You are at: Oilgae Blog.
Algae may be the next frontier for biofuels, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is poised to be among the nation's leaders in this research.
Part of the greenhouse complex at UNL's Beadle Center will be revamped into an algal biofuels research facility this year. Scientists will begin growing algae in small containers, then move on to five-foot long bags and, finally, a "raceway" – a small, oblong pool – as they seek answers to two key questions:
– What algae cultivars are best suited for biofuel development? There are at least 200,000 different algae, and ultimately genetic modification may play a role in engineering algae to produce the most lipids – specifically, triglycerides – possible for conversion to fuel.
– How can the triglycerides be most cost-effectively extracted from the algae to produce biofuel?
UNL already has received $1.9 million in federal funding for the research. It's also in line for tens of millions more in funding for several related research angles, including one that would couple this new research with UNL's already robust corn-ethanol byproducts research.
See more
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
Friday, February 5, 2010
Algae Advocates Praise EPA Findings
You are at: Oilgae Blog.
The EPA in its Renewable Fuels Standard found that biofuels could have a significant impact on efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when compared with gasoline or diesel fuel. The finding now classifies algae-based biodiesel and renewable diesel as an "advanced biofuel" under U.S. federal guidelines. The EPA announcement is in step with a move by U.S. President Barack Obama to reach a comprehensive climate deal.
See more
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
The EPA in its Renewable Fuels Standard found that biofuels could have a significant impact on efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when compared with gasoline or diesel fuel. The finding now classifies algae-based biodiesel and renewable diesel as an "advanced biofuel" under U.S. federal guidelines. The EPA announcement is in step with a move by U.S. President Barack Obama to reach a comprehensive climate deal.
See more
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
Algae Knew about Quantum Mechanics 2 bln yrs Before Humans
You are at: Oilgae Blog.
In a new study, a team of chemists from the University of Toronto in Canada have observed quantum mechanics at work in photosynthesis in marine algae, which suggests algae knew about quantum mechanics nearly two billion years before humans.
"Our latest experiments show that normally functioning biological systems have the capacity to use quantum mechanics in order to optimize a process as essential to their survival as photosynthesis," said chemistry professor Greg Scholes, lead author of the study.
Scholes and his colleagues isolated light-harvesting complexes from two different species of marine algae and studied their function under natural temperature conditions using a sophisticated laser experiment known as two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy.
See more
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
In a new study, a team of chemists from the University of Toronto in Canada have observed quantum mechanics at work in photosynthesis in marine algae, which suggests algae knew about quantum mechanics nearly two billion years before humans.
"Our latest experiments show that normally functioning biological systems have the capacity to use quantum mechanics in order to optimize a process as essential to their survival as photosynthesis," said chemistry professor Greg Scholes, lead author of the study.
Scholes and his colleagues isolated light-harvesting complexes from two different species of marine algae and studied their function under natural temperature conditions using a sophisticated laser experiment known as two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy.
See more
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Growing Green: Bodega Algae and Bigelow Laboratory Collaborate to Develop Algal Biofuel Technology in New England
You are at: Oilgae Blog.
Press Release:
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
Press Release:
Massachusetts-based renewable energy company Bodega Algae and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in West Boothbay Harbor, Maine, have received a six-month, $150,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation to develop and test a prototype for growing high concentrations of algae for use as biofuel. The grant is titled Light Delivery Enhancement of Photobioreactors and will be used to develop advanced photobioreactors that can be used in the nation’s quest for a carbon-neutral fuel source and energy independence.
A photobioreactor cultivates algae efficiently by delivering optimal supplies of nutrients and light for growth.
“Bodega is a developer of algae photobioreactors that grow high-energy algal biomass for use in the production of biofuel,” said Sam Hill, Bodega Algae’s president. “The first phase of our SBIR project addresses the technical challenges involved in cultivating large amounts of algae needed for producing and using algal biofuel at an industrial scale.”
The abundant populations of microscopic algae in the oceans of the world are the first link in the food chain for all marine life. Many species of algae contain large amounts of lipids, or natural oils, and if companies can create the technology to grow algae on a large scale, these tiny, single-celled plants could hold the key to a significant domestic source
of renewable energy. In addition to their potential as an energy source,
algae also offer a multitude of other possible commercial applications, ranging from aquaculture and nutraceuticals to bioremediation of chemicals and greenhouse gas reduction.
Dr. Willie Wilson, a Senior Research Scientist at Bigelow Laboratory, is the Interim Director of the Laboratory’s Provasoli-Guillard Center for the Culture of Marine Phytoplankton, the nation’s official collection of marine algae, and the largest micro algae repository on the east coast.
Wilson will test methods of light delivery developed at Bodega Algae for their effect on cell growth rates for a range of algal strains
“A key goal of the project is to identify the best methods and design for capturing and sending light to algae in larger volumes under varying conditions in order to grow algae,” said Wilson. “This grant gives us a chance to test methods to grow high volumes of algae quickly and efficiently. This would open one of the major bottlenecks in the production of biofuel.”
The central focus of Bodega Algae, LLC is the development of next-generation commercial algae photobioreactors for high-volume commercial production of algae biomass. Bodega was recently identified by Earth2Tech (http://earth2tech.com), a website tracking innovations in green technology, as one of the top 15 biofuel companies in the country to watch.
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is a center for global ocean research. An independent, nonprofit research institution, the Laboratory is supported by federal research grants and private funds. The Laboratory’s research ranges from microbial oceanography -- examining biological productivity in the world’s oceans at the molecular level -- to the large-scale biogeochemical processes that drive interactions between ocean ecosystems and global environmental conditions.
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
National Algae Association Announces Additions To Agenda For West Coast Workshop
You are at: Oilgae Blog.
Press Release:
Call for Presentations and Papers:
The agenda for this conference is already filling up and presentation slots are limited. If you are interested in speaking, please forward a powerpoint presentation, abstract or white paper to the NAA by Jan. 31st to info@nationalalgaeassociation.
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
Press Release:
The National Algae Association is pleased to announce the following additions to the agenda for its West Coast Chapter Workshop on February 25th & 26th, 2010 at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, hosted by BioCentric Energy:
Abdul S. Abdul, Ph.D., PHD
President
NESA & Associates
President
NESA & Associates
Scott Frasier
Vice President
OriginOil
Bill Weaver
Director, Technical Services
Harvel Plastics, Inc.
Dr. Abdul and Messrs Frasier and Weaver will join representatives from Renewed World Energy, BioCentric Energy, Virtuoso Biofuels, Iwakiamerica, Plast-O-Matic and Renewable Energy Partners in furthering the collaborative efforts of the National Algae Association to fast-track commercialization of the algae production industry.
There will be several algae growing systems, inoculators and harvesters on display at the Workshop.
Early registration ends on January 30, 2010. To learn more about this workshop or to register, please visit: www.nationalalgaeassociation.com
NAA Quarterly Conference - April 29-30, 2010, in Houston. Details and early registration information are available on our website, www.nationalalgaeassociation.com.
Call for Presentations and Papers:
The agenda for this conference is already filling up and presentation slots are limited. If you are interested in speaking, please forward a powerpoint presentation, abstract or white paper to the NAA by Jan. 31st to info@nationalalgaeassociation.
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
Algae-based CO2 Capture at Power Plants - PowerPlantCCS
You are at: Oilgae Blog.
Here's an interesting site (and blog) focussed on CO2 sequestration at power plants worldwide. Aptly called Power Plant CCS, it provides the latest updates on CCS at power plants worldwide. Interestingly, it has a special emphasis on researching the newest and novel methods for CCS at these plants.
I find this emphasis to be of enormous significance. While the three primary CCS methods - pre-combustion, post combustion and oxy-fuel combustion hog the headlines, along with the storage methods such as storing in depleted oil fields, in coal mines for methane recovery and saline aquifers, nobody really knows if any of these is sustainable in the long run. All we have as assurances are computer models. Pumping the CO2 into the ground sounds sort of scary to many people worldwide; also, capturing CO2 using any of the three methods is quite expensive - both in terms of money and energy.
It is against this background that research into more sustainable capture and storage mechanisms are vital. The site PowerPlantCCS provides research updates on such novel and innovative ideas.
For instance, there are three novel approaches about which detailed inputs are provided: CO2 sequestration using mineral carbonation, algae-based CO2 capture,
Carbon Mitigation through use of Biomass instead of Coal .
Of course, of the three mentioned above, what will be most interesting to readers is the detailed inputs given on algae-based CO2 capture at this site and blog. I will keep an eye out on any new updates on that site in this context.
Given that carbon capture and storage is likely to be one of the most important concepts that the world will be keen on researching, and also given that power plants have an urgent need to become less CO2 polluting, this is indeed an important site.
Good stuff.
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
Here's an interesting site (and blog) focussed on CO2 sequestration at power plants worldwide. Aptly called Power Plant CCS, it provides the latest updates on CCS at power plants worldwide. Interestingly, it has a special emphasis on researching the newest and novel methods for CCS at these plants.
I find this emphasis to be of enormous significance. While the three primary CCS methods - pre-combustion, post combustion and oxy-fuel combustion hog the headlines, along with the storage methods such as storing in depleted oil fields, in coal mines for methane recovery and saline aquifers, nobody really knows if any of these is sustainable in the long run. All we have as assurances are computer models. Pumping the CO2 into the ground sounds sort of scary to many people worldwide; also, capturing CO2 using any of the three methods is quite expensive - both in terms of money and energy.
It is against this background that research into more sustainable capture and storage mechanisms are vital. The site PowerPlantCCS provides research updates on such novel and innovative ideas.
For instance, there are three novel approaches about which detailed inputs are provided: CO2 sequestration using mineral carbonation, algae-based CO2 capture,
Carbon Mitigation through use of Biomass instead of Coal .
Of course, of the three mentioned above, what will be most interesting to readers is the detailed inputs given on algae-based CO2 capture at this site and blog. I will keep an eye out on any new updates on that site in this context.
Given that carbon capture and storage is likely to be one of the most important concepts that the world will be keen on researching, and also given that power plants have an urgent need to become less CO2 polluting, this is indeed an important site.
Good stuff.
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Hopewell Algae Project Prototype for the Country
You are at: Oilgae Blog.
Hopewell launched the algae demonstration project in November. Until at least September, algae will be used to clean wastewater from nitrogen instead of conventionally engineered solutions. This new technology is a more cost-saving, green approach to nutrient removal, which results in cleaner waters in Virginia's rivers and in the Chesapeake Bay.
Excess nitrogen in the plant's discharge is one of the main challenges of wastewater treatment, and the regional plant is currently not designed to remove nitrogen. Plant director Mark Haley estimates that it would cost $90 million to upgrade the plant with conventional solutions. "This would result in higher sewer rates for the citizens and a higher cost for the local industries," Haley said.
But the algae project could even generate a profit - because algae creates a residue which can be used to produce biofuel and green coal.
See more
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
Hopewell launched the algae demonstration project in November. Until at least September, algae will be used to clean wastewater from nitrogen instead of conventionally engineered solutions. This new technology is a more cost-saving, green approach to nutrient removal, which results in cleaner waters in Virginia's rivers and in the Chesapeake Bay.
Excess nitrogen in the plant's discharge is one of the main challenges of wastewater treatment, and the regional plant is currently not designed to remove nitrogen. Plant director Mark Haley estimates that it would cost $90 million to upgrade the plant with conventional solutions. "This would result in higher sewer rates for the citizens and a higher cost for the local industries," Haley said.
But the algae project could even generate a profit - because algae creates a residue which can be used to produce biofuel and green coal.
See more
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
