Algae May Play Key Role on Vermont farms

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

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

The project is being funded in part by Central Vermont Public Service- Vermont's largest utility.
CVPS is pursuing a number of clean energy initiatives- including it's largest - cow power - which enables farms to turn cow manure into energy.

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National Algae Association Conference to Address All Aspects of Algae as a Fuel

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Press Release: 

September 17-18, 2009 
Sheraton North Houston  

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

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Logan to turn sewage lagoons into algae farm

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A collaborative project between the city and the Utah State University Research Foundation will use the ponds to grow algae, which might not only fix the phosphate problem for little money but produce energy. The city has won a $500,000 state grant to begin converting the 460-acre lagoon complex into an algae farm as a small-scale pilot project.

The project is the brainchild of the USU Energy Dynamics Laboratory (EDL), where Israelsen is director of energy systems, and Ron Sims, another USU professor. EDL is the research foundation's newest division, one whose projects build on research by USU teams affiliated with the Utah Science, Technology and Research initiative. One of those USTAR teams is exploring ways to cultivate algae as a commercially viable source of biofuel.

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Aquentium Inc,US enters Algae Business

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

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

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

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

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The Number of Algae Company will Double in a Year or Two

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

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

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

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Algae waste water treatment in Bourne

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Algae-based biofuel developer Plankton Power and the Regional Technology Development Corp. of Cape Cod, Mass., announced a collaboration to construct a pilot-scale algae-based biodiesel production facility as a part of their energy from waste efforts in Bourne, Mass.





The Cape Cod Algae Biorefinery will be located on five acres on the Massachusetts Military Reservation in Bourne. Felix said the location is ideal for the project, because of its on-site wastewater treatment plant, which will provide an excellent source of nutrients for the algae, and Massachusetts Military Reservation’s close proximity to the Cape Cod Canal, which would provide a convenient source of seawater and a renewable thermal energy source for algal growth and temperature control. Plankton Power hopes to generate approximately 1 MMgy of biodiesel using the waste water pond. When the pilot facility is up and running, which may be enough fuel to meet Cape Cod’s current biodiesel needs. This , if successful will definetely be a breakthrough in the energy from waste industry.

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PetroAlgae Expects Initial Revenues This Year

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

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

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

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

Source: Reuters.com

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Artificial Life is Only Months Away, Says Craig Venter

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Craig Venter, who led a private project to sequence the human genome, told The Times that his team had cleared a critical hurdle to creating man-made organisms in a laboratory. 

“Assuming we don’t make any errors, I think it should work and we should have the first synthetic species by the end of the year,” he said. 

Dr Venter, who has been chasing his goal for a decade, is already working on projects to use synthetic biology to create bacteria that transform coal into cleaner natural gas, and algae that soak up carbon dioxide and turn it into hydrocarbon fuels. Other potential applications include new ways of manufacturing medicines and vaccines. 

Dr Venter’s prediction came after scientists at his J. Craig Venter Institute, in Rockville, Maryland, announced that they had developed a new method of transplanting DNA into bacteria, promising to solve a problem that has held up the artificial life project for two years.

Source: Times Online

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Algae Based CO2 Sequestration advancing

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Here is yet another effort of Algae Co2 Sequestration. Aurora Biofuels, says it has cultivated algae that doubles production of biodiesel by absorbing more than twice as much carbon dioxide as conventional strains.According to Robert Walsh, the chief executive of the company, Aurora’s breakthrough was to develop algae mutations that can ingest carbon dioxide regardless of the intensity of sunlight.

He said Aurora has built a pilot facility “between a 7-Eleven and the beach” near Melbourne, Fla., and that for the past several months the new algae strains have been producing a gallon of biodiesel a day in an Olympic pool-sized pond.

Mr. Walsh said the challenge for Aurora is to commercialize its scientific advance. The company plans to have a demonstration plant capable of producing 1,000 gallons of fuel a day in operation by the second quarter of 2010. A full-scale production facility is to follow in 2011.

Aurora has raised $25 million from investors that include Oak Investment Partners, Noventi Ventures and Gabriel Venture Partners. Mr. Walsh said that financing will be sufficient to see Aurora through the construction of the demonstration algae biodiesel plant.

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Department of Commerce allocates $2.2 Million Fund for the construction of a Renewable Energy Resource Center

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Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono today announced the awarding of $2,264,000 in U.S. Department of Commerce grant funding for the construction of a Renewable Energy Resource Center and the design of a municipal parking lot on the island of Maui.

The federal funding will be distributed through the DOC's Economic Development Administration.

This EDA investment funds construction of the Renewable Energy Resource Center in Kihei. The Center will help diversify Maui's economy by supporting development of renewable energy businesses designed to use Hawaii's abundant natural resources. The renewable sources include solar, wind, and wave energy, as well as algae and other crops used to generate biofuels.

This project is funded in part through EDA's Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund, which is intended to foster the green economy by promoting economic competitiveness while enhancing environmental quality.

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Algae Research Advances in ExxonMobil & NASA Glenn Research Center

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“Under a Space Act Agreement, NASA is partnering with Seambiotic USA to model growth processes for microalgae for use as aviation biofuel feedstock,” said Ami Ben-Amotz, chief scientific adviser to Israeli-based Seambiotic Ltd. One of SGI’s achievements has been in engineering algal strains that produce lipids in a continuous process and even secrete hydrocarbons directly. However, such engineered algae may ultimately not be cost effective, Venter said. “It may cost more to build bioreactors that would contain the engineered algae.” As part of the project, SGI will investigate thousands of strains, looking for desirable properties such as tolerance for high sunlight levels and concentrations as well as viral resistance. “There’s a wide range of algae in the environment and we’re finding a lot of exciting varieties,” he added.

ExxonMobil announced its $600 million commitment for a comprehensive algae research program in partnership with California genetic researchers at Synthetic Genomics Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, SGI will work in a systematic approach to find, optimize and/or engineer superior strains of algae; and to define and develop the best systems for large-scale cultivation of algae and conversion into biofuels. SGI plans to build a new research facility at San Diego. ExxonMobil’s research and engineering expertise will be utilized throughout the program, from the development of systems to increase the scale of algae production to the manufacturing of finished fuels.

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A Short Film on Algae Fuel

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PSB NOVA Science features algae fuel 

See: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/0406/02.html

It brings authoritative, innovative, and entertaining science documentaries to television. 

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Exxon Leading in Algae Investment

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BP recently announced an investment of $10 million in a new initiative to develop sugar to biodiesal methodologies. Essentially that means figuring out a way to convert sugar into fuel efficiently using microbial organisms like algae.When it comes to algae though, Exxon has taken a strong lead with its investment of $600 million to develop hydrocarbons using algae processing.BP claims that overall the company has invested over $1.5 billion in biofuels research but doesn’t provide any breakout of where that money went.

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Aurora Biofuels Tries to Double Oil Production from Algae

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

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

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

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

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Heathgate Resources Held Talks about Algae Fuels with the State Government in South Australia

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Premier Mike Rann met for an hour yesterday with Neal Blue, the chief executive officer of General Atomics, which owns the Beverley uranium deposits in SA's Far North. Mr Rann said SA was now poised to become a national leader in refining biosynthetic fuels, with the potential to create thousands of jobs.

Mr Blue said his company was interested in developments in microalgal biofuels in SA because there was huge potential for their use in the future – especially in the aviation industry. The Federal Government recently granted $2.7 million to an SA-based consortium to develop a pilot-scale biorefinery for sustainable microalgal biofuels and added products.

The pilot project – run by the Algal Fuels Consortium which includes the SA Research and Development Institute, Flinders University and Sancon Recycling – will be located at Torrens Island.

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Benemann Calls LiveFuels 'Biofuel-from-Fish' Approach Possible

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Dr. John Benemann, one of the authors of a seminal U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory report from 1998 on biofuel from algae and an internationally-recognized bioenergy expert said he thinks LiveFuels is “in as good of shape as anybody” to make its R&D happen.

Morgenthaler-Jones said LiveFuels has been taking a different direction since 2006, growing the algae in what the company said is low-cost, saltwater ponds, feeding the algae to tiny, filter-feeding fish and other aquatic herbivores and then processing them for renewable oils and other valuable products such as omega-3 fatty acids. 

The oil would then be “handed off to the petroleum guys,” Morgenthaler-Jones said. 

“Fish need 1/800th of the energy of a centrifuge to process algal water,” she said, adding that as a bonus, the fish do the lipid conversion themselves.

In the near future, Morgenthaler-Jones said the company is looking to achieve 5,000 pounds of fish per acre, eventually getting to an intermediate stage of 25,000 pounds per acre. It’s unclear, she said, whether that intermediate stage would happen in Texas, or on reclaimed bayou land in Louisiana, for which the company is currently scouting.

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MBD Energy Plans to Expand its Facility

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

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

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

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

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The Southern Utes - A major investor in Solix Biofuels

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With the twin goals of making fuel from algae and reducing emissions  of heat-trapping gases, a start-up company Solix, co-founded by a Colorado State University professor Bryan wilson recently introduced a strain of algae that loves carbon dioxide into a water tank next to a natural gas processing plant. The water is already green-tinged with life.

The Southern Utes, one of the nation’s wealthiest American Indian communities is a major investor in this Company.

The Colorado State professor, Bryan Willson, who teaches mechanical engineering and is a co-founder of the three-year-old company Solix Biofuels, said working with the Southern Utes on their land afforded his company advantages that would have been impossible in mainstream corporate America. The tribe contributed almost one-third of the $20 million in capital raised by Solix, free use of land and more than $1 million in equipment.

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LiveFuels Hopes its Algae Biofuel Ready for Launch by 2010

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

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

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

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National Algae Association Names Scholarship Recipient and Presenters at Algae Commercialization Conference

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Press release:

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

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

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

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Madras Institute of Magnetobiology says electromagnetic field can boost algae growth

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PMF Coil System

Various methods are being pursued to boost the growth of algae. One such specific and highly safe, natural approach uses extremely low frequency electro-magnetic fields. 

This specific approach uses extremely low frequency magnetic fields on biological systems, resulting in these systems getting exposed to pulsed magnetic field (PMF). An alternating current surging forward and backward in a coil winding generates a magnetic field surging back and forth in the coil along its axis. Such a magnetic field is referred to as the PMF.

Biological systems interact with PMF, and these interactions can be largely grouped under:
• Cellular and Tissue Interactions
• Membrane properties and ELF signal transduction
• Molecular Transport
• Stress and survival
• Repair and Regeneration

The use of PMF is common in agrobiology where dry seeds of crops, silkworm eggs, , various types of tubers and horticulture plant seeds are exposed to different parametric combinations of pulsed magnetic field for various responses such as enhancing germination, morphological, biochemical and yield aspects.

It has been suggested that microalgae can also be made to interact with a PMF for positive results.

Some of the research efforts made to analyze the effect of electromagnetic field on microalgae suggest that it is possible to enhance the nutrient assimilation of microalgae, thereby increasing the growth rate when placed under electromagnetic field.

Some related references for the positive effect of pulsed magnetic field on algae are given below
1. Effects of electromagnetic field on the batch cultivation and nutritional composition of Spirulina platensis in an air-lift photobioreactor.
2. Effects of electromagnetic fields on the motion of Euglena gracilis
The use of magnetic fields to influence growth of algae is an interesting research area in its nascent stages. Those interested in knowing more about this field can contact 

Dr.T.Leelapriya – Head Agrisciences Div., 
Madras Institute of Magnetobiology, 
52-A, A.K.Block, 7th Main Road, Anna Nagar, 
Chennai-40, India. 
Ph:91-044-26213122, 
E-mail: p_mim@hotmail.com

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BP Invests $10 million in Martek Algae Collaboration

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

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

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

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BP Invests $10 million in Martek Algae Collaboration

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

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

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

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National Wind Solutions (NWND) Tries Algae

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US-based National Wind Solutions (NWND) has bought an undisclosed biodiesel plant in Texas for $3 million (€2.1 million) and has announced its intention to convert it to produce biodiesel from second-generation feedstock.

After successfully producing soyabean biodiesel for commercial transportation uses, the plant was mothballed by its original producers because of the high cost of soyabeans.

NWND intends to retrofit the plant with the necessary equipment to process second-generation feedstocks such as algae and jatropha into biodiesel. The company hopes that the ability to use a wide variety of feedstocks will inoculate it again price spikes in any one feedstock.

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Biodiesel Mandate in Oregon

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Oregon’s 2% biodiesel (B2) requirement has gone into effect as of August 5, making it the third state supporting increased reliance on the cleaner-burning, domestically produced fuel. Oregon’s biodiesel production capacity has reached five million gallons, which triggered the requirement.

Minnesota was the first state to enact a B2 requirement. In May, it was increased to B5. Washington state currently has a B2 requirement in place. Massachusetts will require diesel and home heating oil sold in the state to contain 2% biodiesel starting July 1, 2010. Pennsylvania also has a B2 requirement on the books, scheduled to be implemented January 1, 2010.

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General Atomics Taps Algaeventure Systems for Algae Fuel Research

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

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

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

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Public Utilities Commission has Denied HECO’s Request

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

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

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

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Five Major Algae Announcements in this Week News

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Joanna Schroeder lists five major algae announcements happened this week.

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Reuters.com

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Louisiana is Conducive for Algae Fuel Growth - Feasibility Report on Louisiana

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Louisiana Economic Development in partnership with KEMA Inc. recently released a feasibility report on Louisiana's commercial prospect for algae-to-energy ventures, in response to the growing need for alternative feed stocks in the renewable fuels industry.

The report demonstrates that Louisiana offers several advantages for algae industry development, including abundance of low-cost land, high-quality sunlight, array of Co2 sources, rainfall rate that exceeds evaporation rate, experience with aquaculture, and infrastructure and research capabilities.

"The results of the report confirm that Louisiana is well positioned to serve as the ideal platform for the emerging algae industry," said Kelsey Short, director of agriculture, food and forestry. "Accordingly, LED is actively seeking business development collaborations with algae investors and companies."

Key findings of the report include:
1. Louisiana is the leading state for scaled open-pond, freshwater algae development
2. Louisiana's rivers, aquifers and wastewater from industrial sources offer more than sufficient capacity for sustainable, scaled development of algae aquaculture
3. Louisiana has a potential capacity to produce up to 24.3 million tons of algae, based on existing industrial and power plant Co2 emissions
4. Louisiana has a potential capacity of 2.520 billion gallons of oil using existing Co2 resources, based on algae strains with 40 percent oil content

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Shrimp Shell Catalysts to Convert Oil to Biodiesel

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Scientists in China are reporting development of a catalyst made from shrimp shells that could transform production of biodiesel fuel into a faster, less expensive, and more environmentally friendly process.

Researcher Xinsheng Zheng and his colleagues describe development of a new catalyst produced from shrimp shells. In laboratory tests, the shrimp shell catalysts converted canola oil to biodiesel (89 percent conversion in three hours) faster and more efficiently than some conventional catalysts. The scientists also said that the new catalysts  can be reused and the process minimizes waste production and pollution, .

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Pakistans has Potential to Produce Oil from Algae - Dr Ehsan Ali

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Dr Ehsan Ali, a researcher at the Mie University of Japan, said that Pakistan had about 27 million acre of saline lands without any remarkable output that could prove a cheaper medium to produce biofuel from algae during a seminar.

He also said that Pakistan is depending on fossil fuel and needs to establish a ‘Biofuel Research Center’ where we can focus to develop biofuel industry in the country using advanced technologies. He said Pakistan Technology Board, an organisation of Ministry of Science and Technology responsible to identify and promote key technologies in Pakistan, has already taken some initiative to promote innovative research approaches towards biofuel production.

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An Interview with Dennis Fisher, CEO of Biocentric Energy

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

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

Please follow the below link to view the interesting interview

EmergingGreenCompanies.com

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Biocentric Energy Negotiating Exclusive Manufacturing License for Photobioreactor

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

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

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Green Star Products is Active in Four Green Technology

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

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

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

           Algae biodiesel production  

           Cellulosic ethanol  

           Electric vehicle production

           Advanced lubrication

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

Source: Business Wire

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The Defence Research Laboratory, India Identifies Oil Producing Algae

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Minister of Defence Minister Shri AK Antony says The Defence Research Laboratory, (DRL), Tezpur is engaged in R&D work related to Bio-diesel from algae. They seem to have identify four strains which has maximum lipid content upto 40 %, for extraction of Bio-diesel. in a written reply to Shri Pradeep Majhi and Shri Kishnbhai V Patel in Lok Sabha. He also said that the algal samples have been collected from the following places in Assam :- 

Nagon, Sonitpur, Mangaldai, Karbi Anglog, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nalbari, Kamrup, Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Dhemaji and Goalpara.

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