable technology for microbial biofuel production," said Steve Dubin, Martek CEO. "BP's global leadership and commitment to alternative energy solutions complements Martek's own commitment to responsible and sustainable products and production."

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Algaeventure Systems has been awarded a purchase order by General Atomics (GA) to provide its algae harvesting, dewatering, and drying technology (AVS HDD).

With breakthrough technology and funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), General Atomics is spearheading the efforts of a group of corporate technology developers and universities in the pursuit of evaluating the potential of algae-to-fuel projects. The goal is to develop an environmentally friendly, efficient, and cost-effective process in JP-8 jet fuel that can be derived from algae oil.

"GA welcomes the opportunity to work with and evaluate Algaeventure's dewatering technologies under our DARPA Algae Derived JP-8 program. We believe that Algaeventure's approach holds promise for significantly reducing the cost of drying biomass at large scale thus improving the likelihood of producing cost-competitive, algae-derived fuel products," said David Ordway, Project Manager at General Atomics.

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Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Fuel-Research

The state Public Utilities Commission has denied Hawaiian Electric Co.'s request to approve a biodiesel supply contract because of the higher costs it would have passed on to consumers.

HECO sought approval for a contract with Seattle-based Imperium Services LLC. It is now seeking new bids from biofuel suppliers.

According to the contract terms, Imperium was to build a local refinery with a pipeline to supply biodiesel for HECO's newly completed, $142.3 million, 110-megawatt plant at Campbell Industrial Park. When the contract was later amended to have Imperium import biodiesel from a West Coast refinery, HECO also sought a terminaling and trucking agreement with Aloha Petroleum to transport the imported biodiesel to its generating plant. That additional contract would have incurred additional costs that HECO would have passed on to its customers.

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Joanna Schroeder lists five major algae announcements happened this week.

1. W2 Energy, based in Canada, announced that it has completed its Sunfilter commercial scale algae bioreactor.

2. Algaeventure Systems said that it has begun receiving orders for its algae harvesting, dewatering, and drying technology. The company that has placed the order is General Atomics.

3. Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at University of North Dakota was awarded a subcontract by SAIC to use its proprietary technology to produce jet fuel from algal oils.

4. Kent BioEnergy, based on California, announced that it is going to establish a division of the company in Charleston South Carolina, partnering with a Grant Know, a local entrepreneur.

5. Algenol Biofuels, a Florida based company, has threatened to leave the state and now they are working with CEO Paul Woods to entice his company to stay.

Source: Reuters.com

Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Fuel-Research

EmergingGreenCompanies.com- a company with main focus on showcasing companies that are "Going Green," and that are future leaders in the "Green Movement - released videos of a three part interview with Mr. Dennis Fisher, CEO of Biocentric Energy Holdings, Inc.

During the three part interview Mr. Fisher answers several questions and also talks about the uses of Algae.

Please follow the below link to view the interesting interview

EmergingGreenCompanies.com

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Biocentric President Dennis Fisher announced that the company is in serious negotiations for the exclusive licensing of the closed loop photobioreactor system, with an Asian country. Mr. Fisher also indicated the exclusive licensing fee for the entire country was a significant amount and that a consummated contract is anticipated during August 2009. 

Company COO Mr. Dennis Shen returned from China earlier this week and confirmed the Teaming agreement with Zhenxing Co was fully executed, and the company is now able to leverage the resources in China to design and manufacture certain components for Biocentric's global operations. Mr. Shen will be returning to China in the second week of August to finalize additional negotiations.

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Green Star Products, Inc., announced that it plans to expand its U.S. government technical proposal team to meet the expansion of the U.S. government $3 billion funding program for renewable energy projects. 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury on July 31, 2009, announced they are now accepting applications for a program that will make direct payments in lieu of tax credits to companies that create and place in service renewable energy facilities. The two Departments estimate distributing at least $3 billion in financial support to approximately 5,000 biomass, solar, wind, and other types of renewable energy production facilities. The funding for this effort is made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Green Star Products together with its consortium partners are now active in four distinct green industrial applications, which are: 

           Algae biodiesel production  

           Cellulosic ethanol  

           Electric vehicle production

           Advanced lubrication

All these industry segments are leading candidates for government funding programs.

Source: Business Wire

Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Energy-Companies

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Algae are widely investigated with biodiesel production. While numerous companies are working to break barriers associated with commercial-scale algal biodiesel production, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Genifuel Corp. have embraced algae, or aquatic biomass, for a different purpose—natural gas production. 

The companies are working to perfect a catalytic gasification process, which U.S. DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) recently granted Genifuel an exclusive license for, and to develop a technique to efficiently grow and harvest aquatic biomass for use as a feedstock. 

The companies think their process, which was originally developed as a technique to clean up industrial and food processing waste as an alternative to incineration, will be more efficient than other methods of gasifying biomass. 

Now, it’s just a matter of maintaining funding while fine-tuning and scaling up the system to prove it can be commercially viable.

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Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Energy-Products

Governor Charlie Crist encouraged investment in Florida’s renewable energy industry while addressing attendees in Orlando at the 2009 Farm to Fuel Summit, hosted by Commissioner Charles Bronson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Governor Crist praised investors and producers of ethanol and biofuels for their efforts to develop renewable energy.

In addition to funding research related to the production of ethanol using crops such as sorghum and citrus peel waste Florida is also investing in projects that focus on farming techniques that minimize the need for water and fertilizer. 

Florida’s recent investments include research on biodiesel production from advanced energy crops such as jatropha and algae. Governor Crist highlighted that careful study of these second generation biofuels is part of an integrated solution for meeting Florida's future energy needs that also includes improving fuel economy, designing communities around smart growth principles and promoting mass transportation and conservation.

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Press Release:

Registration for Premier Algae Industry Conference Now Open 
2009 Algae Biomass Summit

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The 2009 Algae Biomass Summit announced that J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., renowned scientist and CEO of Synthetic Genomics Inc (SGI), will be the keynote speaker at this year’s event. The Algae Biomass Summit is the official conference of the Algal Biomass Organization (ABO) and takes place this year October 7-9 in San Diego. Registration for the conference is now available at www.algalbiomass.org. 

The Algae Biomass Summit is the algae industry’s premier global conference and is designed to highlight scientific advances and encourage knowledge sharing to accelerate the development of algae-based solutions for global energy, environmental and economic issues. 

Dr. Venter, who is well known as a leader in genomics for sequencing the first draft human genome in 2001 and his complete human genome in 2007, is the co-founder of SGI, which is dedicated to using genomic-driven advances to address a variety of global issues including energy and the environment. SGI recently announced a $600 million alliance with ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company to develop next generation biofuels using photosynthetic algae. Prior to this announcement, SGI announced deals with BP in exploring biological conversion of subsurface hydrocarbons and a deal with Malaysian company ACGT to explore oil producing crops such as oil palm and jatropha. His presentation at the Algal Biomass Summit is titled “From reading to writing the genetic code.” 

“Dr. Venter is a scientific pioneer and strong advocate for next generation biofuels,” said Mary Rosenthal, executive director of the Algal Biomass Organization. “He is applying his success with genomes in ways that have the potential to help algae-based solutions deliver on the promise of renewable and sustainable energy.” 

In 1995 Dr. Venter and his team of researchers decoded the genome of the first free-living organism, the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae, using his new whole genome shotgun technique. Since then, he and his teams have now sequenced hundreds of genomes using his techniques and tools. 

Dr. Venter, formerly a researcher at the National Institutes of Health, is the author of more than 200 research articles and the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, public honors, and scientific awards, including the 2001 Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize, and the 2002 Gairdner Foundation International Award. He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Venter has also been selected twice to Time Magazine's “Time 100” list of the most influential people in the world. 

More information, including registration forms, for the 2009 Summit is available on the website at: http://www.algalbiomass.org/ABS09.html.

Source: Business Wire

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies

In a unanimous vote, the Carlsbad City Council approved the purchase of a demonstration plant totaling $625,000 for the extraction of oil from algae.

In March, the city entered into an agreement with Carlsbad-based Center for Excellence for Hazardous Materials Management (CEHMM) to serve as fiscal agent in the administration of a grant obtained from CEHMM from the New Mexico Energy Innovation Fund totaling $1.1 million.

Lynn said CEHMM sought the services of vendors to provide the technologies and equipment necessary to extract oil from algae. He said eight vendors from around the world were contacted, but only one vendor, SRS Company, met the criteria and was able to demonstrate extraction of oil from algae, as well as make biodiesel from it.

The system to be built by SRS will be used to dewater and extract oil from algae at the CEHMM facility located at the New Mexico State University Agriculture Experimental Station located north of the city.

"We believe the bi-products from oil could be even bigger than the oil for fuel," Lynn said. "Our goal is to maximize everything we can to try to bring more jobs to Carlsbad. We don't plan to leave Carlsbad. All 22 of our current employees are from Carlsbad."

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Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Oil-Extraction

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Targeted Growth, one of the leaders in genetic research, is trying to boost the oil content. It has already created versions of cyanobacteria with 20 percent to 40 percent of their mass in lipid. Next year, it hopes to show that it can produce this type of algae in large enough quantities to support a pilot manufacturing facility. Ideally, Targeted will be able to show that its algae can produce 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of oil a year per acre and show a pathway to get to 4,000 to 6,000 gallons an acre a year.

Cyanobacteria, or blue green algae, are not incredibly oily. Only about 5 percent to 10 percent of their body mass in a natural state consists of lipids, which can be turned into biofuel, according to Margaret McCormick, general manager of the biobased materials unit at Targeted Growth. By contrast, some species of Botryococcus can achieve a lipid content of up to 70 percent to 80 percent after genetic engineering.

Source: Greentechmedia.com

Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Strains

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The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota has been awarded a subcontract by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to help produce jet fuel from algae. The effort is being funded by the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and is a continuation of the first successful production of 100% renewable fuel for the U.S. military by the EERC.

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The company Joule Biotechnologies has developed a hybrid system that uses a solar concentrating converter that is filled with brackish water, nutrients and a “highly engineered synthetic organism,” to produce a bio-based fuel. The solar system, called a HelioCulture, concentrates sunlight onto the mixture, and the engineered photosynthetic organism (not algae) which converts sunlight and carbon dioxide into ethanol or a hydrocarbon-based fuel called a “SolarFuel.”

Bill Sims, CEO of the company says cellulosic ethanol can produce 2,000 gallons per acre per year, while Joule’s SolarFuels can produce 20,000 gallons per acre per year.

The company hopes to break ground on a pilot plant in 2010, and a commercial-scale plant in either late 2011 or early 2012. Sims says the company had been in stealth mode until now in order to protect the company’s “revolutionary” concept.

See more: earth2tech.com

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies

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"We are growing algae and producing oil,However, we are not yet producing a usable product, because the algae have to be at a certain density." Solix Biofuels Inc.'s Chief Executive Officer Douglas Henston said in a telephone interview with Herald Staff Writer. ""

Henston said, the Coyote Gulch facility is perfect for the algae cultivation because of the amount of sun the region receives.

"We are using the oil that the algae create for diagnostic purposes right now," Henston said. "Our commercial partners are testing it to see how suitable it is in different (fuel) conversions."

Henston said Solix estimates the facility can produce 2,000 to 2,500 gallons per acre per year. The company said it wants to employ a total of 20 workers at the facility.

Henston said he doesn't know when the integration of algae-created oil will hit the market, but he hopes it will be soon."We hope that the transition of the platform to a large-scale, commercial production is right around the corner," he said.

See more: Durangoherald.com

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies

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Press Release:

Fredrikson & Byron to Host Daylong

Midwest Algae Commercialization Conference on Aug. 18  

On Tuesday, Aug. 18 Fredrikson & Byron will sponsor a Midwest Algae Commercialization conference. The conference will focus on algae as an emerging source for biofuels and carbon abatement, its commercialization and market opportunities, resources for algae development, funding mechanisms, and sustainability aspects.

“We believe the emerging algae industry offers many opportunities for both the private and public sectors of the Midwest,” says Todd Taylor, the lead biomass shareholder in Fredrikson & Byron’s Renewable Energy Group. “Many Midwest industries will benefit from commercializing algae, including energy, fuels, utilities, wastewater treatment, pollution control, biomaterials, and others concerned with carbon cap and trade.”’

The full-day conference will feature almost 30 presenters from various areas within the industry covering topics from research and development to the intellectual property issues related to algae production. Tim Zenk, vice president of corporate affairs for Sapphire Energy, will present a keynote presentation on The Lay of the Land (or Pond) for Algae. Sapphire Energy is a Calif.-based Algal biofuel company. For information on the company visit www.sapphireenergy.com .

The Midwest Algae Commercialization Workshop will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at U.S. Bank Plaza, 40th Floor, 200 S. Sixth St., Minneapolis, Minn. The cost per person for the early-bird rate is $150 (register prior to July 28) and $200 after July 28. For more information on the workshop or to register, please visit www.fredlaw.com/events/algae  or contact Heather King at hking@fredlaw.com or 612-492-7856. 

Supporting organizations for the workshop include Byrne & Company, a renewable energy development company, and the Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE), a research center at the University of Minnesota. More information about the organizations can be found at, www.byrneltd.com and www.environment.umn.edu/iree . 

Fredrikson & Byron is a 240-attorney law firm based in Minneapolis, with offices in Bismarck, Des Moines, Monterrey, Mexico, and Shanghai, China. More information about the firm is available at www.fredlaw.com.

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Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies

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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies

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The Oil giant Exxon Mobile to plans to announce an investment of $600 million in producing liquid transportation fuels from algae. The biofuel effort involves a partnership with Synthetic Genomics, a biotechnology company founded by the genomics pioneer J.Craig Venter.

“Algae is the ultimate biological system using sunlight to capture and convert carbon dioxide into fuel,” Dr. Venter said. 

Algal biofuel, sometimes nicknamed oilgae by environmentalists, is a promising technology. Fuels derived from algae have molecular structures that are similar to petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, and would be compatible with the existing transportation infrastructure, according to Exxon.

Exxon’s investment includes $300 million for in-house studies and “potentially more” than $300 million to Synthetic Genomics “if research and development milestones are successfully met,” Exxon said.

Source: The New York Times

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Energy-Investments

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Press Release:

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she has included $2 million for clean energy algae biofuels research at Washington State University in the fiscal year 2010 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. 

“This funding will support cutting-edge research that will create jobs and continue to position Washington state as a leader in the clean energy economy,” said Senator Patty Murray. “It provides a shot in the arm for Washington state biofuels research, and will help our country move toward cleaner and more efficient energy use.” 

The WSU Algae Biofuels project is a partnership between WSU and the Seattle-based Targeted Growth Inc. It will create high-skill jobs in both Pullman and the Puget Sound area and provide researchers with the resources they need to develop new, energy-efficient algal fuel sources. Algae is a particularly promising candidate for fuel use, as its efficiency in capturing solar energy results in higher productivity per unit area than a traditional biofuel energy crop.  

 “Washington State University is committed to partnering with the clean-technology sector to find innovative solutions for supplying energy and improving environmental quality,” said Howard Grimes, the WSU Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School. “This funding will allow our scholars and partners to apply their knowledge to solve problems and create economic opportunity in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the world.”

The funding was included in the Energy and Water Development fiscal year 2010 spending bill. Having passed the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee today, the bill will now go to the full Appropriations Committee before going to the full Senate for consideration.

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Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Energy-Companies

Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Photobioreactor

Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Energy-Investments, Algae-Fuel-Research

Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation, Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Photobioreactor

Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Cultivation-Sewage, Algae-Energy-Companies

Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Energy-Companies

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New Jersey-based Garden State Ethanol has selected a landfill site in Woodbine, Philadelphia, for the location of a $200 million (€142 million) biofuel plant that would use more than 100 bioreactor tanks to convert algae into ethanol and biodiesel oil.

Garden State Ethanol is currently seeking funds for the project. If approved, work on the plant may begin as early as next year.

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Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Ethanol

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The Center of Excellence for Hazardous Materials Management moved its Algae Biofuels Project from pilot scale to the commercial demonstration level.

This facility is located on the grounds of the New Mexico State University Agriculture Science Center south of Artesia. This phase of the project expects to be in full operation by Sep 1, producing algae that will be harvested and processed into biodiesel fuel.

The project has the potential to produce 5,000 gallons of oil per acre per year, according to Doug Lynn, executive director of CEHMM.

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Related blog post:

Letter to NM Governor from CEHMM Oil from Algae Project

Labels: Algae-Biodiesel, Algae-Energy-Companies

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Ag-Oil will develop a state-of-the-art biofuel refinery and a commercial scale oilseed processing facility on their existing Jatropha plantation. This project has the potential to yield an annual capacity of 15 million gallons of bio-diesel while utilizing production equipment which easily processes multiple feedstocks. “The continuous flow technology - A solid catalyst that can drive the chemical reactions) developed by UEE to produce algae biodiesel and other non-food oilseed based biodiesel will allow for faster and cheaper production of bio-diesel,” said Ben Wen, Vice President of UEE. “We will also be implementing ANL’s glycerin desalinization process which will ensure successful long-term recycling of the water and increase overall fuel production by about 10%. We have partnered with some of the best minds in this field.

Ag-Oil anticipates utilizing a patented technology that will allow augmentation of biofuel output by as much as 60% using the same oilseed feedstock input by recycling biomass that is ordinarily considered waste material. “Using algae for this purpose potentially holds several distinct advantages, Liang said. First, algae can provide at least 30 times as much lipids per acre as corn, meaning less space can be devoted to this purpose. Also, using algae would reduce the competition for other oil seeds -- such as corn and soybeans.”

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Labels: Algae-Energy-Companies, Algae-Fuel-Research

Dr. Graham Hillier, low carbon energy director at CPI,said, "We are planning a rapid research and development programme to move the concept from small-scale testing to larger scale demonstration. We are also looking at ways of integrating the processes into existing power supply and waste management systems."

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Labels: Algae-CO2-Capture, Algae-Cultivation-Power-Plants, Algae-Energy-Companies