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Press release:
In anticipation of the second annual Biofuels International expo & conference on 27-28 May in Amsterdam, a pre-conference webinar is being held to discuss algae production trends, updates on government biofuel targets, demand for algae and commercial opportunities.
The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 at 3pm GMT (UK) 9am EST (New York) and 8am CDT (Houston). For full details and to register please visit: http://www.biofuelwebinars.com/
It will be presented by Will Thurmond, author of Biodiesel 2020 and the forthcoming Algae 2020, who is also speaking at Biofuels International expo & conference.
Other speakers at the event include Shell Global Solutions, Bentley Motors, Ineos Bio, Argent Energy, Tereos, Inbicon, Mabanaft, TNO, EOP Biodiesel, European Biodiesel Board, European Fuel Ethanol Association (eBIO), Port of Rotterdam, European Biomass Association, Decal terminal, Xynergo and many more, all for only €495 a day!
For full details and to register please visit www.biofuelsinternationalexpo.com
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Thursday, April 30, 2009
Sapphires Carbon Calculation for Algae Cultivation
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Tim Zenk, VP Corporate Affairs at Sapphire Energy said that sapphires process uses 1.8 kilograms of CO2 for producing 1 kilogram of algae biomass, 50 percent of that algal biomass is oil, so the production of 1 gallon of oil consumes 13 to 14 kilograms of the greenhouse gas.
Although the company uses energy to transport CO2 and water to its algae-production facilities in the New Mexico desert and to transport fuels they produce Zenk said, Sapphire's lifecycle emissions are two-thirds to three-quarters less than those of producing standard diesel.
Raytheon Co., National Energy Technology Laboratory, and other companies are also looking into the reuse of CO2 emissions for algae production.
Although the company uses energy to transport CO2 and water to its algae-production facilities in the New Mexico desert and to transport fuels they produce Zenk said, Sapphire's lifecycle emissions are two-thirds to three-quarters less than those of producing standard diesel.
Raytheon Co., National Energy Technology Laboratory, and other companies are also looking into the reuse of CO2 emissions for algae production.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
San diego research Institutes, Biotechs to collaborate on Algae Biofuel
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leaders of the region's scientific, academic, biotechnology and political communities announced that they were forming the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology, or SD-CAB, to capitalize on this expertise.
Working together, the groups hope to attract much-needed money from federal and state governments to foster commercialization of algal fuel and other products.
“We already have a collaborative community of scientists and entrepreneurs that gave rise to a thriving biotechnology cluster in San Diego,” said Marye Anne Fox, chancellor of the University of California San Diego. “Now we want to focus on building a segment of that community to create biofuel and other products out of algae.”
The center, which will be virtual and not require a building, should help attract grants and other resources to the region, Fox said.
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leaders of the region's scientific, academic, biotechnology and political communities announced that they were forming the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology, or SD-CAB, to capitalize on this expertise.
Ponds circulated water filled with growing algae at a research facility in the Imperial Valley. (Jim Demattia)
Working together, the groups hope to attract much-needed money from federal and state governments to foster commercialization of algal fuel and other products.
“We already have a collaborative community of scientists and entrepreneurs that gave rise to a thriving biotechnology cluster in San Diego,” said Marye Anne Fox, chancellor of the University of California San Diego. “Now we want to focus on building a segment of that community to create biofuel and other products out of algae.”
The center, which will be virtual and not require a building, should help attract grants and other resources to the region, Fox said.
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
2nd Algae Biofuel Summit 2009 India
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Growdiesel Climate Care Council is organising International Summit on Algae Biofuels to be held on 8th, 9th & 10th of September 2009 in India. The Summit is focused on next generation of Biofuels using Algae as the main feedstock. The summit offers an excellent opportunity for investors, entrepreneurs, Biofuel companies, renewable fuel experts, their associates and academia to share their valuable experiences and knowledge.
Link
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Growdiesel Climate Care Council is organising International Summit on Algae Biofuels to be held on 8th, 9th & 10th of September 2009 in India. The Summit is focused on next generation of Biofuels using Algae as the main feedstock. The summit offers an excellent opportunity for investors, entrepreneurs, Biofuel companies, renewable fuel experts, their associates and academia to share their valuable experiences and knowledge.
Link
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National Algae Association Conference on April 30 - May 1
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Press release:
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Press release:
ALGAE COMMERCIALIZATION IS ON THE HORIZON
National Algae Association Conference
April 30 - May 1
THE WOODLANDS, TX --
Origin Oil will be providing process details of its innovative single-step process to extract oil from algae. BioCentrics will be unveiling its algae pro closed loop photobioreactor, and a prototype commercial-scale vertical closed-loop photobioreactor will be available for viewing at National Algae Association's fifth quarterly conference for commercialization of "Algae: The New Oil," which will be held April 30 - May 1, 2009, at the Sheraton North Houston.
Algae is renewable, does not affect the food channel and consumes C02.
Algae researchers, algae oil production and equipment companies and algaepreneurs will present leading-edge technologies. In addition to collaborative breakout sessions, the agenda also includes presentations from Fluid Imaging Technologies, AlgaeLink, Guava Technologies, B&P Process Equipment, Femtobeam, BioCentrics, MOR Technology, Aquatic Energy, Aquatic Eco-Systems, Maria Stockenreiter of the
In making this announcement, NAA Founder and Executive Director Barry Cohen said, "In addition to viewing the photobioreactor, NAA's mission to fast-track the commercialization of the algae industry will be greatly enhanced by some exciting announcements to be made at the conference."
Registration information is available at NAA's website,www.nationalalgaeassociation.com.
Contact:
National Algae Association
B. Cohen
936-321-1125
Email Contact
$10 Million Algae Fuel Prize by Prize Capital
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San Diego-based Prize Capital said today it has entered the final phase of creating a $10 million prize to encourage advances in algae biofuels technologies.
As part of the final planning process, Prize Capital founder and chairman Lee Stein convened a workshop of 26 leaders to draw up rules and other criteria for what Stein calls the $10 million Algae Fuel Prize. The group met for much of the day at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
In the algae competition, Prize Capital proposes to:
—Create a prize focused in an area that has been fully vetted, so that the competition can both accelerate innovation and create investment opportunities.
—Form a master limited partnership to fund teams.
—Reach agreements with teams that accept funding that include terms for subsequent investment rounds as competitors succeed in advancing their technologies.
—Allow teams to opt out of the investment rights.
Investors will own a percentage of equity in all direct competitors supported by Prize Capital. The firm says its investment model mitigates risk and enables investors to share in the success of multiple companies beyond the competition by spurring the development of commercial applications from multiple teams, and not just the winner.
As part of the final planning process, Prize Capital founder and chairman Lee Stein convened a workshop of 26 leaders to draw up rules and other criteria for what Stein calls the $10 million Algae Fuel Prize. The group met for much of the day at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
In the algae competition, Prize Capital proposes to:
—Create a prize focused in an area that has been fully vetted, so that the competition can both accelerate innovation and create investment opportunities.
—Form a master limited partnership to fund teams.
—Reach agreements with teams that accept funding that include terms for subsequent investment rounds as competitors succeed in advancing their technologies.
—Allow teams to opt out of the investment rights.
Investors will own a percentage of equity in all direct competitors supported by Prize Capital. The firm says its investment model mitigates risk and enables investors to share in the success of multiple companies beyond the competition by spurring the development of commercial applications from multiple teams, and not just the winner.
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Monday, April 27, 2009
Carmela Cuomo examines Algae From Long Island
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Carmela Cuomo, coordinator of the University of New Haven's marine biology program, is taking a closer look at whether algae in Long Island Sound can be harvested and cultivated to produce bio-diesel fuel, Connecticut Post reports.
There are advantages to using algae over more common fuel. It's local, cheap to collect, renewable and burns slightly cleaner than petroleum.
Cuomo's research is funded by a $135,276 grant from the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology administered by the state Department of Economic and Community Development.
Cuomo and her team of graduate students combed the Sound Thursday for algae species
with 2 1/2-foot plankton nets attached to small glass beakers, designed to catch the larger specimens.
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There are advantages to using algae over more common fuel. It's local, cheap to collect, renewable and burns slightly cleaner than petroleum.
Cuomo's research is funded by a $135,276 grant from the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology administered by the state Department of Economic and Community Development.
Cuomo and her team of graduate students combed the Sound Thursday for algae species
with 2 1/2-foot plankton nets attached to small glass beakers, designed to catch the larger specimens.
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The Boeing Co.Works on Jet Fuel From Algae
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The Boeing Co. has spent more than three years working with other groups to study making jet fuel from algae and other plants. Boeing's new exhibit at the Future of Flight Museum at Paine Field demonstrates how quickly algae can grow and become a source of fuel.
The aviation industry is in a better position to spark extensive use of biofuels than the auto industry, according to Boeing. There are only about 20,000 commercial aircraft in the world and only several hundred fueling stations, making for a smaller and less complex network.
The company has always been motivated to cut jet fuel costs, Scott said, and the recent volatility in the market only added to the incentive, he said.
An area the size of Maryland could grow enough algae to fuel all commercial jet flights in the world, according to Boeing.
Very little algae is currently being grown commercially for fuel, but that's expected to change soon, said John Williams, who handles publicity for the Seattle-based Algal Biomass Organization, a trade group of which Boeing is a member.
Most is being grown in labs, financed by government grants and private companies.
Within a year there could be several commercial projects, Williams said. Algae can be grown in many different ways, either in enclosed settings or open ponds, he said. It grows quickly -- the Boeing exhibit at the Future of Flight has algae reproducing in several separate small tanks, with narratives and a short video about prospects for use of the fuel.
A Seattle company, Targeted Growth, is studying which types of algae will be the best for biofuel production, he said. There are more than 30,000 types of algae, Scott said.
"We're trying to create a portfolio of fuels," Scott said.
Boeing isn't looking to get into the fuel-growing business, he said. Rather, it's trying to work with environmental organizations, airlines, engine builders, fuel suppliers and scientists to move the process along, Scott said.
The aviation industry is in a better position to spark extensive use of biofuels than the auto industry, according to Boeing. There are only about 20,000 commercial aircraft in the world and only several hundred fueling stations, making for a smaller and less complex network.
The company has always been motivated to cut jet fuel costs, Scott said, and the recent volatility in the market only added to the incentive, he said.
An area the size of Maryland could grow enough algae to fuel all commercial jet flights in the world, according to Boeing.
Very little algae is currently being grown commercially for fuel, but that's expected to change soon, said John Williams, who handles publicity for the Seattle-based Algal Biomass Organization, a trade group of which Boeing is a member.
Most is being grown in labs, financed by government grants and private companies.
Within a year there could be several commercial projects, Williams said. Algae can be grown in many different ways, either in enclosed settings or open ponds, he said. It grows quickly -- the Boeing exhibit at the Future of Flight has algae reproducing in several separate small tanks, with narratives and a short video about prospects for use of the fuel.
A Seattle company, Targeted Growth, is studying which types of algae will be the best for biofuel production, he said. There are more than 30,000 types of algae, Scott said.
"We're trying to create a portfolio of fuels," Scott said.
Boeing isn't looking to get into the fuel-growing business, he said. Rather, it's trying to work with environmental organizations, airlines, engine builders, fuel suppliers and scientists to move the process along, Scott said.
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Sunday, April 26, 2009
10 Biofuels Companies You Need to Know About
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An Interesting blog from FC Expert Blog entitled "10 Biofuels Companies You Need to Know About" by Francine Hardaway.
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An Interesting blog from FC Expert Blog entitled "10 Biofuels Companies You Need to Know About" by Francine Hardaway.
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Algae Fuel Research by Appalachian State University students
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A team of seven Appalachian State University students received honorable mention this past weekend during the People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Competition for their research with algae as a source of alternative energy. The event was sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The contest, held April 18-20 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., highlighted some of the brightest minds and ideas concerning sustainability. The competition was also part of the National Sustainable Design Expo.
A team of Appalachian students use algae to produce oil that can be used to make biofuel. Photo by Holt Menzies
For the team, headed by industrial technology graduate student Erika R. Porras, the competition was the fruition of nearly two years of effort.
“The idea came to out of a class I took in August 2007,” Porras said. “I applied and sent the proposal in around December 2007, received notification of the award in April or May 2008 and then actually received the grant in September 2008.”
Porras’ team received a $10,000 grant for phase one of the competition, which allowed the team to design and build an alga-cultural facility in Vilas, where they cultivated chlorella. Chlorella is a heartier type of algae that is easy to grow and is able to withstand a broad range of temperature, senior biology major Zachery Spivey said.
One of the major benefits of the program is the use of bio waste, or simple landfill waste, to produce biodiesel, Porras said.
“The major goal of the project was to research and demonstrate how the use of food waste could be beneficial for alternative energy,” Porras said. “We used a fast-growing organism to produce an oil that can be used for biodiesel.”
To do this, the team constructed an algae photo-bioreactor. They grew the chlorella in a solar greenhouse with carbon dioxide diverted from bio waste methane emissions to the algae. This exhibited how problem waste can be converted into an alternative source of energy, the team said.
The team first grew the algae in a complicated gyrating system of tubes, vents and lights, before it was transferred to a smaller pond within the greenhouse where it could be harvested for the purpose of extracting oil for biodiesel.
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A team of seven Appalachian State University students received honorable mention this past weekend during the People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Competition for their research with algae as a source of alternative energy. The event was sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A team of Appalachian students use algae to produce oil that can be used to make biofuel. Photo by Holt Menzies
The contest, held April 18-20 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., highlighted some of the brightest minds and ideas concerning sustainability. The competition was also part of the National Sustainable Design Expo.
A team of Appalachian students use algae to produce oil that can be used to make biofuel. Photo by Holt Menzies
For the team, headed by industrial technology graduate student Erika R. Porras, the competition was the fruition of nearly two years of effort.
“The idea came to out of a class I took in August 2007,” Porras said. “I applied and sent the proposal in around December 2007, received notification of the award in April or May 2008 and then actually received the grant in September 2008.”
Porras’ team received a $10,000 grant for phase one of the competition, which allowed the team to design and build an alga-cultural facility in Vilas, where they cultivated chlorella. Chlorella is a heartier type of algae that is easy to grow and is able to withstand a broad range of temperature, senior biology major Zachery Spivey said.
One of the major benefits of the program is the use of bio waste, or simple landfill waste, to produce biodiesel, Porras said.
“The major goal of the project was to research and demonstrate how the use of food waste could be beneficial for alternative energy,” Porras said. “We used a fast-growing organism to produce an oil that can be used for biodiesel.”
To do this, the team constructed an algae photo-bioreactor. They grew the chlorella in a solar greenhouse with carbon dioxide diverted from bio waste methane emissions to the algae. This exhibited how problem waste can be converted into an alternative source of energy, the team said.
The team first grew the algae in a complicated gyrating system of tubes, vents and lights, before it was transferred to a smaller pond within the greenhouse where it could be harvested for the purpose of extracting oil for biodiesel.
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Saturday, April 25, 2009
Harrison Dillon of Solazyme weighs in on the hurdles of Algae Fuel
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Harrison Dillon - "Speaking from the perspective of our microbial renewable oil production technology platform and advanced biofuels, the majority of the true technical hurdles for us have already been crossed. The business plan for Solazyme has been to fit into the existing multitrillion-dollar liquid transportation fuel infrastructure; for example, we are using standard industrial fermentation technology and standard oil refining technology to manufacture ASTM-compliant fuels that can be distributed through standard gas stations into standard, unmodified vehicles. The goal in front of us now is to continue to optimize and customize strains and processes tailored to specific products as well as to continue driving down the cost of our oil production process. Solazyme's obstacles are more along the lines of classic commercialization process development than attempting to demonstrate proof of concept."
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Harrison Dillon - "Speaking from the perspective of our microbial renewable oil production technology platform and advanced biofuels, the majority of the true technical hurdles for us have already been crossed. The business plan for Solazyme has been to fit into the existing multitrillion-dollar liquid transportation fuel infrastructure; for example, we are using standard industrial fermentation technology and standard oil refining technology to manufacture ASTM-compliant fuels that can be distributed through standard gas stations into standard, unmodified vehicles. The goal in front of us now is to continue to optimize and customize strains and processes tailored to specific products as well as to continue driving down the cost of our oil production process. Solazyme's obstacles are more along the lines of classic commercialization process development than attempting to demonstrate proof of concept."
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Algae Takes Center Stage As OriginOil Conducts Earth Week Media Blitz
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“Earth Day has presented a fabulous opportunity to cast light on the revolutionary breakthroughs in the algae-to-oil industry, and we are ecstatic that not one, but five prestigious news outlets chose to feature OriginOil to underscore the promise of algae as an alternative to foreign oil,” said Eckelberry.
During the segments, Eckelberry explained OriginOil’s inherently eco-friendly production process by elaborating that nothing goes unused in an algae production system – that is, the process not only purifies dirty water, digests carbon dioxide and produces a biofuel, but even the remaining biomass can be used as a fertilizer.
He also commented on OriginOil’s ability to solve a critical issue for scalable algae-to-oil production: “We’ve pioneered a single-step extraction technology that will get the oil out of the algae in one simple, elegant step. We are taking this solution to market while continuing to enhance our end-to-end system for the growing algae industry,” said Eckelberry.
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“Earth Day has presented a fabulous opportunity to cast light on the revolutionary breakthroughs in the algae-to-oil industry, and we are ecstatic that not one, but five prestigious news outlets chose to feature OriginOil to underscore the promise of algae as an alternative to foreign oil,” said Eckelberry.
During the segments, Eckelberry explained OriginOil’s inherently eco-friendly production process by elaborating that nothing goes unused in an algae production system – that is, the process not only purifies dirty water, digests carbon dioxide and produces a biofuel, but even the remaining biomass can be used as a fertilizer.
He also commented on OriginOil’s ability to solve a critical issue for scalable algae-to-oil production: “We’ve pioneered a single-step extraction technology that will get the oil out of the algae in one simple, elegant step. We are taking this solution to market while continuing to enhance our end-to-end system for the growing algae industry,” said Eckelberry.
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Friday, April 24, 2009
Algae Company BioCentric Energy Holdings Provides Update
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Dennis Fisher stated "we are building a new site that will carry all the hard assets (photobioreactors, nutrients, and nutrient management, automation, harvest, and VPN controls) and consultation to assist anyone with the desire to produce algae in a closed loop environment... although the site will continue to evolve, the first release of the shopping cart portion is expected to be completed by May 10th"
Dennis Fisher stated "we are building a new site that will carry all the hard assets (photobioreactors, nutrients, and nutrient management, automation, harvest, and VPN controls) and consultation to assist anyone with the desire to produce algae in a closed loop environment... although the site will continue to evolve, the first release of the shopping cart portion is expected to be completed by May 10th"
-- Today, BEHL brought Dale Baeten, of Investing In Stock Market, Inc., onboard as BioCentric Investor Relations
-- On April 28th Dennis Shen, President of BioCentric Algae, will be a guest speaker at the Algae World in Rotterdam -- afterwards Mr. Shen will then become one of the panelists for a roundtable discussion on the "Implementation of the Commercialization of Algae" Forum
-- On April 29th Mr. Shen will go to Berlin to meet with Mohammed Janus (Nobel Peace Prize winner in Economics) associate and author of Mr. Janus' best-selling autobiography, Peter Spiegel of Genesis Institute regarding Grameen Bank support for third world countries working with BEHL and the UN to implement the Algae Pro Photobioreactors for high value nutrition
-- On April 30th Mr. Fisher will be attending the National Algae Forum in Houston, Texas, where Mr. Fisher, on May 1st will release details of the Algae Pro Photobioreactor in his speech titled "Cost and Revenue of Algae Production"
-- On May 2nd Mr. Fisher will meet with Helmut Gass of Eccowerks in Port Arthur, Texas, to discuss a possible joint venture agreement
-- On May 2nd Mr. Shen will be meeting with the BioCentric Algae Scientists in Prague to begin the process of identifying which proprietary research will become our next co-owned patents in the USA
-- On May 3rd Dennis Fisher will meet with J.D. Wilshusen, of the Permian Sea Algae Farms in Imperial, Texas, to finalize a possible Joint Venture Agreement (presently there has been a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both parties) to build the Algae Pro Photobioreactor at their location
-- On May 4th and 5th Mr. Fisher is scheduled to meet with two different universities in the southwest to ascertain which institution (or possibly both) will receive grants from BEHL to work with our scientists on algae photobioreactor enhancements
Dennis Fisher, CEO for BioCentric Energy Inc. (BEHL), stated today, "This communication is to provide an update on our Plan of Action. I know most companies would spread this information out over the next few weeks but with all that is happening I thought my fiduciary responsibility was to keep our supporters aware. I personally would like to take this opportunity to thank all those supporters of BEHL on our climb to success."
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Thursday, April 23, 2009
OriginOils Single Step Algae Oil Extraction Process
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Last Friday OriginOil applied for a patent. That patent is for a technology that makes extracting oil from algae an efficient, cheap, one-step process.
The business plan for OriginOil is to sell its technology to algae farmers who will use the extraction process to produce oil. Eckelberry says there are about 30 algae companies now, and he expects there to be over a 100 in the next year when he actually commercializes the technology.
If the company can advance this technology, the next step in its business is to sell modular systems to companies with factories throwing off CO2. He says those companies can channel their CO2 into tanks that have algae in them. The algae will grow off the CO2, then it can be processed and turned into fuel.
It's a win-win for companies. They cut back on CO2 emissions, which are pricey in Europe where a cap and trade system exists, and might soon exist in the U.S. And companies also get a new source of fuel for themselves.
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As pictured above, algae enters one of OriginOil's tanks, and is quickly seperated into biomass and oil afterwards
Last Friday OriginOil applied for a patent. That patent is for a technology that makes extracting oil from algae an efficient, cheap, one-step process.
The business plan for OriginOil is to sell its technology to algae farmers who will use the extraction process to produce oil. Eckelberry says there are about 30 algae companies now, and he expects there to be over a 100 in the next year when he actually commercializes the technology.
If the company can advance this technology, the next step in its business is to sell modular systems to companies with factories throwing off CO2. He says those companies can channel their CO2 into tanks that have algae in them. The algae will grow off the CO2, then it can be processed and turned into fuel.
It's a win-win for companies. They cut back on CO2 emissions, which are pricey in Europe where a cap and trade system exists, and might soon exist in the U.S. And companies also get a new source of fuel for themselves.
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California Trusts Algae for GHG Emission Reduction
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Today, the Air Resources Board adopted a regulation that will implement Governor Schwarzenegger's Low Carbon Fuel Standard calling for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from California's transportation fuels by ten percent by 2020. The new regulation is aimed at diversifying the variety of fuels used for transportation. It will boost the market for alternative-fuel vehicles and achieve 16 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2020
"The new standard means we can begin to break our century-old dependence on petroleum and provide California with greater energy security" said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. "The drive to force the market toward greater use of alternative fuels will be a boon to the state's economy and public health - it reduces air pollution, creates new jobs and continues California's leadership in the fight against global warming."
According to ARB analyses, to produce the more than 1.5 billion gallons of biofuels needed, over 25 new biofuel facilities will have to be built and will create more than 3,000 new jobs, mostly in the state's rural areas. Production of fuels within the state will also keep consumer dollars local by reducing the need to make fuel purchases from beyond its borders.
Seeking to enhance private sector and federal investment into alternative fuel production and distribution, California is also providing funding to assist in the early development and deployment of the most promising low-carbon fuels. The Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, AB 118 (Nunez, 2007), managed by the California Energy Commission, will provide approximately $120 million dollars per year over seven years to deploy the cleanest fuels and vehicles.
Regulators expect the new generation of fuels to come from the development of technology that uses algae, wood, agricultural waste such as straw, common invasive weeds such as switchgrass, and even from municipal solid waste.
The standard is also expected to drive the availability of plug-in hybrid, battery electric and fuel-cell powered cars while promoting investment in electric charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations.
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Today, the Air Resources Board adopted a regulation that will implement Governor Schwarzenegger's Low Carbon Fuel Standard calling for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from California's transportation fuels by ten percent by 2020. The new regulation is aimed at diversifying the variety of fuels used for transportation. It will boost the market for alternative-fuel vehicles and achieve 16 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2020
"The new standard means we can begin to break our century-old dependence on petroleum and provide California with greater energy security" said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. "The drive to force the market toward greater use of alternative fuels will be a boon to the state's economy and public health - it reduces air pollution, creates new jobs and continues California's leadership in the fight against global warming."
According to ARB analyses, to produce the more than 1.5 billion gallons of biofuels needed, over 25 new biofuel facilities will have to be built and will create more than 3,000 new jobs, mostly in the state's rural areas. Production of fuels within the state will also keep consumer dollars local by reducing the need to make fuel purchases from beyond its borders.
Seeking to enhance private sector and federal investment into alternative fuel production and distribution, California is also providing funding to assist in the early development and deployment of the most promising low-carbon fuels. The Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, AB 118 (Nunez, 2007), managed by the California Energy Commission, will provide approximately $120 million dollars per year over seven years to deploy the cleanest fuels and vehicles.
Regulators expect the new generation of fuels to come from the development of technology that uses algae, wood, agricultural waste such as straw, common invasive weeds such as switchgrass, and even from municipal solid waste.
The standard is also expected to drive the availability of plug-in hybrid, battery electric and fuel-cell powered cars while promoting investment in electric charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations.
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NASA Envisions "Clean Energy" From Algae Grown in Waste Water
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NASA scientists have proposed an ingenious and remarkably resourceful process to produce "clean energy" biofuels, while it cleans waste water, removes carbon dioxide from the air, retains important nutrients, and does not compete with agriculture for land or freshwater. This is an excellent approach wherein clean energy is produced in addition the waste is also treated.
When astronauts go into space, they must bring everything they need to survive. Living quarters on a spaceship require careful planning and management of limited resources, which is what inspired the project called “Sustainable Energy for Spaceship Earth.” It is a process that produces "clean energy" biofuels very efficiently and very resourcefully.
"The reason why algae are so interesting is because some of them produce lots of oil," said Jonathan Trent, the lead research scientist on the Spaceship Earth project at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. “In fact, most of the oil we are now getting out of the ground comes from algae that lived millions of years ago. Algae are still the best source of oil we know."
"The inspiration I had was to use offshore membrane enclosures to grow algae. We're going to deploy a large plastic bag in the ocean, and fill it with sewage. The algae use sewage to grow, and in the process of growing they clean up the sewage," said Trent.
It is a simple, but elegant concept. The bag will be made of semi-permeable membranes that allow fresh water to flow out into the ocean, while retaining the algae and nutrients. The membranes are called “forward-osmosis membranes.” NASA is testing these membranes for recycling dirty water on future long-duration space missions. They are normal membranes that allow the water to run one way. With salt water on the outside and fresh water on the inside, the membrane prevents the salt from diluting the fresh water. It’s a natural process, where large amounts of fresh water flow into the sea.
Floating on the ocean's surface, the inexpensive plastic bags will be collecting solar energy as the algae inside produce oxygen by photosynthesis. The algae will feed on the nutrients in the sewage, growing rich, fatty cells. Through osmosis, the bag will absorb carbon dioxide from the air, and release oxygen and fresh water. The temperature will be controlled by the heat capacity of the ocean, and the ocean's waves will keep the system mixed and active.
When the process is completed, biofuels will be made and sewage will be processed. For the first time, harmful sewage will no longer be dumped into the ocean. The algae and nutrients will be contained and collected in a bag. Not only will oil be produced, but nutrients will no longer be lost to the sea. According to Trent, the system ideally is fail proof. Even if the bag leaks, it won’t contaminate the local environment. The enclosed fresh water algae will die in the ocean.
The bags are expected to last two years, and will be recycled afterwards. The plastic material may be used as plastic mulch, or possibly as a solid amendment in fields to retain moisture.
“We have to remember,” Trent said, quoting Marshall McLuhan: “we are not passengers on spaceship Earth, we are the crew.”
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NASA scientists have proposed an ingenious and remarkably resourceful process to produce "clean energy" biofuels, while it cleans waste water, removes carbon dioxide from the air, retains important nutrients, and does not compete with agriculture for land or freshwater. This is an excellent approach wherein clean energy is produced in addition the waste is also treated.
NASA Envisions "Clean Energy" From Algae Grown in Waste Water. Image Credit: NASA Ames Research Center
When astronauts go into space, they must bring everything they need to survive. Living quarters on a spaceship require careful planning and management of limited resources, which is what inspired the project called “Sustainable Energy for Spaceship Earth.” It is a process that produces "clean energy" biofuels very efficiently and very resourcefully.
"The reason why algae are so interesting is because some of them produce lots of oil," said Jonathan Trent, the lead research scientist on the Spaceship Earth project at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. “In fact, most of the oil we are now getting out of the ground comes from algae that lived millions of years ago. Algae are still the best source of oil we know."
"The inspiration I had was to use offshore membrane enclosures to grow algae. We're going to deploy a large plastic bag in the ocean, and fill it with sewage. The algae use sewage to grow, and in the process of growing they clean up the sewage," said Trent.
It is a simple, but elegant concept. The bag will be made of semi-permeable membranes that allow fresh water to flow out into the ocean, while retaining the algae and nutrients. The membranes are called “forward-osmosis membranes.” NASA is testing these membranes for recycling dirty water on future long-duration space missions. They are normal membranes that allow the water to run one way. With salt water on the outside and fresh water on the inside, the membrane prevents the salt from diluting the fresh water. It’s a natural process, where large amounts of fresh water flow into the sea.
Floating on the ocean's surface, the inexpensive plastic bags will be collecting solar energy as the algae inside produce oxygen by photosynthesis. The algae will feed on the nutrients in the sewage, growing rich, fatty cells. Through osmosis, the bag will absorb carbon dioxide from the air, and release oxygen and fresh water. The temperature will be controlled by the heat capacity of the ocean, and the ocean's waves will keep the system mixed and active.
When the process is completed, biofuels will be made and sewage will be processed. For the first time, harmful sewage will no longer be dumped into the ocean. The algae and nutrients will be contained and collected in a bag. Not only will oil be produced, but nutrients will no longer be lost to the sea. According to Trent, the system ideally is fail proof. Even if the bag leaks, it won’t contaminate the local environment. The enclosed fresh water algae will die in the ocean.
The bags are expected to last two years, and will be recycled afterwards. The plastic material may be used as plastic mulch, or possibly as a solid amendment in fields to retain moisture.
“We have to remember,” Trent said, quoting Marshall McLuhan: “we are not passengers on spaceship Earth, we are the crew.”
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Algae, A Good Source of Edible Oil - Unilever
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Unilever, IBM and other companies said they are constantly investigating green technologies that would help them conserve energy or sell products to customers who embrace efficiencies.
An article in Greentech media says:
Phil Giesler, director of innovation and corporate ventures at Unilever said that Unilever is interested in the developing of edible fuels. Giesler said some of the conventional edible oils, such as palm oils, are being used to make transportation fuels. As a result, forests have been cleared plant more palm trees.
Algae could be a good source of edible oils, though it will likely take 10 or more years to bring it to market.
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Unilever, IBM and other companies said they are constantly investigating green technologies that would help them conserve energy or sell products to customers who embrace efficiencies.
An article in Greentech media says:
Phil Giesler, director of innovation and corporate ventures at Unilever said that Unilever is interested in the developing of edible fuels. Giesler said some of the conventional edible oils, such as palm oils, are being used to make transportation fuels. As a result, forests have been cleared plant more palm trees.
Algae could be a good source of edible oils, though it will likely take 10 or more years to bring it to market.
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Nanotechnology to Aid Commercial Production of Algae Biofuel
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Recently two interesting pilot programs seems to improve the commercial viability of algae bio-fuel :
The first was the grant from the California Energy Commission to use the nano-metals as catalysts for generating bio-fuel from algae. The company called QuantumSphere will be developing a nanocatalyst-based bio-gasification process for taking wet algae from Salton Sea in California.
The second project leverages the nano-particles as harvesters for collecting oil from algae – without harming the algae crop. Thus, it reduces both the production cost as well as the generation cycle.
The first was the grant from the California Energy Commission to use the nano-metals as catalysts for generating bio-fuel from algae. The company called QuantumSphere will be developing a nanocatalyst-based bio-gasification process for taking wet algae from Salton Sea in California.
The second project leverages the nano-particles as harvesters for collecting oil from algae – without harming the algae crop. Thus, it reduces both the production cost as well as the generation cycle.
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Algae-to-Fuel Research Enjoys Resurgence at NREL
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At the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, researchers are accelerating efforts to identify and characterize the most promising strains of algae for fuel production. The work has resumed more than a decade after its original algae fuels program was curtailed because the fuels were considered too costly to compete with petroleum.
Today, NREL has resumed that work, while putting a greater emphasis on understanding their basic biology. When these microalgae are starved of the nutrients they need, their lipid content can increase as much as 60%.
NREL and Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) are working under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) in which NREL is boosting microalgae's productivity. Chevron anticipates using the resulting oil as a feedstock for renewable transportation fuels.
But not every strain contains all the qualities required to produce algae fuel--growing fast, growing fat and tolerating a wide variety of conditions.
And, different strains have evolved under different conditions in different locales. It's unlikely, Darzins says, that one strain would be used nationwide because of regional differences in climate and water.
"We've only begun to scratch the surface," Darzins said. "We need to understand the lipid pathways and what regulates their lipid production and growth."
Currently NREL's algae experiments are limited to 1-liter flasks under fluorescent light. When renovations to the greenhouse at the Field Test Laboratory Building are completed, algae strains can be tested in 75 gallon batches under natural light conditions, which can be 10 times more intensive than artificial lighting.
"Some strains that look good now may not maximize photosynthesis when we scale up or expose them to natural light," Darzins said.
Within a few years, Darzins hopes to complete construction of new outdoor ponds behind the FTLB that will test algae strains, production systems and harvesting methods at scales up to 100 acres.
Today, NREL has resumed that work, while putting a greater emphasis on understanding their basic biology. When these microalgae are starved of the nutrients they need, their lipid content can increase as much as 60%.
NREL and Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) are working under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) in which NREL is boosting microalgae's productivity. Chevron anticipates using the resulting oil as a feedstock for renewable transportation fuels.
But not every strain contains all the qualities required to produce algae fuel--growing fast, growing fat and tolerating a wide variety of conditions.
And, different strains have evolved under different conditions in different locales. It's unlikely, Darzins says, that one strain would be used nationwide because of regional differences in climate and water.
"We've only begun to scratch the surface," Darzins said. "We need to understand the lipid pathways and what regulates their lipid production and growth."
Currently NREL's algae experiments are limited to 1-liter flasks under fluorescent light. When renovations to the greenhouse at the Field Test Laboratory Building are completed, algae strains can be tested in 75 gallon batches under natural light conditions, which can be 10 times more intensive than artificial lighting.
"Some strains that look good now may not maximize photosynthesis when we scale up or expose them to natural light," Darzins said.
Within a few years, Darzins hopes to complete construction of new outdoor ponds behind the FTLB that will test algae strains, production systems and harvesting methods at scales up to 100 acres.
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Defense Officials Take Active Interest in Green Energy
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The Pentagon plans to spend $300 million of its $7.4 billion share of the economic stimulus package to accelerate conservation and alternative-energy development, according to The Washington Post.
Alan R. Shaffer, director of defense research and engineering at the Pentagon, acknowledges that $300 million - although a lot of money - is a modest sum to invest in alternative energy.
But, Shaffer told The Post, the money will help speed up work already under way. In one project, the Pentagon is developing lightweight photo-voltaic mats that can draw solar power to run equipment. In another, officials are working on mobile mini-refineries that turn waste generated in the field - recyclables and plain old garbage - into biodiesel.
Other ventures, such as converting algae into a type of jet fuel and refining hybrid engines for use by military vehicles, also hold promise. Officials say some efforts, such as improving the application of spray-foam insulation for tents in Iraq, have already proven successful, saving millions of dollars in energy costs.
Alan R. Shaffer, director of defense research and engineering at the Pentagon, acknowledges that $300 million - although a lot of money - is a modest sum to invest in alternative energy.
But, Shaffer told The Post, the money will help speed up work already under way. In one project, the Pentagon is developing lightweight photo-voltaic mats that can draw solar power to run equipment. In another, officials are working on mobile mini-refineries that turn waste generated in the field - recyclables and plain old garbage - into biodiesel.
Other ventures, such as converting algae into a type of jet fuel and refining hybrid engines for use by military vehicles, also hold promise. Officials say some efforts, such as improving the application of spray-foam insulation for tents in Iraq, have already proven successful, saving millions of dollars in energy costs.
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Innovation Fuels Working on Algae and pennycress Recently Receives BQ-9000 Accreditation
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Innovation Fuels, the New York based renewable energy company that manufactures, markets, and distributes second-generation biodiesel to customers around the world has become the first Northeast biodiesel producer to receive BQ-9000 accreditation in both the areas of biodiesel production (2008) and most recently (April 2009), biodiesel marketing – a rarified and significant industry achievement.
Innovation Fuels currently operates integrated biorefineries within the United States at strategic port locations including New York Harbor and Port of Milwaukee that provide for the supply to regional customers and a network of international partners. Innovation Fuels is also dedicated toward creating green jobs including more than thirty (30) local green jobs at its New York Harbor biorefinery in Newark, NJ.
Biodiesel is produced by chemically reacting alcohol with vegetable oils, fats, or greases. Using innovative, proprietary production technology, Innovation Fuels biodiesel is the highest quality at the lowest cost to its customers. The company is also working toward the development of next generation feedstocks including pennycress and algae - all crops that don't divert resources away from feeding people.
Innovation Fuels currently operates integrated biorefineries within the United States at strategic port locations including New York Harbor and Port of Milwaukee that provide for the supply to regional customers and a network of international partners. Innovation Fuels is also dedicated toward creating green jobs including more than thirty (30) local green jobs at its New York Harbor biorefinery in Newark, NJ.
Biodiesel is produced by chemically reacting alcohol with vegetable oils, fats, or greases. Using innovative, proprietary production technology, Innovation Fuels biodiesel is the highest quality at the lowest cost to its customers. The company is also working toward the development of next generation feedstocks including pennycress and algae - all crops that don't divert resources away from feeding people.
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Orginoil plans for algae to methane.
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OriginOil announced that it has developed a new technology for harvesting oil that is simpler than current systems and promises to drive down costs in the fledgling algae-to-oil market.
“Our process completely redefines the harvesting,” said Riggs Eckelberry, chief executive of OriginOil. “It is a dramatic difference in energy requirements. It could be an order of magnitude.”
Mr. Riggs said the company wants to be a technology provider and does not have plans to build its own commercial production facilities. The company is initially targeting five markets: biodiesel, ethanol, waste-to-energy, wastewater treatment and industrial plants with gas-fired furnaces. For the latter, Mr. Riggs said his algae could be used to recycle the carbon dioxide emitted from these plants to produce methane, which in turn would fuel the furnaces.
OriginOil has a multi-year research and development contract with the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory. The two groups will co-develop computer models to better understand the energy balance of algae-based oil. After that, the lab will validate Origin’s technology and help improve it. Origin has the right to license all technology that comes out of the project.
“Our process completely redefines the harvesting,” said Riggs Eckelberry, chief executive of OriginOil. “It is a dramatic difference in energy requirements. It could be an order of magnitude.”
Mr. Riggs said the company wants to be a technology provider and does not have plans to build its own commercial production facilities. The company is initially targeting five markets: biodiesel, ethanol, waste-to-energy, wastewater treatment and industrial plants with gas-fired furnaces. For the latter, Mr. Riggs said his algae could be used to recycle the carbon dioxide emitted from these plants to produce methane, which in turn would fuel the furnaces.
OriginOil has a multi-year research and development contract with the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory. The two groups will co-develop computer models to better understand the energy balance of algae-based oil. After that, the lab will validate Origin’s technology and help improve it. Origin has the right to license all technology that comes out of the project.
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Monday, April 20, 2009
Midwest Research Institute Advances Algal Biofuels Research Utilizing Open and Closed Bioreactors
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Just five months after announcing the creation of a state-of-the-art Center for Integrated Algal Research, Midwest Research Institute (MRI) has installed and activated two technically distinct bioreactor technologies to accelerate the Institute's pursuits in algae research. MRI recently activated an open pond "raceway" cultivation system at its laboratory in Palm Bay, Fla., and a continuous flow, closed loop photobioreactor at its field station near Kansas City, Mo.
MRI's open bioreactor system in Palm Bay includes two open pond raceway channels, each 40 feet long and 4 feet wide. The two raceways combined have a capacity of 8,000 gallons of water and are currently producing approximately 330 pounds of dry algal biomass per month with projections to increase biomass output with new
R&D improvements. The pilot raceway cultivation system provides a platform ideally suited for the investigation of technologies related to scale-up of algae production in open systems.
MRI's closed loop photobioreactor in Kansas City provides a pilot scale algae production facility enclosed in a greenhouse to allow for year-round testing. This closed system has a capacity of approximately 1,000 gallons of algae dense medium and is capable of harvesting approximately 90 pounds of dry mass per month. Artificial lighting is available and allows for exploring effects from using a variety of real world and simulated environments. "This robust system provides a unique test bed for rigorous characterization of diverse algae strains and stringent monitoring of their associated growth conditions, said Roger Harris, Ph.D., MRI Associate Vice President and Director of the Energy and Life Sciences Division. "It also provides integration of harvesting and other processing equipment for end-to-end product operations."
By employing both systems, MRI will be better equipped to assist government and industry in maximizing the potential of algae for solving energy and environmental challenges. The Center's comprehensive focus includes characterization of preferred algal strains, growth optimization, contamination mitigation, harvesting methods, oil extraction, and carbon capture.
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Just five months after announcing the creation of a state-of-the-art Center for Integrated Algal Research, Midwest Research Institute (MRI) has installed and activated two technically distinct bioreactor technologies to accelerate the Institute's pursuits in algae research. MRI recently activated an open pond "raceway" cultivation system at its laboratory in Palm Bay, Fla., and a continuous flow, closed loop photobioreactor at its field station near Kansas City, Mo.
MRI's open bioreactor system in Palm Bay includes two open pond raceway channels, each 40 feet long and 4 feet wide. The two raceways combined have a capacity of 8,000 gallons of water and are currently producing approximately 330 pounds of dry algal biomass per month with projections to increase biomass output with new
R&D improvements. The pilot raceway cultivation system provides a platform ideally suited for the investigation of technologies related to scale-up of algae production in open systems.MRI's closed loop photobioreactor in Kansas City provides a pilot scale algae production facility enclosed in a greenhouse to allow for year-round testing. This closed system has a capacity of approximately 1,000 gallons of algae dense medium and is capable of harvesting approximately 90 pounds of dry mass per month. Artificial lighting is available and allows for exploring effects from using a variety of real world and simulated environments. "This robust system provides a unique test bed for rigorous characterization of diverse algae strains and stringent monitoring of their associated growth conditions, said Roger Harris, Ph.D., MRI Associate Vice President and Director of the Energy and Life Sciences Division. "It also provides integration of harvesting and other processing equipment for end-to-end product operations."
By employing both systems, MRI will be better equipped to assist government and industry in maximizing the potential of algae for solving energy and environmental challenges. The Center's comprehensive focus includes characterization of preferred algal strains, growth optimization, contamination mitigation, harvesting methods, oil extraction, and carbon capture.
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Algae fuel wins in first annual Business Plan Competition at the George Washington University
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Out of 210 initial contestants, these were the four that had a chance of turning their business plans into, well, real businesses. The prize: $20,000 in seed money to get the business off the ground, compliments of Richard Scott.
The winner was Keen Guides, a business that creates customized video tours for museums, parks, historic sites, downtowns and other cultural places of interest.
Tour users can download video tours to their personal media players, or pick up a preloaded player at the venue. Keen Guides' revenue will come from selling subscriptions to cultural institutions. The videos allow for sign language and closed captions for people with disabilities, and Keen also plans to make the videos available in various languages.
Second place went to Health Day By Day, and included a $6,000 prize. Day By Day created a Web service and special pill container to help the elderly remember to take their medication. The business is the brainchild of Traudi Rose, a registered nurse and MBA student at GW.
Third place went to Kalpa Energy, whose plan is to make biodiesel from algae. Kalpa Energy hopes to capitalize on the growing demand for clean energy.
The winner was Keen Guides, a business that creates customized video tours for museums, parks, historic sites, downtowns and other cultural places of interest.
Tour users can download video tours to their personal media players, or pick up a preloaded player at the venue. Keen Guides' revenue will come from selling subscriptions to cultural institutions. The videos allow for sign language and closed captions for people with disabilities, and Keen also plans to make the videos available in various languages.
Second place went to Health Day By Day, and included a $6,000 prize. Day By Day created a Web service and special pill container to help the elderly remember to take their medication. The business is the brainchild of Traudi Rose, a registered nurse and MBA student at GW.
Third place went to Kalpa Energy, whose plan is to make biodiesel from algae. Kalpa Energy hopes to capitalize on the growing demand for clean energy.
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Sunday, April 19, 2009
Algae - Solution for EU's Hunger for Biofuel
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Friends of the Earth is an international network of non-profit organisations campaigning for sustainable societies and Oxfam France is engaged in a global non-governmental movement working for a just world.
According to the coalition, the figures speak for themselves: 232 kilos of maize are needed to produce 50 litres of ethanol - roughly enough to fill an average car tank, or enough to provide the amount of calories a child needs in a year.
Part of the EU’s comprehensive ‘‘Climate and Energy Package’’ aimed at cutting greenhouse gases and cutting energy consumption, the directive requires all EU members to rely on biofuels for 10 percent of their transport fuel needs by 2020.
‘‘We have won the battle of ideas, but lost the legal battle,’’ Ambroise Mazal, who heads CCFD’s side of the campaign against biofuels, told IPS. ‘‘Many European officials have realised the adverse effects of biofuels but nobody dared amend the ‘Package’ the 27 EU member states had agreed to.
Responding to European hunger for biofuel, many African countries have expanded single-crop farming surfaces. But only large businesses have the resources and capital to reach the critical size that allows for economies of scale which make the venture profitable.
Smallholders, which in countries like Benin account for the majority of land use, and up to 80 percent of employment opportunities, do not benefit from the biofuel windfall. In addition, land, water and other limited resources are being diverted from scarce food-producing crops.
Several international institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, have acknowledged in recent years that the increasing demand for biofuel crops has catastrophic social, economic and nutritional impacts on developing countries and their already tense food resources.
‘‘The next step announced by the EU is the commissioning of a study on the comprehensive impacts of biofuels in developing countries, to be handed in by 2014,’’ states Ambroise Mazal. ‘‘But it doesn’t seem like the European Commission has any corrective actions in mind, even by then.’’
I believe that algae will be the only solution for this problem. what do you people think?
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Friends of the Earth is an international network of non-profit organisations campaigning for sustainable societies and Oxfam France is engaged in a global non-governmental movement working for a just world.
According to the coalition, the figures speak for themselves: 232 kilos of maize are needed to produce 50 litres of ethanol - roughly enough to fill an average car tank, or enough to provide the amount of calories a child needs in a year.
Part of the EU’s comprehensive ‘‘Climate and Energy Package’’ aimed at cutting greenhouse gases and cutting energy consumption, the directive requires all EU members to rely on biofuels for 10 percent of their transport fuel needs by 2020.
‘‘We have won the battle of ideas, but lost the legal battle,’’ Ambroise Mazal, who heads CCFD’s side of the campaign against biofuels, told IPS. ‘‘Many European officials have realised the adverse effects of biofuels but nobody dared amend the ‘Package’ the 27 EU member states had agreed to.
Responding to European hunger for biofuel, many African countries have expanded single-crop farming surfaces. But only large businesses have the resources and capital to reach the critical size that allows for economies of scale which make the venture profitable.
Smallholders, which in countries like Benin account for the majority of land use, and up to 80 percent of employment opportunities, do not benefit from the biofuel windfall. In addition, land, water and other limited resources are being diverted from scarce food-producing crops.
Several international institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, have acknowledged in recent years that the increasing demand for biofuel crops has catastrophic social, economic and nutritional impacts on developing countries and their already tense food resources.
‘‘The next step announced by the EU is the commissioning of a study on the comprehensive impacts of biofuels in developing countries, to be handed in by 2014,’’ states Ambroise Mazal. ‘‘But it doesn’t seem like the European Commission has any corrective actions in mind, even by then.’’
I believe that algae will be the only solution for this problem. what do you people think?
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Algae - boon to farmers and a solution to global warming
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CSIRO scientists are putting the humble algae to work as a source of biodiesel and the signs are very promising. With algae made up of a third oil, a third carbohydrate and a third protein, it was an ideal raw material for producing biodiesel and ethanol.
Dr Beer said theoretically all of Australia's diesel supplies could be produced from ponds covering just 10,000 hectares. The study found the establishment of a 500-hectare algal biodiesel plant in a rural area might create up to 45 jobs and provide opportunities to diversify in the agricultural sector.
While the technology was relatively simple, more research was needed, Dr Beer said.The next step was to build a pilot plant to see if the concept was commercial and viable and at what prices.
Like any crop, more work was also needed to identify the best species of algae to use and the conditions required for maximum yield. One challenge was to work out how to prevent other less productive algae taking over a pond, Dr Beer said.
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CSIRO scientists are putting the humble algae to work as a source of biodiesel and the signs are very promising. With algae made up of a third oil, a third carbohydrate and a third protein, it was an ideal raw material for producing biodiesel and ethanol.
Dr Beer said theoretically all of Australia's diesel supplies could be produced from ponds covering just 10,000 hectares. The study found the establishment of a 500-hectare algal biodiesel plant in a rural area might create up to 45 jobs and provide opportunities to diversify in the agricultural sector.
While the technology was relatively simple, more research was needed, Dr Beer said.The next step was to build a pilot plant to see if the concept was commercial and viable and at what prices.
Like any crop, more work was also needed to identify the best species of algae to use and the conditions required for maximum yield. One challenge was to work out how to prevent other less productive algae taking over a pond, Dr Beer said.
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Saturday, April 18, 2009
Air Force Explores Algae & Corn Husks to Power Aircraft
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Air Force and airline officials said they want to develop alternative types of fuel to decrease their dependence on foreign oil. As part of that effort, three types of Air Force aircraft — the B-1, B-52 and C-17 — are certified to fly on a mixture of 50 percent conventional fuel and either 50 percent coal or 50 percent natural gas.
The Air Force has also flown B-2s, KC-135s, F-15s, F-22s as well as T-38 trainers on the 50-50 blends, and those aircraft are in the process of being certified to use those fuels, said Gary Strasburg, Air Force chief of environmental public affairs. Officials from the other branches could not be reached for comment.
"Developing these kinds of fuels from items that are available in the United States makes us less vulnerable," Strasburg said. "We have a goal of having all aircraft in the Air Force certified to be able to fly on a 50-50 blend of synthetic fuel by 2011."
But the military is also exploring the potential of using biofuels, which can be derived from plants, corn husks and algae. The Pentagon is working with the civilian airline industry as part of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, Strasburg said.
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Air Force and airline officials said they want to develop alternative types of fuel to decrease their dependence on foreign oil. As part of that effort, three types of Air Force aircraft — the B-1, B-52 and C-17 — are certified to fly on a mixture of 50 percent conventional fuel and either 50 percent coal or 50 percent natural gas.
The Air Force has also flown B-2s, KC-135s, F-15s, F-22s as well as T-38 trainers on the 50-50 blends, and those aircraft are in the process of being certified to use those fuels, said Gary Strasburg, Air Force chief of environmental public affairs. Officials from the other branches could not be reached for comment.
"Developing these kinds of fuels from items that are available in the United States makes us less vulnerable," Strasburg said. "We have a goal of having all aircraft in the Air Force certified to be able to fly on a 50-50 blend of synthetic fuel by 2011."
But the military is also exploring the potential of using biofuels, which can be derived from plants, corn husks and algae. The Pentagon is working with the civilian airline industry as part of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, Strasburg said.
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Friday, April 17, 2009
Canadian government funds eight carbon-capture technology projects
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The federal government has put up $140 million for eight projects aimed at refining and proving carbon capture and storage technology.
The Great Plains Synfuels plant in North Dakota pipes its CO2 to the Estevan oilfield, where it is injected into the ground to create pressure that will allow the extraction of more oil.
Ken Caldeira, a climate scientist with the Carnegie Institution in Stanford, Calif., said - the problem with this technology is that liquefying coal, then burning the synthetic oil that results, emits 25 to 50 per cent more CO2 per energy unit than petroleum does.
Scientists have known for a while now that some strains of algae can be converted to biodiesel fuel, but the process was slow and expensive.
Now they’ve found that a particular metal oxide can be the catalyst for quicker, cheaper conversion of the algae.
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The federal government has put up $140 million for eight projects aimed at refining and proving carbon capture and storage technology.
The Great Plains Synfuels plant in North Dakota pipes its CO2 to the Estevan oilfield, where it is injected into the ground to create pressure that will allow the extraction of more oil.
Ken Caldeira, a climate scientist with the Carnegie Institution in Stanford, Calif., said - the problem with this technology is that liquefying coal, then burning the synthetic oil that results, emits 25 to 50 per cent more CO2 per energy unit than petroleum does.
Scientists have known for a while now that some strains of algae can be converted to biodiesel fuel, but the process was slow and expensive.
Now they’ve found that a particular metal oxide can be the catalyst for quicker, cheaper conversion of the algae.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Powerful Ideas: Wringing Oil from Algae
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Currently, there are two main strategies for growing algae: open ponds or closed bioreactors. Ponds are cheaper, but there's a danger of unwanted species blowing in.
In either case, one of the difficult steps is separating the tiny organisms from the water. Ohio-based AlgaeVenture Systems announced a new way to "dewater" algae using capillary action rather than centrifuges.
"We have demonstrated a truly disruptive technology that reduces [the dewatering] cost by more than 99 percent - from $875 per ton to $1.92 per ton," said Ross Youngs, CEO of Univenture, parent corporation of AlgaeVenture Systems, in a press release.
Once the algae is dry, the oil can be extracted using mechanical or chemical crushing, Byrne explained. It could then be burned as is, but some chemical processing is usually done to make it into biodiesel or jet fuel.
For this last step, United Environment and Energy (UEE) in Horseheads, N.Y., has developed a solid catalyst that can drive the chemical reactions without generating as much waste as do current methods that rely on liquid catalysts.
"No water is used in our process so that no waste water is produced," said Ben Wen of UEE, who presented the new method at last week's American Chemical Society meeting.
And because the solid catalyst can be used over and over, the production of biodiesel can be more continuous.
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Currently, there are two main strategies for growing algae: open ponds or closed bioreactors. Ponds are cheaper, but there's a danger of unwanted species blowing in.
In either case, one of the difficult steps is separating the tiny organisms from the water. Ohio-based AlgaeVenture Systems announced a new way to "dewater" algae using capillary action rather than centrifuges.
"We have demonstrated a truly disruptive technology that reduces [the dewatering] cost by more than 99 percent - from $875 per ton to $1.92 per ton," said Ross Youngs, CEO of Univenture, parent corporation of AlgaeVenture Systems, in a press release.
Once the algae is dry, the oil can be extracted using mechanical or chemical crushing, Byrne explained. It could then be burned as is, but some chemical processing is usually done to make it into biodiesel or jet fuel.
For this last step, United Environment and Energy (UEE) in Horseheads, N.Y., has developed a solid catalyst that can drive the chemical reactions without generating as much waste as do current methods that rely on liquid catalysts.
"No water is used in our process so that no waste water is produced," said Ben Wen of UEE, who presented the new method at last week's American Chemical Society meeting.
And because the solid catalyst can be used over and over, the production of biodiesel can be more continuous.
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Oilgae Algae Energy Group Started @ Enexions
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We have started a group for Algae Energy @ Enexions. Enexions is an online platform that helps communities involve themselves in sustainability related activities, and the platform has some cool features that can be used by communities such as the one at Oilgae.
You can join the Oilgae Algae Energy Group @ Enexions by becoming a member of Enexions and then using this link to access the group and sending a join request. I will ensure that I accept your invitation quickly so that you can start partipating in this group.
See you @ Enexions
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We have started a group for Algae Energy @ Enexions. Enexions is an online platform that helps communities involve themselves in sustainability related activities, and the platform has some cool features that can be used by communities such as the one at Oilgae.
You can join the Oilgae Algae Energy Group @ Enexions by becoming a member of Enexions and then using this link to access the group and sending a join request. I will ensure that I accept your invitation quickly so that you can start partipating in this group.
See you @ Enexions
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Sunday, April 12, 2009
Lipid Productivity Of Algae Grown On Dairy Wastewater As A Possible Feedstock For Biodiesel
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An excellent document on using dairy waste water as a effort to produce energy from waste- "LIPID PRODUCTIVITY OF ALGAE GROWN ON DAIRY WASTEWATER AS A POSSIBLE FEEDSTOCK FOR BIODIESEL" byCalifornia Polytechnic University.
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An excellent document on using dairy waste water as a effort to produce energy from waste- "LIPID PRODUCTIVITY OF ALGAE GROWN ON DAIRY WASTEWATER AS A POSSIBLE FEEDSTOCK FOR BIODIESEL" byCalifornia Polytechnic University.
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Saturday, April 11, 2009
Iowa Approves $2 Million for Algae Fuel Project
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Iowa energy officials have approved more than $2 million for an effort to grow algae at a southwest Iowa ethanol plant and use the material to make fuel.
The 18-member Iowa Power Fund Board approved the $2,085,000 grant to assist in the commercialization of algae production technology.
The project by BioProcessAlgae LLC, is a joint effort by Omaha, Neb.-based Green Plains Renewable Energy and three other companies.
Scott Poor, corporate counsel for Green Plains, said the research and development grant will fund an algae production project at the company's Shenandoah, Iowa, ethanol plant.
"There is a great deal of synergy between ethanol production and algae production," he said. "The algae can utilize the carbon dioxide, water and heat from the ethanol plant, so some of the key inputs for algae production are already available."
Kevin Lynch, the chief executive of BioProcessAlgae, said the company will test its photobioreactor design in hopes of commercializing the algae production process.
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Iowa energy officials have approved more than $2 million for an effort to grow algae at a southwest Iowa ethanol plant and use the material to make fuel.
The 18-member Iowa Power Fund Board approved the $2,085,000 grant to assist in the commercialization of algae production technology.
The project by BioProcessAlgae LLC, is a joint effort by Omaha, Neb.-based Green Plains Renewable Energy and three other companies.
Scott Poor, corporate counsel for Green Plains, said the research and development grant will fund an algae production project at the company's Shenandoah, Iowa, ethanol plant.
"There is a great deal of synergy between ethanol production and algae production," he said. "The algae can utilize the carbon dioxide, water and heat from the ethanol plant, so some of the key inputs for algae production are already available."
Kevin Lynch, the chief executive of BioProcessAlgae, said the company will test its photobioreactor design in hopes of commercializing the algae production process.
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Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Exaggerated Claims in Algae Oil Yield
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While some companies (such as Solazyme) say they will be capable of producing algae oil at competitive prices in two to three years, only a little algae oil has been produced to date, very few of the fifty plus companies have received funding, and it will be a long way off before the infrastructure exists to actually get it into the fuel distribution system. It is also currently very expensive to make.
So it is important to squint at claims which seem a little too good to be true. A one acre, horizontal photo Bio reactor style Algae Farm can yield 50,000 gallons of Bio Feedstock compared to 700 gallons using Corn or Soy, but when set up using a vertical system it could yield 5 times as much or 250,000 gallons a year at the going rate of $2.00 per gallon.
50,000 gallons of feedstock? The general consensus is that someday we could get to 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of oil per acre. That’s still far better than anything else (Jatropha is worth only 175 gallons an acre), but way less than 50,000.
Bryan Wilson, a Colorado State professor and co-founder of algae specialist Solix, said earlier this year that claims beyond 14,000 gallons of oil an acre seem to be “unsupportable.” Valcent has claimed it might be possible to get into the 150,000 gallon an acre range, but it is on the extreme end of the issue.
So it is important to squint at claims which seem a little too good to be true. A one acre, horizontal photo Bio reactor style Algae Farm can yield 50,000 gallons of Bio Feedstock compared to 700 gallons using Corn or Soy, but when set up using a vertical system it could yield 5 times as much or 250,000 gallons a year at the going rate of $2.00 per gallon.
50,000 gallons of feedstock? The general consensus is that someday we could get to 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of oil per acre. That’s still far better than anything else (Jatropha is worth only 175 gallons an acre), but way less than 50,000.
Bryan Wilson, a Colorado State professor and co-founder of algae specialist Solix, said earlier this year that claims beyond 14,000 gallons of oil an acre seem to be “unsupportable.” Valcent has claimed it might be possible to get into the 150,000 gallon an acre range, but it is on the extreme end of the issue.
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Monday, April 6, 2009
Oxygen Producing Algae Bioreactor & Thermal Electricity Generator Win The Pete Conrad Sprit of Innovation Awards
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The Conrad Foundation, in partnership with NASA Ames Research Center, today announced the winners of The Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards, a competition for high school students to contribute to America’s goal of improving science education by building a grassroots community of socially engaged scientists. The winners and their projects in each category were:
Personal Spaceflight:
1st Place: Final Frontier Apparel – The X-Suit, a state-of-the art mechanical counter pressure space suit filled with electro-muscle stimulation to keep the astronaut’s muscles, bones, blood vessels, and nerve cells in top condition.
2nd Place: Gadget – An aeroponic plant growing system that can be used for agricultural ventures into many types of locations including space station environments, the moon and on Earth.
Lunar Exploration:
1st Place: ALGAE – a bioreactor that will bring oxygen producing algae to the surface of the moon.
2nd Place: We Miss Pluto – a Helium-3 Excavator (HEX) and lunar rover designed to extract helium-3from the lunar regolith, store it, and ready it for transportation back
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The Conrad Foundation, in partnership with NASA Ames Research Center, today announced the winners of The Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards, a competition for high school students to contribute to America’s goal of improving science education by building a grassroots community of socially engaged scientists. The winners and their projects in each category were:
Personal Spaceflight:
1st Place: Final Frontier Apparel – The X-Suit, a state-of-the art mechanical counter pressure space suit filled with electro-muscle stimulation to keep the astronaut’s muscles, bones, blood vessels, and nerve cells in top condition.
2nd Place: Gadget – An aeroponic plant growing system that can be used for agricultural ventures into many types of locations including space station environments, the moon and on Earth.
Lunar Exploration:
1st Place: ALGAE – a bioreactor that will bring oxygen producing algae to the surface of the moon.
2nd Place: We Miss Pluto – a Helium-3 Excavator (HEX) and lunar rover designed to extract helium-3from the lunar regolith, store it, and ready it for transportation back
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Algenol Works With Mexican Government for Algae Ethanol Commercialization
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To see the face of the future of alga ethanol, one would only need to look toward Algenol, the sole company that has discovered how to make the alternative fuel. Although macro-algae (seaweed) has been fermented for hundreds of year, Algenol has invented a method of fermenting micro-algae, something no one else has discovered and making them true innovators in their field. Through an agreement with Biofields, Algenol has been working towards producing this viable fuel for the past fifteen years, and has found a way using a non-toxic, abundant algae and salt water -- something producers of biodiesel cannot do.
Grown within bioreactors, Algenol uses the blue green algae--better known to the science world as cyanobacteria--saltwater, sunlight, and essentially yeast to "bubble [ethanol] out of the air. It's a natural distilling process."
"We look for two things: [an alga's] ability to produce energy and to ensure that they aren't toxic," explained Smith for Algenol's move to use cyanobacteria. "We modify the algae to produce ethanol where it traditionally produces biodiesel."
"We have a billion gallon facilities in four stages. It's taken fifteen plus years, and the ultimate goal is to get this extremely independent of the niche market," said Smith. "We are anticipating production by the end of this year. [Our algae ethanol] will be commercial this year, and [we will] hopefully acquire land in [the U.S. in] 2009 and early 2010."
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To see the face of the future of alga ethanol, one would only need to look toward Algenol, the sole company that has discovered how to make the alternative fuel. Although macro-algae (seaweed) has been fermented for hundreds of year, Algenol has invented a method of fermenting micro-algae, something no one else has discovered and making them true innovators in their field. Through an agreement with Biofields, Algenol has been working towards producing this viable fuel for the past fifteen years, and has found a way using a non-toxic, abundant algae and salt water -- something producers of biodiesel cannot do.
Grown within bioreactors, Algenol uses the blue green algae--better known to the science world as cyanobacteria--saltwater, sunlight, and essentially yeast to "bubble [ethanol] out of the air. It's a natural distilling process."
"We look for two things: [an alga's] ability to produce energy and to ensure that they aren't toxic," explained Smith for Algenol's move to use cyanobacteria. "We modify the algae to produce ethanol where it traditionally produces biodiesel."
"We have a billion gallon facilities in four stages. It's taken fifteen plus years, and the ultimate goal is to get this extremely independent of the niche market," said Smith. "We are anticipating production by the end of this year. [Our algae ethanol] will be commercial this year, and [we will] hopefully acquire land in [the U.S. in] 2009 and early 2010."
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Sunday, April 5, 2009
Ghufran Siddiqui's Algae project- won at Lambton Science Fair
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“Most people don’t want algae but it can be useful,” said Ghufran Siddiqui, a Grade 11 student at Northern Collegiate.
His project exploring ways to create a clean hydrogen fuel using algae earned him the top prize in the senior division and admission to the Canadian science fair.He showed removing sulphur from the environment where algae created hydrogen was efficient and environmentally clean.
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Algae Biofuel Gains Importance in Aviation Industry
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Starting in 2013, up to 100 European airports will take part in a plan to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over the continent’s airspace by half a million tonnes a year by using a different landing approach and planning the use of bio-fuels, aviation industry groups said.
Industry officials have described the approach as a “win-win for all.” The airline industry was also looking to start using bio-fuels within the next few years and was hoping for certification by as early as 2010. Boeing’s Bill Glover told reporters he expected bio-fuels to achieve “commercial availability in three to five years,” although critics have said their use is making farmers move toward growing food for fuel, raising food prices and lessening its availability of a resource that grows only annually in most cases.
Executives at the conference said they were aiming to use second- generation bio-fuels, including some derived from algae, so as to not drain food and water resources. “We want to get 100 percent from bio-fuels that don’t compete with food supplies,” said Peter Steele of the Air Transport Action Group.
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Starting in 2013, up to 100 European airports will take part in a plan to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over the continent’s airspace by half a million tonnes a year by using a different landing approach and planning the use of bio-fuels, aviation industry groups said.
Industry officials have described the approach as a “win-win for all.” The airline industry was also looking to start using bio-fuels within the next few years and was hoping for certification by as early as 2010. Boeing’s Bill Glover told reporters he expected bio-fuels to achieve “commercial availability in three to five years,” although critics have said their use is making farmers move toward growing food for fuel, raising food prices and lessening its availability of a resource that grows only annually in most cases.
Executives at the conference said they were aiming to use second- generation bio-fuels, including some derived from algae, so as to not drain food and water resources. “We want to get 100 percent from bio-fuels that don’t compete with food supplies,” said Peter Steele of the Air Transport Action Group.
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Friday, April 3, 2009
BioMara Research Project on Algae Biofuel
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The €6 million BioMara research project - investigating the feasibility of using algae to produce biofuel - is launched today by Scotland's Energy Minister, Jim Mather. With the European Parliament calling for 10% of road transport fuel to come from renewable sources by 2020, sustainable, industrial-scale biofuel production has become an urgent challenge.
BioMara has received €4,874,414 from the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme, with additional funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Crown Estate, Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government.
The project’s lead scientist, Dr Michele Stanley, explains: “With global fossil fuel supplies dwindling and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels affecting climate change, there is an urgent need for new, renewable fuel sources with low net carbon emissions.
BioMara has received €4,874,414 from the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme, with additional funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Crown Estate, Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government.
The project’s lead scientist, Dr Michele Stanley, explains: “With global fossil fuel supplies dwindling and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels affecting climate change, there is an urgent need for new, renewable fuel sources with low net carbon emissions.
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Sapphire Energy’s Algae Fuel Process
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Sapphire Energy’s algae fuel process has been used successfully to make the three most important fuels, gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, Pyle says, and all three products have been independently certified to meet fuel standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. In September 2008, Sapphire Energy raised $100 million in a second venture round from Bill Gates, Arch Venture Partners and others.
Biofuels technologies appear capable of someday producing 200,000 barrels of jet fuel a day—enough to supply the needs of the U.S. Air Force—from algae grown on less than 800,000 acres. [10-11 gallons per day or 3650-4000 gallons per year] “It’s not crazy to imagine that by the year 2050 we (the United States) could become an oil exporter again,” Briggs said. 80 million acres would replace the current oil demand of the United States. 3% of total land in the United States. Other estimates are 1-2% or less as the processes are improved. Light pipes allow for deeper algae ponds and over ten times more efficient land usage.
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Sapphire Energy’s algae fuel process has been used successfully to make the three most important fuels, gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, Pyle says, and all three products have been independently certified to meet fuel standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials. In September 2008, Sapphire Energy raised $100 million in a second venture round from Bill Gates, Arch Venture Partners and others.
Biofuels technologies appear capable of someday producing 200,000 barrels of jet fuel a day—enough to supply the needs of the U.S. Air Force—from algae grown on less than 800,000 acres. [10-11 gallons per day or 3650-4000 gallons per year] “It’s not crazy to imagine that by the year 2050 we (the United States) could become an oil exporter again,” Briggs said. 80 million acres would replace the current oil demand of the United States. 3% of total land in the United States. Other estimates are 1-2% or less as the processes are improved. Light pipes allow for deeper algae ponds and over ten times more efficient land usage.
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Thursday, April 2, 2009
Algae Biofuel Facility in Houston
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Barry Cohen takes the concept of going green to a whole new level.
As director of the National Algae Association, he is a leading advocate of curbing U.S. dependence on oil by harnessing the power of tiny, green waterborne plants known to most as pond scum.
In the U.S., there are some 20 small algae producers, and the number is growing, Cohen said. Russell Industries, a Nevada holding company run from Houston, may join the group soon. This year, the firm plans to open an algae plant at a still-undecided Houston location, CEO Rick Berman said.
It will produce algae oil to be sold to biodiesel refineries and also market its biomass waste to cosmetic, pharmaceutical and bioplastics industries, he said.Berman likes the idea of having the first such facility in Houston, but is also confident it will make money. “We’re not doing this because we have nothing better to do,” he said.
As director of the National Algae Association, he is a leading advocate of curbing U.S. dependence on oil by harnessing the power of tiny, green waterborne plants known to most as pond scum.
In the U.S., there are some 20 small algae producers, and the number is growing, Cohen said. Russell Industries, a Nevada holding company run from Houston, may join the group soon. This year, the firm plans to open an algae plant at a still-undecided Houston location, CEO Rick Berman said.
It will produce algae oil to be sold to biodiesel refineries and also market its biomass waste to cosmetic, pharmaceutical and bioplastics industries, he said.Berman likes the idea of having the first such facility in Houston, but is also confident it will make money. “We’re not doing this because we have nothing better to do,” he said.
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Cheaper way of Making Biodiesel from Algae
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Chemists reported development of what they termed the first economical, eco-friendly process to convert algae oil into biodiesel fuel — a discovery they predict could one day lead to U.S. independence from petroleum as a fuel.
The study was presented recently at the 237th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.One of the problems with current methods for producing biodiesel from algae oil is the processing cost, and the New York researchers say their innovative process is at least 40 percent cheaper than that of others now being used. Supply will not be a problem: There is a limitless amount of algae growing in oceans, lakes, and rivers, throughout the world.
Another benefit from the "continuously flowing fixed-bed" method to create algae biodiesel, they add, is that there is no waste water produced to cause pollution.
A key advantage of this new process, he says, is that it uses a proprietary solid catalyst developed at his company instead of liquid catalysts used by other scientists today. First, the solid catalyst can be used over and over. Second, it allows the continuously flowing production of biodiesel, compared to the method using a liquid catalyst.
That process is slower because workers need to take at least a half hour after producing each batch to create more biodiesel. They need to purify the biodiesel by neutralizing the base catalyst by adding acid. No such action is needed to treat the solid catalyst, Wen explains.
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Chemists reported development of what they termed the first economical, eco-friendly process to convert algae oil into biodiesel fuel — a discovery they predict could one day lead to U.S. independence from petroleum as a fuel.
The study was presented recently at the 237th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.One of the problems with current methods for producing biodiesel from algae oil is the processing cost, and the New York researchers say their innovative process is at least 40 percent cheaper than that of others now being used. Supply will not be a problem: There is a limitless amount of algae growing in oceans, lakes, and rivers, throughout the world.
Another benefit from the "continuously flowing fixed-bed" method to create algae biodiesel, they add, is that there is no waste water produced to cause pollution.
A key advantage of this new process, he says, is that it uses a proprietary solid catalyst developed at his company instead of liquid catalysts used by other scientists today. First, the solid catalyst can be used over and over. Second, it allows the continuously flowing production of biodiesel, compared to the method using a liquid catalyst.
That process is slower because workers need to take at least a half hour after producing each batch to create more biodiesel. They need to purify the biodiesel by neutralizing the base catalyst by adding acid. No such action is needed to treat the solid catalyst, Wen explains.
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Wednesday, April 1, 2009
APS to Bury C02, Run Experimental Algae-biofuel Plants
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Arizona's largest utility, Arizona Public Service, received a one-year aquifer protection permit March 25 from US EPA Region 9 and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to experimentally pump 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide (also known as carbon sequestration) into a deep-aquifer saline formation of groundwater 3500 feet below their Cholla coal-fired power plant at Joseph City in northern Arizona. Arizona does not differentiate between very deep aquifers that may be naturally saline or those closer to the surface that are normally a source of potable water.
APS has also experimented with capturing carbon to grow algae at their Redhawk natural gas power plant near the Palo Verde nuclear plant. The algae then produced biofuel which fueled company vehicles, however a planned large-scale demonstration of algae capture at the Four-Corners Power Plant by the Greenfuels Corporation was halted. The hope was that either biofuel for external use or some form of algae based fuel could actually power one of the Four-Corners boilers in lieu of burning some coal.
Fox said that APS will be using their own algae creation technology to capture carbon emissions, "Our first bioreactor has been operating for a few weeks and shows great promise to be a design that can be commercialized. In fact, we are building a small operation at the Redhawk plant to prove its scalability. That should be operational later this year."
Fox said that the question of how long carbon capture of some sort could extend the life of the Cholla plant "is a very complicated question and the answer has a lot to do with the cost of carbon in a carbon-regulated program and the cost of sequestration versus other technologies, including algae. I will make the assumption that if CO2 can be successfully captured and managed (either geologic sequestration or algae or something else), there will be no reason to close the plants provide we are able to meet other environmental standards and I have little doubt that we can do that now and in the future"
APS has also experimented with capturing carbon to grow algae at their Redhawk natural gas power plant near the Palo Verde nuclear plant. The algae then produced biofuel which fueled company vehicles, however a planned large-scale demonstration of algae capture at the Four-Corners Power Plant by the Greenfuels Corporation was halted. The hope was that either biofuel for external use or some form of algae based fuel could actually power one of the Four-Corners boilers in lieu of burning some coal.
Fox said that APS will be using their own algae creation technology to capture carbon emissions, "Our first bioreactor has been operating for a few weeks and shows great promise to be a design that can be commercialized. In fact, we are building a small operation at the Redhawk plant to prove its scalability. That should be operational later this year."
Fox said that the question of how long carbon capture of some sort could extend the life of the Cholla plant "is a very complicated question and the answer has a lot to do with the cost of carbon in a carbon-regulated program and the cost of sequestration versus other technologies, including algae. I will make the assumption that if CO2 can be successfully captured and managed (either geologic sequestration or algae or something else), there will be no reason to close the plants provide we are able to meet other environmental standards and I have little doubt that we can do that now and in the future"
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Algae Biofuel in 2009 Science Fair Project
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The Memorial High School sophomore's 2009 science fair project delved into the science of creating biofuel from algae.
"It could have helped the environment if it proved right," the 15-year-old said.
Becky tied for first in the high school microbiology division of the 2009 VISD Science and Engineering Fair. Judging for the fair was from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday. About 50 judges rated the projects.
The idea for the project came last summer, Becky said. Rising gas prices caused her to wonder what it would be like if an alternative fuel made from plants could replace some of the dependence on petroleum-based fuels.
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"It could have helped the environment if it proved right," the 15-year-old said.
Becky tied for first in the high school microbiology division of the 2009 VISD Science and Engineering Fair. Judging for the fair was from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday. About 50 judges rated the projects.
The idea for the project came last summer, Becky said. Rising gas prices caused her to wonder what it would be like if an alternative fuel made from plants could replace some of the dependence on petroleum-based fuels.
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