Algae's Many Applications to Be Showcased at National Algae Association Conference October 23-24 in Houston

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News release

HOUSTON -- For more than 20 years, Algae biofuels projects have been primarily focused on biodiesel production. “In recent years, the algae industry has evolved in size, scope, technologies and applications to produce several different types of fuels for transport and power generation,” notes Will Thurmond, Chairman of Research and Development for the National Algae Association and author of the 685 page Biodiesel 2020 study. “There are dozens of new algae projects and applications emerging to produce biodiesel, ethanol, commercial jet fuel, renewable diesel, biogasoline, biomass for power generation and hydrogen fuels,” said Thurmond.

Algae are the fastest-growing plants in the world. Compared to 1st generation feedstocks, algae holds enormous potential to provide a high-yield, non-arable land use, non-food, non-rainforest source of fuels. Like other plants, Algae use photo-synthesis to harness sunlight and carbon dioxide in order to capture energy stored inside the cell as lipids (the source for oil) and starches/carbohydrates.

“Many of the National Algae Association’s members are now starting to create ethanol from starch-rich algae strains. Other NAA members are utilizing waste streams from municipal water authorities to grow algae. In addition there is a great deal of interest to capture carbon from the smokestacks of a power plant, and use the carbon to produce algae for low-emissions biofuels for transport - a double benefit for environmental pollution,” said Thurmond. “The petroleum, defense, and aviation industries are increasingly investing in converting algae into bio-oil (also called bio-crude, or syncrude) that can either be sold directly to petrol refineries, or to aviation companies to be processed into JP8 jet fuels.”

Barry Cohen, founder of the National Algae Association Industry, notes, “the US commercial aviation industry spends upwards of $1.6 billion a month on jet fuel. Due to these rising demands and concerns, the NAA is witnessing an increasing number of members and projects from petroleum, defense, and aviation industries to reduce commercial aviation fuel costs and to support of US government and defense efforts for energy independence,” said Cohen.

The National Algae Association will host its third event from October 23-24 near Houston to showcase many of its members’ projects, including algae to: biodiesel, ethanol, aviation fuel, renewable diesel, biocrude, hydrogen, and bio-gasoline from algae. Several companies, including Sapphire Energy, Origin Oil, and representatives from the biofuels, aviation and petroleum industries will present their leading-edge algae technologies and projects at the NAA’s next event.

For more information on this event, or to become a member of the NAA visit: http://www.nationalalgaeassociation.com.
Contacts

National Algae Association
Barry Cohen, 936-321-1125
info(at)nationalalgaeassociation.com
www.nationalalgaeassociation.com

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