Algenol Use Algae to Turn CO2 to Ethanol

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Dow Chemical and Algenol Biofuels, a start-up company, are set to announce Monday that they will build a demonstration plant that, if successful, would use algae to turn carbon dioxide into ethanol as a vehicle fuel or an ingredient in plastics.

Algenol grows algae in “bioreactors,” troughs covered with flexible plastic and filled with saltwater. The water is saturated with carbon dioxide, to encourage growth of the algae. “It looks like a long hot dog balloon,” Mr. Woods said.

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Seaweed Could Provide the Sustainable ’Green’ Fuel of the Future

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The tripartite BioMara bio-marine energy research project will be spearheaded by marine scientists based in Ireland, the North and Scotland.They will investigate on converting seaweed and other plant algae into fuel as an alternative to the use of food crops to produce bio-fuels. Addressing stakeholders at the Northern Ireland Science Park Mrs Foster said the BioMara project was at the cutting edge of renewable fuel technology.

Dr Michele Stanley from the Scottish Association for Marine Sciences in Oban who is leading development work on the project said: “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.

“Marine algae could be part of the solution. Seaweeds grow rapidly, harness carbon dioxide and have simple structures which make them easily converted to fuel.”

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Philippines’ Quest for Biodiesel from Microalgae Starts at UPLB

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Professor Emeritus Milagros R. Martinez-Goss of the University of the Philippines Los Baños has got the approval of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Resources Research and Development (PCAMRD) for funding her proposal to mass cultivate freshwater microalgae for biodiesel feedstock.

With an initial funding of P 4.5M from the DOST-PCAMRD, Dr. Goss will be mass cultivating promising species of freshwater microalgae such as Chlorella vulgaris, Scendesmus obliques and Nitzschia palae. She states that the three species have the potential as biodiesel feedstock because of their growth rate, lipid content and lipid profile.

Dr. Goss’ project is part of a larger research program, aimed to characterize, optimize and genetically and physiologically modify microalgae for mass cultivation to be used for biodiesel production. The program will be facilitated by UPLB in cooperation with the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of Santo Tomas

Source: innovations report

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Navy Tests Alternative Fuels for Jets and Ships

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A team of chemists at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., is testing alternative fuel formulas using items such as algae, weeds, animal fats and liquefied coal.

Their goal is to create an alternative version of today’s jet fuel, known as JP-5, which could be easily transported and burned by today’s fleet.

Rick Kamin, the fuels lead for the Navy Energy Coordination Office, said, The Navy is working with General Electric, which manufactures the Super Hornet’s F414 engine, to test prospective fuels. Super Hornet-maker Boeing also is helping to test whether the fuels are compatible with the plane’s existing parts.

The Navy also is working to develop alternative fuel for ships, but officials have not decided what type of ship will be the first to test it, Kamin said.

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Pike Research Report - Biofuels Markets and Technologies

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The combined global biodiesel and ethanol markets will reach $247 billion in sales by 2020, up from $76 billion in 2010, Pike Research of Boulder said Monday.

Pike Research said it anticipates three key waves of biodiesel development over the next several years:

-- Fuels based on waste greases will reach market in 2010.

-- Jatropha-based fuels will begin having a significant impact on the market in 2014. Jatropha are plants native to Latin America that produced oil used to make biofuels in other countries.

-- Algae-based biodiesel will achieve commercial availability in 2012, Pike Research predicts, and will have a larger market impact beginning in 2016.

Know more about the report here

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Solazyme Received Bay Area Green Business Award for Renewable Energy – Fuels

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Solazyme, Inc., received the San Francisco Business Times’ Bay Area Green Business Award for Renewable Energy – Fuels. The awards, which were presented at a ceremony June 11, recognize the Bay Area’s most promising clean technology companies. 

A panel of Bay Area esteemed experts in clean technology judged more than 200 nominations in 14 categories. The judging was completed over a three month intensive process to ensure all recipients met the strict standards set out by the San Francisco Business times.

“The San Francisco Bay Area is the heart of Green Technology innovation, we are proud to be selected for this honor, recognizing the work we’ve done in bringing renewable oil production and algal fuel to commercialization,” said Jonathan Wolfson, chief executive officer of Solazyme.

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Related Blog Posts:

Solazyme's Soladiesel Undergoes Field Testing

Solazyme Taps Public Policy Veteran David Isaacs for SVP of Government Relations Role

Harrison Dillon of Solazyme weighs in on the hurdles of Algae Fuel

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DOE Grants $1.3 Billion for Carbon Capture and Sequestration Projects

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Chemical companies and other industrial sources of greenhouse gas emissions are eligible for $1.3 billion in grants for large-scale carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) demonstration projects under a Department of Energy program announced on June 8.

Industrial sources generate some 19% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, but DOE funding support for CCS projects has gone primarily to coal-fired electric power generators. The June 8 announcement, however, is specifically directed to industrial sources, including chemical companies, refineries, cement plants, steel and aluminum producers, manufacturing facilities, and some power plants that use petroleum coke and waste as fuel rather than coal or natural gas.

DOE's targets for the grants, the announcement says, are projects that are integrated into the plant's operations and are designed to capture and sequester 1 million tons of CO2 per plant per year by 2015. At least 20% of the project funding must be provided by the company.
DOE crants $1.3 billion to companies starting carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects

The same announcement also offers $100 million in funding for demonstrations of beneficial uses of CO2, such as using it to grow algae or converting it to fuel or chemicals.

More information about the funding opportunity is available at fossil.energy.gov/sequestration/publications/arra/DE-FOA-0000015.pdf.

Courtesy:Chemical & Engineering News

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The Welsh Assembly Government Supports Algae

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The Welsh Assembly Government (press release) is supporting a trial looking at how to use algae to feed off liquid digestate by-products from anaerobic digestion plants. It has given a £50,000 grant to community group Merlin Bio-developments to investigate the potential to further reduce the carbon footprint of AD facilities by using the liquid residues from the plants to encourage algae farming. Merlin Bio-developments said the algae could be used to capture carbon dioxide emitted from the AD process.

Currently, anaerobic digestion plants turn organic waste into bio-gas, a renewable source of energy. These plants are to play a major role in energy production in the coming years. As well as producing clean energy, the plants produce a by-product called ‘digestate’ that can be used as compost and a liquid fertiliser. The Assembly Government wants to see if extracts from the liquid element of this digestate can be used to grow algae, and potentially create a whole new market.

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Japan and India to Launch Space Algae Research

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The Japanese and Indian space agencies have announced that they are to collaborate on a new project to research photosynthesis in space. 

Noriaki Ishioka, a professor from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), told AFP that JAXA and the Indian Space Research Organisation will be sending an unmanned satellite into space in October. 

The objective of the mission will be to try and grow the algae spirulina aboard the satellite to study how the conditions affect growth, with the ultimate intention of using the data to inform future "space farming" projects.

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Shell First to Sell Gasoline Blended with Biofuel

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For one month starting June 10, the regular gasoline purchased at a Shell service station in Ottawa, Ontario will contain 10% cellulosic ethanol. The biofuel is produced locally from non-food raw materials at Iogen Energy Corporation's demonstration plant, using advanced conversion processes. Iogen(www.iogen.ca.) and Shell(http://www.shell.com) are partners in the plant, which now produces 40,000 litres of fuel per month.

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Business Briefs: Companies, Organizations & People in the News

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An article in Biodiesel magazine lists all recent happenings in biodiesel industry in its july 2009 issue.

Read Here:"Business Briefs: Companies, Organizations & People in the News"

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European Algae Biomass Association launched

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The European Commission showed its support for the European Algae Biomass Association (EABA) by sending Peter Vis, Member of Cabinet of Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Energy, to the launch on 4 June. He was not the only representative of an international body and was joined by members of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Biodiesel Board. Above all, the event was attended by companies and scientific research organisations.
 
The general objective of the EABA is to promote mutual interchange and cooperation in the field of algae biomass production and use, including biofuels applications. It aims to create, develop and maintain solidarity and links between its members and defend their interests at European and international level and its main aim is to act as a catalyst for fostering synergies among scientists, industrialists and decision makers in order to promote the development of research, technology and industrial capacities in the field of algae.

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19th Annual EPAC Conference in Bozeman, MT

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Press Release:

19th Annual EPAC Conference in Bozeman, MT

The 19th Annual Ethanol Producers and Consumers (EPAC) Conference, Fuel, Food and the Future, will be held at the the Best Western Grantree Inn, Bozeman, Montana June 29 and 30, 2009. This educational conference will allow attendees to network with and learn from nationally recognized authorities, and participate in discussions of the emerging technologies in first generation Biofuels, also Biofuel Co-product research and use and the Future Biofuel feedstocks and opportunities.

Monday, June 29 at 1:00 p.m. speaker presentations begin with the session “Barley as a Fuel Feedstock”. Presenters will include Craig Shealy of Osage Bio Energy, Clifford Bradley, Montana Microbial Products, Butte, and Tom Blake, MSU Research Professor. This will be followed by Biofuel Projects, Opportunities & Challenges with William Hagy, Under Secretary for Rural Development, USDA, Washington DC; John Urbanchuk, Economist, LECG, Pennsylvania. Yellowstone National Park Ranger, Jim Evanoff will then speak to Fuel Performance, Park use of Biofuels and the Clean Cities Program.

Tuesday July 30, the conference includes sessions that build on research and development of the innovative use of distillers grains. Presentations will expand discussion of distillers grains for medical and food use that was presented at the 2008 conference as well as present additional research currently being done on the beneficial value of biofuels coproducts. A biodiesel fuel session will follow with presentations from Joe Jobe, Executive Director of the National Biodiesel Board, and Camelina for Biodiesel with Alice Pilgeram, MSU Researcher and Biofuel Impact and Update for Montana by Howard Haines, MT DEQ.

The final conference session includes presentations on Biomass Energy through Anaerobic Digester, Algae Biofuel, Conversion and Advanced harvest and Collection of Biomass and Advanced Integrated Biofuels with animal production.

Conference sponsors include Abengoa Bioenergy, CHS, Fagen, Inc. KATZEN International, National Biodiesel Board, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Montana Wheat & Barley committee and Prime Biosolutions.

For additional information and/or to register the 19th Annual EPAC Biofuel Conference, visit www.ethanolmt.org.

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VERSATILE - A Complete Algae Energy System

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15 year old Javier Fernández-Han invented a truly innovative solution to meeting the basic needs of many of the world’s poor, and won Ashoka’s Invent Your World Challenge with his algae energy system, called VERSATILE. His holistic approach uses an efficient, modular system to meet multiple needs.The basis of Javier’s system is salt-water loving algae.

The VERSATILE subsystems are:

* An anaerobic digester, converting sewage and food scraps
* A bio-gas upgrader, turning the gases from the digester into nourishment for the algae, as well as producing fuel
* Vented methane burning stoves, a non-polluting and CO2 capturing device
* Algae bioreactors producing algae biomass and oxygen from sunlight, saltwater, and CO2, and using nutrients from the digester
* Flush latrines
* The PlayPump, which uses the energy of children playing to power the system as well as other devices

The benefits of the VERSATILE energy system include better health for villagers due to cleaner burning methane stoves, less deforestation due to wood scavenging for fuel, possible income from the sale of algae biomass for pharmaceutical or nutraceutical products, easier livestock production because of more availability of feed, LED lighting powered by electricity generation from the PlayPump, and a source of fuel for machinery (from algae oil).

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Algaewheel to Build Algae System to process Town Wastewater

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Last month, the Reynolds Town Council approved a plan by Indianapolis-based algaewheel Inc. to build a special system using algae to process the town's wastewater.

After passing through a series of filters, wastewater will flow through the wheels. The algae, simple organisms that use photosynthesis to turn sunlight into energy, will feed on nutrients in the wastewater. After passing through filters and a disinfection system, the treated wastewaster exits the plant.

This is an excellent approach to derive energy from waste. The process will create gas and oil, which can be burned to help power the facility, Thieneman said. The Reynolds facility, the largest one of its kind so far produced by the company, will be able to handle 90,000 gallons of wastewater per day, Thieneman said.

The company is paying for construction and plans to use the facility as an example for future such plants, Thieneman said.

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Solazyme's Soladiesel Undergoes Field Testing

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Solazyme said it recently raised $57 million to enable its march toward commercializing its technology.New investors include VantagePoint Partners and undisclosed companies that do business in the markets Solazyme is targeting, Solzyme said.

Solazyme is not only developing fuels for the transportation market, from cars to jets, it also wants to sell to the cosmetic and food industries.

The new funding would enable Solazyme to boost its production and attract customers. The company is developing ways to turn its algal oil into diesel and jet fuel. The first product is branded Soladiesel, which has been undergoing field testing, the company said.

Harrison Dillon, chief technology officer said previously that the company was primarily interested in selling the algal oil to companies that would then process the oil into transportation fuel or other products. But if the company were to enter the fuel-making market itself, then biodiesel is the likely product, he added.

Solazyme could find more immediate market opportunities in the selling its algal oil to cosmetic and edible oil makers.

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Related blogs:

Harrison Dillon of Solazyme weighs in on the hurdles of Algae Fuel

Solazyme Taps Public Policy Veteran David Isaacs for SVP of Government Relations Role

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Texas Researchers are Working on Saltwater Algae for Biofuel Production

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Texas researchers are working to transform algae fuel into a commercially competitive process. Both Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Austin are deeply involved in algae research, and private corporations in Texas also are exploring its potential. Texas A&M is producing oil-rich algae at a test facility just west of Pecos.

At the test facility near Pecos, researchers are growing algae in raceway ponds. Bob Avant, bio-energy program director for Texas AgriLife Research said researchers are working with saltwater algae that have a higher oil content than that found in freshwater varieties. And there are other advantages. If the saltwater algae find their way into a freshwater lake or stream, they're unlikely to survive and create problems for native species.

Periodically, a portion of the algae in a raceway is removed to be processed. Deprived of nutrients, the algae is basically stressed out, which causes it to produce more oil. The cell walls of the algae are broken down to extract the oil.

Researchers in Pecos are using centrifuges for that presently, but Avant said that new techniques need to be developed to make that process more economical.

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Algebra of Algae to Biodiesel and Co2 Sequestration

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Here is yet another research effort for Algae Co2 Sequestration. Environment Research Web has published an interesting blog entitled "Algebra of Algae to Biodiesel". This article compares the algae biodiesel production and CO2 emmision in US.

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NAA Forming Buying Consortium to Help Drive Down Algae Production Costs

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Press Release:

NAA Forming Buying Consortium to help drive down algae production costs

The algae production industry is moving at a fast pace and everyone is sensitive about lowering algae production costs. Buying power is one of the keys to the success of our industry. NAA is building a Buying Consortium to help its members build algae farms and production plants more cost efficiently. We are meeting with various equipment and service providers in an attempt to negotiate the best prices and terms for our members to help drive down their costs. In order to provide these providers with realistic projections, we need to understand your anticipated needs over the next 3-5 years. If your company foresees purchasing the following equipment and materials, please let us know about your anticipated needs: 
 
Instrumentation
Control Systems
Sensors
Valves 
Pumps
Separators
Dewatering Equipment
Dryers 
Plastic Raceway Pond Liners
Paddle Wheels
Plastic PBR Tubes 
Resins
Algae Strains
Nutrients
LED Lighting
Centrifuges
Harvesting Equipment
Extraction Equipment 
Water Process Systems
Civil Engineering Firms

The NAA is all about Collaboration + Innovation = Fast Track Commercialization! It is also about DRIVING DOWN ALGAE PRODUCTION COSTS for our members to help lower risk and increase profitability.
 
Thanks,
 
National Algae Association
4747 Research Forest Dr., Suite 180
The Woodlands, Texas 77381
936.321.1125
info@nationalalgaeassociation.com

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Residential-sized biofuel unit in California

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California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joined San Diego-based GreenHouse on the steps of the State Capitol as E-Fuel Corp. unveiled the final production model of the revolutionary E-Fuel MicroFueler, a portable micro-refinery fuel system for consumer use. The State of California's Department of General Services is also exploring a pilot program to test the MicroFueler with its flex-fuel vehicles.

The E-Fuel distribution system produces organic fuel by using carbohydrate waste products found in brewery waste, algae and cellulose. Using semiconductor technology, the appliance-sized units are pump-stations and ethanol distillers that can be installed at residences by the GreenHouse distribution team. 

Each MicroFueler requires three kilowatts of electricity to produce a gallon of Efuel100, in turn one gallon of Efuel100 will generate up to 23 kilowatts of power. The system's proponents claim the ethanol generated will play an integral part in reducing California greenhouse gas emissions.

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National Algae Association announces workshop in Orlando, Florida.

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Press release:

"Algae: The Race for New Oil"

National Algae Association Mid-South Chapter announces that Ronald Pate of Sandia Labs will speak at "Algae: The Race for New Oil" workshop in Orlando, Florida.
 
The NAA Mid-South Chapter is pleased to announce that Ronald Pate of Sandia National Laboratories will speak in behalf of the DOE on the OBP's Recovery Act Funding Opportunities at our June 12, Orlando workshop. The recent news of $50 million in proposed funding for grants related to algal biofuels has spurred great interest in developing algae biofuels partnerships and initiating the data gathering process for grant applications. Ron Pate will address these topics and offer valuable insight into algae research based on his past work at Sandia Labs.

 Other speakers at the intense one-day workshop on algae commercialization on June 12, 2009 at the Doubletree Castle Hotel in Orlando, Florida include Bob Wheeler of Aquatic Eco-Systems, Fluid Imaging Technologies CEO Kent Peterson, Femtobeam CEO Robin Ore, Sustainable Life Center president Tom Butler, and Jim Mulry of Millipore Corp. among others.
Tamra Fakhoorian, president of the NAA Mid-South Chapter says, "We have seen amazing developments in algae commercialization during this past year. NAA conferences and workshops have played an important role in bringing together the history-makers who are turning 'algae for biofuels' into a household phrase.". 

"The NAA is all about Collaboration + Innovation = Commercialization!" Barry Cohen, director of the NAA adds, "NAA's mission is focused on fast-tracking commercialization of algae. Our quarterly conferences and workshops are attended by producers, equipment manufacturers, researchers, engineers, along with members of the legal, investment and financial communities." 

 For more information on attending or presenting at the NAA Mid-South Chapter workshop, "Algae: The Race for New Oil" and for more information on the National Algae Association itself; including upcoming conferences and membership information, please visit our website at www.NationalAlgaeAssociation.com.
 
Contact information: 
 
Tamra Fakhoorian
NAA Mid-South Chapter
PO Box 134  
Sedalia, KY 42079  
270-328-8314  
TFakhoorian@NationalAlgaeAssociation.com  

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Renewed World Energies Uses Algae to Capture CO2

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Algae has been cultivated primarily as a source of biofuel but Renewed World Energies (RWE) is taking it one step further. The company wants to clean up power plant and industrial plant emissions using algae and then have the algae turn the CO2 captured to generate both an oil and a cake product.

RWE will be building its first facility in Georgetown County, South Carolina. South Carolina is where RWE’s oil processing plant and algae bioreactors will be located. The company grows several different strains of algae and has a “proprietary automated harvesting technology.”

Besides growing the algae, RWE recently announced a process that captures the CO2 and nitrous oxide from smokestacks to grow algae. In essence, the company is using the pollution generated from power plants and industrial smokestacks to grow clean energy products thereby killing two birds with one stone. I think this will be a fantastic idea of Co2 Sequestration as well as producing energy.


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Green Algae Strategy by Mark Edwards - Top Science Boook of the Year

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Professor Mark Edwards of the Morrison School of Management and Agribusiness at Arizona State University won “top science book of the year” award for his work about how algae can revolutionize food and fuel. The 2009 Independent Publisher Book Awards reviewed over 4,600 books and selected Green Algae Strategy for the Gold Medal as the "Top Science Boook of the Year.

“Algae is very nutritious, delicious, sustainable and affordable,” says Professor Edwards, whose book Green Algae Strategy: End Oil Imports and Engineer Sustainable Food and Fuels recently received an Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards Gold Medal.

More information about the book and algae research can be found at GreenIndependence.org.

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ND Ag Commissioner to Give Keynote Address at EERC Biomass Workshop

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Press Release:

ND Ag Commissioner to Give Keynote Address at EERC Biomass Workshop

The Energy & Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota announced today that the preliminary program for the upcoming Biomass ’09: Power, Fuels, and Chemicals Workshop is now available. Doug Goehring, North Dakota agriculture commissioner, will be the keynote presenter. The event is scheduled for July 14–15, 2009, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D.

“The production and utilization of energy and fuels derived from biomass sources represent significant opportunities for North Dakota and especially for our agricultural sector,” Goehring said. “The EERC, through its ongoing research and now through this conference, provides key players and entities with the latest information they need to bring this promising technology into the marketplace.”

The workshop is the only conference in North Dakota that addresses the emerging opportunities for the economical production of power, transportation fuels, and chemical feedstocks from biomass.

This year’s program features five main sessions, covering topics such as trends and opportunities in utilizing biomass, two sessions on biofuels, biomass feedstocks, and biomass for heat and electricity. The program features more than 35 speakers representing all aspects of the biomass industry from across the country. Special comments will be provided by video from U.S. Sens. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.

"The program is particularly intriguing this year because of the pressure on biofuels to compete economically,” said EERC Deputy Associate Director for Research Chris Zygarlicke. “For example, the American Coalition on Ethanol will update us on corn ethanol, which has come under heavy scrutiny lately, and both POET and Abengoa will give a status report on the development of noncorn-based cellulosic ethanol technologies.

“Even more cutting-edge,” Zygarlicke, continued “will be presentations on algae as a biomass feedstock by IF LLC and Midwest Research Institute; a look at producing fungible hydrocarbon fuels, particularly the first-ever 100 percent renewable jet fuel and diesel developed by the EERC; and biofuel production technology from Syntec Biofuel Inc.”

Event organizers anticipate more than 350 people will attend this year’s biomass workshop, which includes a full trade show with more than 40 exhibitors. Last year’s workshop attracted more than 290 participants from more than 30 states and two foreign countries (Canada and India).

Organizing sponsors of the Biomass ’09 include the EERC and the U.S. DOE through the EERC’s Centers for Renewable Energy and Biomass Utilization. The North Dakota Department of Commerce Division of Community Services State Energy Program is the signature sponsor. Partnering sponsors include Barr Engineering; Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.; Great River Energy; Manitoba Hydro; North Central Sun Grant Center (South Dakota State University); the North Dakota Farmers Union; and Xcel Energy as well as event sponsor Otter Tail Power Co.

The Biomass ’09 Workshop is open to the public. For up-to-date program information or to register, log on to www.undeerc.org/biomass09 or contact the registration department at (701) 777-5246.

SOURCE: EERC

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Raffaello Garofalo says Algae byproducts Will Reduce the Cost of Algae Fuel

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Research into algae-made biofuels has been active in the last 3 to 5 years, but it would take another 10 to 15 years to turn laboratory experiments into industrial-scale production, said Raffaello Garofalo, executive director of the European Algae Biomass Association.

Making biodiesel from algae costs at least 10 to 30 times more than making traditional biofuels at present, he said.

But extracting value from by-products, which can be used in animal feed or pharmaceutical industries, would help bring down overall price and make algae fuel competitive with traditional fuels faster, he said, adding that he saw a competitive price level at about $500 to $550 per tonne of biodiesel.

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Solarix Invests In Algae Fuel

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Solarix is an Netherlands based company with expertise in the production of sustainable biofuels and energy. As one of the founders of AF&F, Solarix is currently building the first set of Algae reactors in the Netherlands. Based on the results of this project the company is developing plug and play technologies for the automatic continuous growing and harvesting of algae. Currently the company have applied for multiple patents on several different technologies for growing and harvesting algae.

Source: http://www.solarix.eu/en/products/45/Algae


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Solazyme Taps Public Policy Veteran David Isaacs for SVP of Government Relations Role

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Solazyme, Inc., the renewable oil production company and leader in algal synthetic biology that creates sustainable fuels, industrial chemicals and health and wellness ingredients from microalgae, today announced that it has appointed David Isaacs senior vice president of government relations. In this role, Isaacs is responsible for formulating and executing Solazyme’s public affairs strategy at the federal and state level.

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OriginOil attends Southern California Investment Association's Conference.

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Southern California Investment Association, Inc (SCIA) is organising "Beat the June Gloom Conference" Saturday June 6th, 2009 at the Hilton Hotel, Irvine, CA. SCIA National Small Cap Syndicate is a comprehensive national organization developed to facilitate stock support and capital formation for small and emerging-growth companies.

The companies attending this conference include:
1. Bond Laboratories
2. International Fuel Technology
3. Newport Digital Technologies
4. Only Nature's Finest and
5. OriginOil, Inc.

Source

www.SCIAconference.com

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Virgin Galactic is Constructing Spaceships running on Algae Fuels

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Virgin Galactic, a subsidiary of the Virgin Group, is constructing space ships that are designed to run in part on alternative fuels.

Over the past few months, pilots have conducted several test flights of the space-launch vehicle Eve. Eve's jet engines will run on kerosene initially but are also capable of running on butanol, a biofuel that can be made from algae.

‘The [carbon] cost of us putting someone into space will be less than flying to London and back on a commercial plane,’ Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Group, says.

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