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Air New Zealand has tested a passenger jet powered partially with oil from jatropha, in efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and cut its fuel bill.Along with investing in new technology to replace outdated fleets and new designs that reduce weight and air resistance, the International Air Transport Association says airlines are experimenting with a range of plant materials in an effort to find the jet fuel of the future.
"There are very promising biojet fuels, and jatropha is one of them," association spokesman Anthony Concil said Tuesday, adding that the industry is also looking at switch grass, algae and salt-tolerant plants called halophytes.
Continental Airlines has said on Jan. 7 it will operate a test flight out of Houston using a special blend of half conventional fuel and half biofuel with ingredients derived from algae and jatropha plants.
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Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Kai BioEnergy Prefers Native Algae than Genetically Modified
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As the co-founder of Kai BioEnergy, Larach has been tracking a nationwide surge of interest in algae-to-biofuel technology as he seeks venture funding for his company.
Larach says growing a particular species of algae in open ponds poses other problems. One is the challenge of eliminating “weed algae” that seems to infiltrate ponds. Another stems from often-strident ecological and political opposition to projects that call for cultivating a genetically modified algae in open ponds.
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As the co-founder of Kai BioEnergy, Larach has been tracking a nationwide surge of interest in algae-to-biofuel technology as he seeks venture funding for his company.
Larach says growing a particular species of algae in open ponds poses other problems. One is the challenge of eliminating “weed algae” that seems to infiltrate ponds. Another stems from often-strident ecological and political opposition to projects that call for cultivating a genetically modified algae in open ponds.
For the record, Larach says Kai BioEnergy has been using only native strains of algae in developing its biofuel technology. Still, he says, “Right now, GMOs (genetically modified organisms) have a lot of issues, including EPA issues,” referring to the Environmental Protection Agency.
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OriginOil Grows Algae in a Better Way
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In an unassuming converted warehouse in Los Angeles, the 10 employees of OriginOil are working to perfect the way microscopic algae is grown and refined.They hope that within a few years the methods they use to make small batches of greenish-colored algae mixtures in the laboratory will be imitated in 2,500-gallon (9,460 liter) tanks around the world. And that the oil extracted from the algae will in many cases replace petroleum.
The company is led by co-founders and brothers Riggs Eckelberry, CEO and president, and inventor Nicholas Eckelberry. Recently hired Vikram Pattarkine is chief technology officer.
Riggs Eckelberry said costs of the technology were still being studied, along with oil yield but that yields compared favorably with large-scale algae refineries in Japan, although OriginOil's results were from small tanks in the laboratory.See more
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Michigan Governor,Granholm Signs Bills for Renewable Fuels Production and Use
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Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has signed legislation that will advance the state's efforts to expand the production and use of renewable fuels in Michigan. The eleven bills were part of a series of recommendations from the state's Renewable Fuels Commission, established in 2006. The legislation includes five additional renewable energy renaissance zones, creation of a Renewable Fuels Fund to promote the production and use of alternative fuels, and new tax incentives for the purchase of equipment capable of harvesting biomass and the conversion of existing gasoline pumps to pumps capable of delivering ethanol, biodiesel or other forms of renewable fuels.
"The next generation of alternative fuel will be produced from non-food sources like wood waste, switchgrass, algae or other waste products," said Granholm. "Creating incentives to help ensure that the research and production of these next generation fuels are done here in Michigan will help ensure that the jobs created are here, too."
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Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has signed legislation that will advance the state's efforts to expand the production and use of renewable fuels in Michigan. The eleven bills were part of a series of recommendations from the state's Renewable Fuels Commission, established in 2006. The legislation includes five additional renewable energy renaissance zones, creation of a Renewable Fuels Fund to promote the production and use of alternative fuels, and new tax incentives for the purchase of equipment capable of harvesting biomass and the conversion of existing gasoline pumps to pumps capable of delivering ethanol, biodiesel or other forms of renewable fuels.
"The next generation of alternative fuel will be produced from non-food sources like wood waste, switchgrass, algae or other waste products," said Granholm. "Creating incentives to help ensure that the research and production of these next generation fuels are done here in Michigan will help ensure that the jobs created are here, too."
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Algae VC - Khosla Ventures, Hawaiian Electric to collaborate
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Khosla Ventures and Hawaiian Electric Co. have agreed to collaborate on evaluation and early deployment of green-energy technologies. The companies will work with entrepreneurs and start-up companies developing clean technology with the goal of accelerating the commercialization of promising new products and services.
Hawaiian Electric is partnering in an algae production project with Maui landowner Alexander & Baldwin Inc. and start-up HR BioPetroleum Inc. The plan is to create a commercial-scale algae facility adjacent to the Ma’alaea Power Plant. Hawaiian Electric is also a partner in the proposed BlueEarth Biofuels LLC 40 MMgy biodiesel processing plant on Maui, which is expected to be operational in early 2010. The goal is to use locally grown oil feedstocks such as algae, jatropha or palm.
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Khosla Ventures and Hawaiian Electric Co. have agreed to collaborate on evaluation and early deployment of green-energy technologies. The companies will work with entrepreneurs and start-up companies developing clean technology with the goal of accelerating the commercialization of promising new products and services.
Hawaiian Electric is partnering in an algae production project with Maui landowner Alexander & Baldwin Inc. and start-up HR BioPetroleum Inc. The plan is to create a commercial-scale algae facility adjacent to the Ma’alaea Power Plant. Hawaiian Electric is also a partner in the proposed BlueEarth Biofuels LLC 40 MMgy biodiesel processing plant on Maui, which is expected to be operational in early 2010. The goal is to use locally grown oil feedstocks such as algae, jatropha or palm.
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Sunday, December 28, 2008
PetroAlgae Raises $10 Million in Common Stock Offering
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PetroAlgae Inc., a leading developer of systems to derive biodiesel fuels from algae, announced on Dec 26 that it has closed on a $10 million capital raise through the sale of approximately 3.2 million of newly-issued shares of common stock to two existing investors.
“The proceeds from this offering are expected to help finance the launch of PetroAlgae’s most significant milestone to-date, the commercialization of its first biodiesel product derived from algae,” said Dr. John Scott, Chairman of the Board of PetroAlgae Inc.
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PetroAlgae Inc., a leading developer of systems to derive biodiesel fuels from algae, announced on Dec 26 that it has closed on a $10 million capital raise through the sale of approximately 3.2 million of newly-issued shares of common stock to two existing investors.
“The proceeds from this offering are expected to help finance the launch of PetroAlgae’s most significant milestone to-date, the commercialization of its first biodiesel product derived from algae,” said Dr. John Scott, Chairman of the Board of PetroAlgae Inc.
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Indian Institute of Science Plans For Genetic Modification of Algae
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Indian Institute of Science will soon be 100 and enter its second century. Its founders wanted it to be the John Hopkins of India.There are three commitments of IISc. The first is to carry out research in frontier areas of science (includes technology) in the pursuit of excellence. The second is to help the country find solutions to its problems through the application of science and technology. The third is to provide human resource of the best kind to the nation through imparting training at the highest level, in various branches of science. The vision of big science is embedded in the first two. IIS's vision of big science can help the country in tackling its well-nigh insatiable energy needs.
K J Rao, professor, Solid State and Structural chemistry unit, IISc said "We are in need of Carbon neutral energy sources . We must genetically engineer new algae. Algae can synthesize huge quantities of lipids, 60% of their dry mass, at very high rates. Algae culturing requires only marginal land and small amounts of water and fertilizers."
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Indian Institute of Science will soon be 100 and enter its second century. Its founders wanted it to be the John Hopkins of India.There are three commitments of IISc. The first is to carry out research in frontier areas of science (includes technology) in the pursuit of excellence. The second is to help the country find solutions to its problems through the application of science and technology. The third is to provide human resource of the best kind to the nation through imparting training at the highest level, in various branches of science. The vision of big science is embedded in the first two. IIS's vision of big science can help the country in tackling its well-nigh insatiable energy needs.
K J Rao, professor, Solid State and Structural chemistry unit, IISc said "We are in need of Carbon neutral energy sources . We must genetically engineer new algae. Algae can synthesize huge quantities of lipids, 60% of their dry mass, at very high rates. Algae culturing requires only marginal land and small amounts of water and fertilizers."
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CO2 Sequestration Using Algae-A part of Alaska energy project
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Senator-elect Mark Begich’s talked with mayors across the state about how local and state governments might best spend Alaska’s share of a multibillion-dollar economic recovery proposal drawing whispers in Congress.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough suggested such help, if it came, could help launch a complex energy project that would help year-round food production and storage as well as produce heat and electricity.
The proposed power plant, which would be fueled by willow trees and household trash, also is eyed as a pilot project for smaller-scale plants in villages. A blend of private firms and public agencies, including businessman Bernie Karl and the University of Alaska Fairbanks, would operate the plant under a plan submitted to Begich’s office this week.
Borough Mayor Jim Whitaker said the project also calls for sequestering the carbon dioxide emitted from the plant by using algae to consume the carbon.
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Friday, December 26, 2008
Bob Metcalfe Says Green Fuel Microalgae Technology is Green in Two Ways
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Metcalfe believes that the set of skills that helped drive the infotech revolution can do the same for renewable energy, energy efficiency and eco-friendly materials.
Green Fuel, for example, is a company where Metcalfe worked for a time as CEO and is now board chairman. Its goal is to harvest carbon dioxide from power plants to grow algae. "It's green in two ways," Metcalfe says. "It's a CO2 recycling company. Then we are green out the back door because if the CO2 is used to make biodiesel, it's a renewable fuel." The technology works but getting it to commercial scale is a challenge.
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Metcalfe believes that the set of skills that helped drive the infotech revolution can do the same for renewable energy, energy efficiency and eco-friendly materials.
Green Fuel, for example, is a company where Metcalfe worked for a time as CEO and is now board chairman. Its goal is to harvest carbon dioxide from power plants to grow algae. "It's green in two ways," Metcalfe says. "It's a CO2 recycling company. Then we are green out the back door because if the CO2 is used to make biodiesel, it's a renewable fuel." The technology works but getting it to commercial scale is a challenge.
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San Juan Bioenergy is Interested in Algae Biofuels
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The San Juan Bioenergy plant -- which is grinding sunflower seeds to make food oil instead of automotive fuel as originally planned -- could become an international model of entrepreneurial endeavor. "There is a lot of interest in renewable-source energy," said Nathan Morris, the plant's chief technology officer.
San Juan Bioenergy is looking toward second-generation oil stock from sources such as jatropha, a warm-weather plant, and algae, Morris said. Coincidentally, a Fort Collins firm is scheduled to start construction next year on a large-scale algae farm on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation near Ignacio. Company officials believe they may get 20 times more fuel per acre than from first-generation biofuel sources.
"If algae plays out to what is expected, it could be a game changer," Morris said.
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The San Juan Bioenergy plant -- which is grinding sunflower seeds to make food oil instead of automotive fuel as originally planned -- could become an international model of entrepreneurial endeavor. "There is a lot of interest in renewable-source energy," said Nathan Morris, the plant's chief technology officer.
San Juan Bioenergy is looking toward second-generation oil stock from sources such as jatropha, a warm-weather plant, and algae, Morris said. Coincidentally, a Fort Collins firm is scheduled to start construction next year on a large-scale algae farm on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation near Ignacio. Company officials believe they may get 20 times more fuel per acre than from first-generation biofuel sources.
"If algae plays out to what is expected, it could be a game changer," Morris said.
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Nevadans Believe Renewable Energy Sector Will Create Good Jobs
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The poll, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies Nov. 12-13, showed 85 percent of Nevada Republicans, 89 percent of state Democrats and 94 percent of Silver State Independents see renewable energy as an investment that will create good jobs.
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The poll, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies Nov. 12-13, showed 85 percent of Nevada Republicans, 89 percent of state Democrats and 94 percent of Silver State Independents see renewable energy as an investment that will create good jobs.
The survey of 600 state residents, which had a plus-or-minus error range of 4 percent, also said 88 percent of voters who perceive the economy as a top priority also view renewable energy as a prospective jobs-creation machine for Nevada.
Archer -- whose center routinely pushes for jobs creation via business entrepreneurs and technology transfers, along with "angel" or venture capital investments -- said the poll's strong support captured his attention.
"I'm interested by the sheer magnitude of it, but it makes perfect sense," said Archer, speaking from the Reno area. He said Nevada has the regulatory environment, the entrepreneurial spirit and the geographic setting for such development.
Wind, solar, geothermal and algae-based bio-fuels are all in some stage of development in the state, he said. He noted that means Nevada is in a good spot as President-elect Barack Obama brings his green and renewable energy rhetoric into office next month.
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Cynthia (C.J.) Warner, Sapphire Energy's New President
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According to Sapphire Energy, Warner will help the company to scale up its green crude technology, which produces a fuel it says is similar to light sweet crude that can be refined into gasoline, jet fuel and diesel replacements. The company is in the midst of a three-year pilot process with the goal of opening a commercial-scale production facility by 2011 at a site to be determined. The company recently established a test and research site in Las Cruces, N.M.
In September, Sapphire Energy said it completed a second round of funding, “substantially more than $100 million,” from existing and new investors, including Cascade Investments LLC, an investment holding company owned by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates.
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According to Sapphire Energy, Warner will help the company to scale up its green crude technology, which produces a fuel it says is similar to light sweet crude that can be refined into gasoline, jet fuel and diesel replacements. The company is in the midst of a three-year pilot process with the goal of opening a commercial-scale production facility by 2011 at a site to be determined. The company recently established a test and research site in Las Cruces, N.M.
In September, Sapphire Energy said it completed a second round of funding, “substantially more than $100 million,” from existing and new investors, including Cascade Investments LLC, an investment holding company owned by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates.
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Thursday, December 25, 2008
Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), Tezpur, India is working on fresh water algae as source for bio-diesel
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India's premier defence research agency, DRDO, will develop a medium-range and long- endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in association with an Indian industry partner.
Defence Minister A K Antony said the Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), Tezpur is working on fresh water algae to use them as source for bio-diesel.
"DRL is trying to identify a fresh water algal strain in North-Eastern region as a source of higher lipid content, which can be converted in to bio-diesel," he said.
"The laboratory is collecting samples of micro algae from different districts in North east for identification of a strain, which has higher amount of lipid contents for bio-fuel production," he added.
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India's premier defence research agency, DRDO, will develop a medium-range and long- endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in association with an Indian industry partner.
Defence Minister A K Antony said the Defence Research Laboratory (DRL), Tezpur is working on fresh water algae to use them as source for bio-diesel.
"DRL is trying to identify a fresh water algal strain in North-Eastern region as a source of higher lipid content, which can be converted in to bio-diesel," he said.
"The laboratory is collecting samples of micro algae from different districts in North east for identification of a strain, which has higher amount of lipid contents for bio-fuel production," he added.
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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Issued Income and Excise Tax Credits for Biodiesel and Cellulosic Biofuels
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The Internal Revenue Service issued in late November Notice 2008-110, providing guidance regarding the income and excise tax credits for biodiesel and cellulosic biofuels under sections 40A, 6426 and 6427(e) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Regarding biodiesel, the notice details changes made to the biodiesel and biodiesel mixture tax incentives resulting from the revision of the ASTM D 6751 standard for biodiesel. To claim these incentives, taxpayers must generally obtain from the biodiesel producer a certificate that identifies the product, and the percentage of “biodiesel and agri-biodiesel” contained within the product, according to Stoel Rives LLP. In order to complete the required certificate, the producer must certify, among other things, that the biodiesel meets ASTM D 6751 requirements. Effective Oct. 13, 2008, ASTM revised this standard by adding a cold soak filtration test for biodiesel.
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The Internal Revenue Service issued in late November Notice 2008-110, providing guidance regarding the income and excise tax credits for biodiesel and cellulosic biofuels under sections 40A, 6426 and 6427(e) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Regarding biodiesel, the notice details changes made to the biodiesel and biodiesel mixture tax incentives resulting from the revision of the ASTM D 6751 standard for biodiesel. To claim these incentives, taxpayers must generally obtain from the biodiesel producer a certificate that identifies the product, and the percentage of “biodiesel and agri-biodiesel” contained within the product, according to Stoel Rives LLP. In order to complete the required certificate, the producer must certify, among other things, that the biodiesel meets ASTM D 6751 requirements. Effective Oct. 13, 2008, ASTM revised this standard by adding a cold soak filtration test for biodiesel.
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Solazyme receives the Biofuels Digest Achievement Award for Pioneering Algal-Based Fuel Production
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Solazyme announced that it has received the Biofuels Digest Award for Achievement in Advanced Biofuels and Feedstocks for pioneering the production of algal-based aviation fuel and motor transport renewable diesel and biodiesel. In addition, Solazyme has been named sixth overall on Biofuels Digest’s “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” list.
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Solazyme announced that it has received the Biofuels Digest Award for Achievement in Advanced Biofuels and Feedstocks for pioneering the production of algal-based aviation fuel and motor transport renewable diesel and biodiesel. In addition, Solazyme has been named sixth overall on Biofuels Digest’s “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” list.
The award is based on nominations from the Biofuels Digest readership and voting is conducted by an editorial panel based on a review of actual achievements in biofuels development.
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Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Scripps Institution of Oceanography see algae as a “green bullet”
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Gerwick’s team is working on methods to rapidly identify algae species to address situations in which algal biofuel ponds of one species are contaminated with another.
They are also using an imaging technique called mass spectrometry to explore the inner workings of organisms at the molecular level. The tool is helping the scientists determine the mechanisms of the genes that produce lipid molecules in the hopes of boosting lipid oil production by adding certain molecules to algal cultures.
Like Gerwick, Scripps biologist Mark Hildebrand only recently initiated algal biofuel studies in his laboratory at Scripps’ Hubbs Hall.
Hidebrand is optimistic about algae’s contribution to future bioenergy solutions, but he is realistic about the challenges ahead. And he is especially sensitive to misinformation being generated to the public about algae and biofuel. He particularly winces when he comes across public descriptions of biofuel algae as “common pond scum.”
For the record, many algae targeted for biofuel inhabit the sea, rather than terrestrial ponds. And the algae Hildebrand studies, tiny algae called diatoms, are far from scummy. He is quick to point out, backed by striking nano-scale images of the one-celled organisms, that they, in fact, can be quite beautiful.
He and members of his lab are probing a catch-22 presented in algal biofuel research. Algae mainly produce desired lipid oils when they are starved for nutrients. Yet if they are limited in nutrients, they don’t grow well. Give them a healthy diet of nutrients and they grow just fine, but they produce carbohydrates instead of lipids.
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Sapphire Energy Took The No.2 Spot on the Biofuel Ranking
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Biofuel Digest, an online news site in Miami, ranked the biofuel companies based on innovations and how far along the companies are in commercializing their technologies.Algal biofuel startup Sapphire Energy in San Diego took the No. 2 spot on the biofuel ranking, followed by Madison, Wis.-based Virent Energy Systems, which says it's developing all sorts of biofuels using food and non-food feedstocks. Virent is even working with Royal Dutch Shell to convert sugar in plants into a fuel that resembles gasoline rather than ethanol.
Of the 50 companies on the list, 17 are developing cellulosic ethanol while nine are into algal biofuels. Another nine companies are working on other types of biofuel technologies, including converting trash from landfills to fuels.
Solazyme, another algal biofuel startup, made the top 10. The South San Francisco company has figured out a way to grow algae without sunlight by using natural algae that thrives in the dark, as well as engineering its own strains. The company expects to commercialize its algal oil first as an ingredient in cosmetics, such as anti-wrinkle products
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Biofuel Digest, an online news site in Miami, ranked the biofuel companies based on innovations and how far along the companies are in commercializing their technologies.Algal biofuel startup Sapphire Energy in San Diego took the No. 2 spot on the biofuel ranking, followed by Madison, Wis.-based Virent Energy Systems, which says it's developing all sorts of biofuels using food and non-food feedstocks. Virent is even working with Royal Dutch Shell to convert sugar in plants into a fuel that resembles gasoline rather than ethanol.
Of the 50 companies on the list, 17 are developing cellulosic ethanol while nine are into algal biofuels. Another nine companies are working on other types of biofuel technologies, including converting trash from landfills to fuels.
Solazyme, another algal biofuel startup, made the top 10. The South San Francisco company has figured out a way to grow algae without sunlight by using natural algae that thrives in the dark, as well as engineering its own strains. The company expects to commercialize its algal oil first as an ingredient in cosmetics, such as anti-wrinkle products
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5 Big Algae companies are racing for JP8 production from Algae
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A kerosene-based aviation fuel called Jet Propellant 8 made up more than 90 percent of the fuel used by the Department of Defense in 2006, at a cost of $6 billion, according to Cleantech Group.But startups that have launched in the last 10 years, including the five fast-moving ventures below, could be the ones that finally get pond scum ready for take off.
Solazyme:The San Francisco-based firm uses synthetic biology and genetic engineering to boost biofuel yields from algae.In September, it announced a major breakthrough: an algal fuel that doesn’t freeze at high altitude.
Inventure Chemical Technology: Inventure makes a reactor system that uses thermochemical processes and catalysts to turn algae into three types of fuel, including jet fuel.
Sapphire Energy:With more than $100 million from high-profile investors including Bill Gates’ Cascade Investment, ARCH Venture Partners and Venrock, Sapphire is one of the best-funded algae-to-fuel startups around.
Aquaflow Bionomic Corp.: The New Zealand-based firm announced earlier this month that, using technology from Honeywell subsidiary UOP, it has converted (for the first time) wild algae into synthetic paraffinic kerosene, which can be combined with conventional kerosene for jet fuel.
Algenol Biofuels: Naples, Fla.-based Algenol circumvents expensive refining processes by collecting ethanol vapors directly from algae. The startup has $70 million in private backing and an agreement with Sonora Fields S.A.P.I. de C.V.
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A kerosene-based aviation fuel called Jet Propellant 8 made up more than 90 percent of the fuel used by the Department of Defense in 2006, at a cost of $6 billion, according to Cleantech Group.But startups that have launched in the last 10 years, including the five fast-moving ventures below, could be the ones that finally get pond scum ready for take off.
Solazyme:The San Francisco-based firm uses synthetic biology and genetic engineering to boost biofuel yields from algae.In September, it announced a major breakthrough: an algal fuel that doesn’t freeze at high altitude.
Inventure Chemical Technology: Inventure makes a reactor system that uses thermochemical processes and catalysts to turn algae into three types of fuel, including jet fuel.
Sapphire Energy:With more than $100 million from high-profile investors including Bill Gates’ Cascade Investment, ARCH Venture Partners and Venrock, Sapphire is one of the best-funded algae-to-fuel startups around.
Aquaflow Bionomic Corp.: The New Zealand-based firm announced earlier this month that, using technology from Honeywell subsidiary UOP, it has converted (for the first time) wild algae into synthetic paraffinic kerosene, which can be combined with conventional kerosene for jet fuel.
Algenol Biofuels: Naples, Fla.-based Algenol circumvents expensive refining processes by collecting ethanol vapors directly from algae. The startup has $70 million in private backing and an agreement with Sonora Fields S.A.P.I. de C.V.
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Winter Weather Performance Of 5 Alternative Fuels
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5. Biodiesel
Of all the alternative fuels, biodiesel is the most susceptible to the cold. In fact, even petroleum diesel is susceptible to the cold — anti-gel additives are common in the winter, as well as blending with kerosene or even gasoline when it gets really cold.4. Ethanol
In its pure form, ethanol has some serious cold weather problems. When pure ethanol is cold, it releases fewer fumes, making it harder to start. To compensate for this, gas stations add more gas into the mixture . For lower blends of ethanol, cold weather is not an issue, due to the predominance of gasoline in the blend.
3. Battery/Electric Car
As some of you have surely experienced this winter, batteries have a hard time in the cold, especially those of the Lead-Acid persuasion. They put out less energy and sometimes an old battery will simply give up the ghost on a frozen morning. A little bit of precaution can make this a non-issue; you can insulate your battery, add a block heating system or have an oversize starting battery.
2. Hydrogen
Since a singular design for hydrogen-powered vehicles has not won out yet, and cold weather performance varies by design, this is a subjective call. Vehicles using liquid hydrogen have to keep the fuel refrigerated anyway hence no problem there. Ideal hydrogen fuel cells produce only water vapor as a byproduct. As long as there is a mechanism for clearing water from the fuel cell, there would be no problem; otherwise fuel cells would run the risk of freezing solid overnight in the cold.
1. Compressed Natural Gas
With no major drawbacks, CNG is clearly the best performing cold weather alt-fuel. CNG is kept in a gaseous state and under significant pressure; even in the cold it has no problems igniting. Simple as that.
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PetroAlgae retains investor relations firm
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PetroAlgae Inc. announced Dec. 22 that it has retained Los Angeles-based Investor Relations International to develop and lead its shareholder communications program. “Our company is at a pivotal point in its history as we move out of the R&D phase, and into the widespread production and marketing of our biodiesel products,” said John Scott, PetroAlgae director.
PetroAlgae anticipates raising investor awareness of its algae biodiesel technology via IRI’s “proprietary investor relations model,” which leverages “the distribution of new media technologies and traditional direct communications with its network of institutional and retail money managers,” PetroAlgae said.
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PetroAlgae Inc. announced Dec. 22 that it has retained Los Angeles-based Investor Relations International to develop and lead its shareholder communications program. “Our company is at a pivotal point in its history as we move out of the R&D phase, and into the widespread production and marketing of our biodiesel products,” said John Scott, PetroAlgae director.
PetroAlgae anticipates raising investor awareness of its algae biodiesel technology via IRI’s “proprietary investor relations model,” which leverages “the distribution of new media technologies and traditional direct communications with its network of institutional and retail money managers,” PetroAlgae said.
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Friday, December 19, 2008
Algae Bio-fertilizer Boosts Sugarcane Yield in India
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The ‘eco-friendly´ algae cultivation technology pioneered by Bhavnagar based Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) is emerging as a booster dose to enhance sugarcane yield.
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The ‘eco-friendly´ algae cultivation technology pioneered by Bhavnagar based Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) is emerging as a booster dose to enhance sugarcane yield.
“Using the thicking agent derived from this unique algae (Kappaphycus alvarezi) cultivation technology, sugarcane yield in a 1000 acre field shot up by 30% during first field trials conducted in Karnataka,and The second field trials are slated to start on 5,000 acres of land each in the state of Tamilnadu and Uttar Pradesh,” CSMCRI Director Pushpito K. Ghosh said.
“Also commercial skilled production of bio-fertilizer using this algae will kick start soon. The production volumes of bio-fertilizer will be as large as 20,000 tonnes,” he added.Presently, this unique algae is being cultivated in Tamilnadu in a big way, after CSMCRI licensed the technology to Pepsico Food.
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Sapphire Energy VC - ARCH Venture Partners Announced its new Partners
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ARCH Venture Partners announced the promotion of former Principals Kristina Burow and Paul Thurk to Partners of the firm.Kristina Burow joined ARCH in 2002 and works out of ARCH's San Francisco, CA office. Burow is a co-founder and director of Sapphire Energy and has participated in the development of several ARCH portfolio companies including Ensemble Discovery, Lycera, Achaogen, Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Ikaria, and Quanterix. ARCH Co-founder and Managing Director Robert Nelsen commented, "Kristina has already helped to create some great companies at ARCH, such as Sapphire Energy, and we look forward to creating many more game-changing companies together."
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ARCH Venture Partners announced the promotion of former Principals Kristina Burow and Paul Thurk to Partners of the firm.Kristina Burow joined ARCH in 2002 and works out of ARCH's San Francisco, CA office. Burow is a co-founder and director of Sapphire Energy and has participated in the development of several ARCH portfolio companies including Ensemble Discovery, Lycera, Achaogen, Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, Ikaria, and Quanterix. ARCH Co-founder and Managing Director Robert Nelsen commented, "Kristina has already helped to create some great companies at ARCH, such as Sapphire Energy, and we look forward to creating many more game-changing companies together."
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Saudi Arabia Support Development of Alternative Energy
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Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil supplier, will today voice its support for the development of alternative energy to complement fossil fuels.
Ali Naimi, Saudi Arabia's oil minister, is expected to tell a meeting of energy ministers hosted by Gordon Brown, UK prime minister, that an oil price of $75 a barrel is fairand would stimulate the investment in oil and alternatives necessary to meet the world's future energy needs.
It will be the first time that Saudi Arabia has voiced such unequivocal support for alternative energy in such a high-level forum.
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Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (SPK)- Jet Fuel From Aquaflow’s Wild Algae
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The company announced today that its wild algae has been successfully refined to produce the world’s first sample of synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) converted from compounds derived from Aquaflow’s wild algae. SPK, when blended with petroleum-based kerosene, can be used to power commercial and military aircraft.
Gerritsen says the sample meets Jet A-1 specifications and, when blended with petroleum-based Jet A-1, could be used by commercial aircraft. The algae was converted using technology from United States-based UOP LLC, a Honeywell company. UOP utilized its proprietary hydroprocessing technology to convert the sample to SPK and confirmed that the sample meets the critical specifications for SPK including density, flash point and freeze point.
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The company announced today that its wild algae has been successfully refined to produce the world’s first sample of synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) converted from compounds derived from Aquaflow’s wild algae. SPK, when blended with petroleum-based kerosene, can be used to power commercial and military aircraft.
Gerritsen says the sample meets Jet A-1 specifications and, when blended with petroleum-based Jet A-1, could be used by commercial aircraft. The algae was converted using technology from United States-based UOP LLC, a Honeywell company. UOP utilized its proprietary hydroprocessing technology to convert the sample to SPK and confirmed that the sample meets the critical specifications for SPK including density, flash point and freeze point.
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Experiments on Algae by Thornton Academy students
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Irving Backman, a Newton Centre, Mass., resident who graduated from Thornton in 1943, has given a science class financial support to provide him with data on algae as he researches the likelihood of using the plant to make biodiesel.
The Thornton Academy Environmental Research Collaborative is a science elective with 12 students. Students in the class are performing experiments to determine what the best conditions are for algae growth.The students have been working with chlorella vulgaris, growing it in small jars and then transferring it to two-gallon tanks.
The students, through their research, have determined that the algae grows better in tap water as opposed to distilled water, and grows better under compact fluorescent lights as opposed to incandescent lights.
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Irving Backman, a Newton Centre, Mass., resident who graduated from Thornton in 1943, has given a science class financial support to provide him with data on algae as he researches the likelihood of using the plant to make biodiesel.
The Thornton Academy Environmental Research Collaborative is a science elective with 12 students. Students in the class are performing experiments to determine what the best conditions are for algae growth.The students have been working with chlorella vulgaris, growing it in small jars and then transferring it to two-gallon tanks.
The students, through their research, have determined that the algae grows better in tap water as opposed to distilled water, and grows better under compact fluorescent lights as opposed to incandescent lights.
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Biofuel from seaweed investigated by Scottish Association for Marine Sciences (SAMS).
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The Scottish Association for Marine Sciences (SAMS) in Oban will lead the research, in partnership with Queens University Belfast and the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland, and the Institutes of Technology in Dundalk and Sligo in Ireland.
They aim to demonstrate if locally produced biofuels can be made from seaweed and algae, as an alternative to land-based plants. Work will get underway in early 2009.Previous research by SAMS indicated that extracting energy from seaweed is a particularly efficient and reliable method of producing green energy.
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Algae-based technologies for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductionh
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Algae-based technologies could provide a key tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants and other carbon intensive industrial processes.
Driven by escalating global climate change concerns and the rising cost of petroleum based energy, companies are now starting to examine using certain forms of algae to reduce carbon emissions from power plants, generate renewable transportation fuels, and produce feed for fish and livestock.
Using an intricate photosynthetic process, trendsetters have developed biodiesel and ethanol from an unlikely source - algae - that, given optimal conditions, can double its volume overnight. Up to 50 percent of an alga's body weight is comprised of oil, whereas oil-palm trees--currently the largest producer of oil to make biofuels--yield just about 20 percent of their weight in oil.
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Algae-Based Jet Fuels for Military Use Research Won Multi-Million-dollar Contracts from DRAPA
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DARPA is seeking an algae-based alternative to the JP-8 fuel used by the US Air Force. Such an alternative could also be used to streamline fuel supplies for Army vehicles, according to the publication Defense Industry Daily.
Investigating ways to make algae-based jet fuels both technically and commercially feasible will be Science Applications International Corp., which was awarded a $14.9 million contract, and General Atomics, which won a $19.9 million for research to be conducted in cooperation with the Scripps Institutions of Oceanography, Arizona State University, Blue Sun Biodiesel, Texas A&M AgriLIFE, UOP, Hawaii Bio Energy, the University of North Dakota’s Energy and Environmental Research Center and Utah State University.
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DARPA is seeking an algae-based alternative to the JP-8 fuel used by the US Air Force. Such an alternative could also be used to streamline fuel supplies for Army vehicles, according to the publication Defense Industry Daily.
Investigating ways to make algae-based jet fuels both technically and commercially feasible will be Science Applications International Corp., which was awarded a $14.9 million contract, and General Atomics, which won a $19.9 million for research to be conducted in cooperation with the Scripps Institutions of Oceanography, Arizona State University, Blue Sun Biodiesel, Texas A&M AgriLIFE, UOP, Hawaii Bio Energy, the University of North Dakota’s Energy and Environmental Research Center and Utah State University.
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Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Investing in Algae Biofuel Stocks - Wall St Nation, Not a Lot to Cheer About
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Wall St Nation has this interesting take on the algae company stocks. Hmmm...you see a rather scary bunch of companies, practically all of them penny stocks except of course if you consider Chevron and Royal Dutch/Shell in the picture!
But well, let's be honest. It's fairly clear algae oil is in the very early stages. It's difficult to see which company could indeed survive this stage and move on to the next, so naturally investors factor that into the stock price. Higher the returns, higher the risk, so the daring souls will invest now, while the cautious ones will of course wait and watch.
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Wall St Nation has this interesting take on the algae company stocks. Hmmm...you see a rather scary bunch of companies, practically all of them penny stocks except of course if you consider Chevron and Royal Dutch/Shell in the picture!
But well, let's be honest. It's fairly clear algae oil is in the very early stages. It's difficult to see which company could indeed survive this stage and move on to the next, so naturally investors factor that into the stock price. Higher the returns, higher the risk, so the daring souls will invest now, while the cautious ones will of course wait and watch.
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Monday, December 15, 2008
Algae Biofuel Project by SARDI and Flinders University Builds Open Raceway Ponds on Torrens Island
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Efforts to pioneer a commercially sustainable South Australian biofuels industry from microalgal biodiesel feedstock have been boosted with a Premier’s Science and Research Fund grant of $1.2 million.
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Efforts to pioneer a commercially sustainable South Australian biofuels industry from microalgal biodiesel feedstock have been boosted with a Premier’s Science and Research Fund grant of $1.2 million.
The funds have been matched by resource recovery company SANCON, the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and Flinders University to total $4 million.
This will enable scientists to develop a Proof-of-Concept facility, exploring the viable production of microalgal biodiesel feedstock and high value co-products such as nutraceuticals.
The project will include a facility on Torrens Island including four 50 square metre raceway ponds that will utilise nutrient rich saline water from the Port River estuary, carbon dioxide from adjacent power plants and solar energy to produce the products.
Assoc. Professor Rob Thomas says the scientists will be developing an elite algal strain for biodiesel production tapping into SARDI’s collection of native strains that show high oil production potential, and to optimise algal production systems, overcoming the current high costs of production, scalability, yield, harvesting and extraction technologies.
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Aviation Fuel From Wild Algae Grown in Sewage Treatment Ponds
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Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation creates biodiesel from wild algae formed at Blenheim's waste treatment oxidation ponds, essentially recycling a waste product.
The company announced today that its wild algae has been successfully refined to produce a sample of synthetic paraffinic kerosene, a component in jet fuel.
Aquaflow converted the algae to fuel and American process technology company UOP LLC has now confirmed the sample meets all relevant legal specifications.
When blended with petroleum-based Jet A-1 it could be used by commercial aircraft.
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Synthetic Biology - A Second Wave of Innovation for Solving Society's Challenges
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In the laboratory, researchers are developing customized organisms with powerful new capabilities. These modified cells can be programmed to fight diseases, create new wonder materials for manufacturing or produce an abundant source of clean, renewable energy.
In only five years, synthetic biology has spurred more than $1 billion in private investment. Yet according to a recent survey, two-thirds of Americans have never heard of it. This will soon change.
In 2010, for instance, one company will begin marketing a cheap, effective malaria treatment produced by custom-tailored baker's yeast. Another startup announced in September that it had successfully generated high-grade jet fuel from algae. Future applications for synthetic biology are limited only by one's imagination, but some critics believe scientists shouldn't dream.
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Dunaliella & Spirulina Algae in Raceway Ponds
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Here's another interesting image of Dunaliella algae (left) contrasted with Spirulina in 20,000 gallon ponds.
Credit: Carbon Capture Corporation
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Here's another interesting image of Dunaliella algae (left) contrasted with Spirulina in 20,000 gallon ponds.
Credit: Carbon Capture Corporation
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Spirulina Algae in a Raceway Pond with Paddle Wheels - A nice picture
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Here's a nice and good clarity picture of spirulina algae being produced in a raceway pond. You can see the large paddle wheels that circulate the water around.
Image credit - Carbon Capture Corporation
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Here's a nice and good clarity picture of spirulina algae being produced in a raceway pond. You can see the large paddle wheels that circulate the water around.
Image credit - Carbon Capture Corporation
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Algae Commercialization, Research and and Business Networking Forum - Jan 2009
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Press release
Algae Commercialization, Research and and Business Networking Forum
January 29-30, 2009
The National Algae Association announces its Algae Commercialization, Research and
Business Networking Forum. We are the first algae trade association in the U.S.
Algae researchers, existing algae oil production companies, algaeprenuers and potential investors will present leading-edge technologies for the fast track commercialization of the Algae industry. The NAA brings algae researchers and companies together to share ideas and exchange information to overcome technological hurdles.
Current high oil prices, the collapse of food-for-fuel initiatives and concerns
about increased levels of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere have all created awareness
of the need for alternative fuel solutions. Algae is renewable, does not affect
the food channel and eats C02 which can be processed and refined into a variety
of transportation fuels. (i.e., jet fuel, biodiesel, biogasoline).
Recent breakthroughs in raceway pond development and closed-end loop photobioreactor
systems (PBR's) put algae oil production companies on the leading-edge of the renewable oil industry. The U.S. needs to get off foreign oil, become energy independent and create new green jobs.
When: January 29-30, 2009
Where: The Sheraton North Houston (ask for special NAA rate)
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
15700 JFK Blvd.
Houston, Texas
(281) 442-5100
For more information, contact 936.321.1125 or info@nationalalgaeassociation.com
Call for Presentation and Papers
January 29-30, 2009
The National Algae Association is growing at an astronomical rate. We are the first
national trade association for the algae industry in the United States. Due to the
high cost of oil, commercializing the algae oil industry is now on a fast track.
We need to get off foreign oil and to bring back energy security to the US.
Collaboration,innovation and commercialization are the motivating factors of our organization.If you are working on algae and you have an innovative or breakthrough technology you would like to present to a large group of biofuels producers, scientists, researchers and potential investors, you are invited to submit your presentation for review for the next National Algae Association event on January 29-30, 2009. We are seeking presentations from experienced subject matter experts, organizations, institutions and scientists with applied knowledge in biology, biochemical engineering, plant physiology, petrochemical or refinery engineering, mechanical/process design engineering, and entrepreneurs who can effectively communicate scientific knowledge into business language for biofuels producers, investors and other entrepreneurs. If you would like to be considered as a speaker, please submit your presentation and papers at your earliest convenience.
Also, if you are interested in becoming a group leader for research, operations,
extraction or financing teams, please let us know.
Research & Development Groups by Topics and areas of interest:
Group 1 - Algae Species Selection
Species selection for high oil/lipid content and yields for biodiesel
Species selection for high starch content and yields for ethanol
Species selection for high tolerance for variations in light, temperature, etc
Group 2 - Algae Production Systems
Improved selection criteria for C02, N02, and Nutrients in PBR and pond systems
Technology process improvements, breakthroughs, innovations in PBR lighting
Technology process improvements, breakthroughs, innovations PBR and pond harvesting
systems
Technology process improvements, breakthroughs, innovations for post-processing
drying and paste systems
Group 3 - Algae Extraction Technologies
Technology process improvements, breakthroughs, innovations for algae oil extraction
Technology process improvements, breakthroughs, innovations for algae starch extraction
Technology process improvements, breakthroughs, innovations for algae oil extraction
Comparative analysis of algae extraction technologies, including best practices
and applied solutions
Group 4 - Algae Biorefining Technologies
1st Generation Biodiesel Systems - Integrating algae oil into existing
transesterfication systems
1st Generation Ethanol Systems - Integrating algae starch into existing
fermentation/distillation systems
2nd Generation Biorefineries - Innovations in Algae to Biocrude technologies for
powergen
2nd Generation Biorefineries - Innovations in Algae Biocrude catalysts to Biodiesel,
Biogasoline, Jet Fuel
2nd Generation Biorefineries - Innovations in Algae Biomass to Liquids technologies
via refining/hydrocracking
2nd Generation Biorefineries - Innovations in Algae Biomas to Liquids via Fischer
Tropsch
We are planning for the biggest conference to date and we need to start preparing for it now.
Submit presentations and papers to:
National Algae Association
4747 Research Forest Dr., Suite 180
The Woodlands, Texas 77381
936.321.1125
info@nationalalgaeassociation.com
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
Press release
Algae Commercialization, Research and and Business Networking Forum
January 29-30, 2009
The National Algae Association announces its Algae Commercialization, Research and
Business Networking Forum. We are the first algae trade association in the U.S.
Algae researchers, existing algae oil production companies, algaeprenuers and potential investors will present leading-edge technologies for the fast track commercialization of the Algae industry. The NAA brings algae researchers and companies together to share ideas and exchange information to overcome technological hurdles.
Current high oil prices, the collapse of food-for-fuel initiatives and concerns
about increased levels of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere have all created awareness
of the need for alternative fuel solutions. Algae is renewable, does not affect
the food channel and eats C02 which can be processed and refined into a variety
of transportation fuels. (i.e., jet fuel, biodiesel, biogasoline).
Recent breakthroughs in raceway pond development and closed-end loop photobioreactor
systems (PBR's) put algae oil production companies on the leading-edge of the renewable oil industry. The U.S. needs to get off foreign oil, become energy independent and create new green jobs.
When: January 29-30, 2009
Where: The Sheraton North Houston (ask for special NAA rate)
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
15700 JFK Blvd.
Houston, Texas
(281) 442-5100
For more information, contact 936.321.1125 or info@nationalalgaeassociation.com
Call for Presentation and Papers
January 29-30, 2009
The National Algae Association is growing at an astronomical rate. We are the first
national trade association for the algae industry in the United States. Due to the
high cost of oil, commercializing the algae oil industry is now on a fast track.
We need to get off foreign oil and to bring back energy security to the US.
Collaboration,innovation and commercialization are the motivating factors of our organization.If you are working on algae and you have an innovative or breakthrough technology you would like to present to a large group of biofuels producers, scientists, researchers and potential investors, you are invited to submit your presentation for review for the next National Algae Association event on January 29-30, 2009. We are seeking presentations from experienced subject matter experts, organizations, institutions and scientists with applied knowledge in biology, biochemical engineering, plant physiology, petrochemical or refinery engineering, mechanical/process design engineering, and entrepreneurs who can effectively communicate scientific knowledge into business language for biofuels producers, investors and other entrepreneurs. If you would like to be considered as a speaker, please submit your presentation and papers at your earliest convenience.
Also, if you are interested in becoming a group leader for research, operations,
extraction or financing teams, please let us know.
Research & Development Groups by Topics and areas of interest:
Group 1 - Algae Species Selection
Species selection for high oil/lipid content and yields for biodiesel
Species selection for high starch content and yields for ethanol
Species selection for high tolerance for variations in light, temperature, etc
Group 2 - Algae Production Systems
Improved selection criteria for C02, N02, and Nutrients in PBR and pond systems
Technology process improvements, breakthroughs, innovations in PBR lighting
Technology process improvements, breakthroughs, innovations PBR and pond harvesting
systems
Technology process improvements, breakthroughs, innovations for post-processing
drying and paste systems
Group 3 - Algae Extraction Technologies
Technology process improvements, breakthroughs, innovations for algae oil extraction
Technology process improvements, breakthroughs, innovations for algae starch extraction
Technology process improvements, breakthroughs, innovations for algae oil extraction
Comparative analysis of algae extraction technologies, including best practices
and applied solutions
Group 4 - Algae Biorefining Technologies
1st Generation Biodiesel Systems - Integrating algae oil into existing
transesterfication systems
1st Generation Ethanol Systems - Integrating algae starch into existing
fermentation/distillation systems
2nd Generation Biorefineries - Innovations in Algae to Biocrude technologies for
powergen
2nd Generation Biorefineries - Innovations in Algae Biocrude catalysts to Biodiesel,
Biogasoline, Jet Fuel
2nd Generation Biorefineries - Innovations in Algae Biomass to Liquids technologies
via refining/hydrocracking
2nd Generation Biorefineries - Innovations in Algae Biomas to Liquids via Fischer
Tropsch
We are planning for the biggest conference to date and we need to start preparing for it now.
Submit presentations and papers to:
National Algae Association
4747 Research Forest Dr., Suite 180
The Woodlands, Texas 77381
936.321.1125
info@nationalalgaeassociation.com
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
NTPC installs Algae Photobioreactor at UP, India with CSIR and Teri
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Hoping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its coal-based power plants, NTPC Ltd will set up India’s first photobioreactor at its Dadri unit in Uttar Pradesh in association with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri).
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Hoping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its coal-based power plants, NTPC Ltd will set up India’s first photobioreactor at its Dadri unit in Uttar Pradesh in association with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri).
“The reactor will be set up at an investment of Rs11 crore and will use flue gas (a combination of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides) to grow algae and will help in carbon capture and absorption,” said Jairam Ramesh, minister of state for power and commerce.
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CO2 Sequestration by ocean fertilisation needs further research
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An analysis by a leading Australian research body has urged caution and says more research is crucial before commercial ventures are allowed to fertilise oceans on a large scale and over many years to capture CO2.
Scientists say sprinkling the ocean surface with trace amounts of iron or releasing other nutrients over many thousands of square kilometres promotes blooms of tiny phytoplankton, which soak up carbon dioxide in the marine plants. When the phytoplankton die, they drift to the ocean depths, along with the carbon locked inside their cells where it is potentially stored for decades or centuries in sediments on the ocean floor.
The ACE CRC report says ocean fertilisation just using iron would likely hit an absorption limit of about 1 billion tonnes of carbon (3.7 billion tonnes of CO2) annually, or about 15 percent of mankind's total carbon emissions.Cullen of Dalhousie University said studies suggested that to sequester large amounts of carbon would require fertilisation of most of the Southern Ocean for long periods of time."The question is can we assess those large-scale and long-term effects on the basis of experiments 100 by 200 km (60 by 120 miles) in size. I have not seen evidence it can be done."
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An analysis by a leading Australian research body has urged caution and says more research is crucial before commercial ventures are allowed to fertilise oceans on a large scale and over many years to capture CO2.
Scientists say sprinkling the ocean surface with trace amounts of iron or releasing other nutrients over many thousands of square kilometres promotes blooms of tiny phytoplankton, which soak up carbon dioxide in the marine plants. When the phytoplankton die, they drift to the ocean depths, along with the carbon locked inside their cells where it is potentially stored for decades or centuries in sediments on the ocean floor.
The ACE CRC report says ocean fertilisation just using iron would likely hit an absorption limit of about 1 billion tonnes of carbon (3.7 billion tonnes of CO2) annually, or about 15 percent of mankind's total carbon emissions.Cullen of Dalhousie University said studies suggested that to sequester large amounts of carbon would require fertilisation of most of the Southern Ocean for long periods of time."The question is can we assess those large-scale and long-term effects on the basis of experiments 100 by 200 km (60 by 120 miles) in size. I have not seen evidence it can be done."
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Saturday, December 13, 2008
Bio-flocculation of Algae Research Project @ Newcastle University
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Here's an interesting research project that had been planned to be started at Newcastle University (School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials and School of Marine Science and Technology), in Oct 2008
The use of fresh water and marine algae to produce oil for conversion to transport fuel has attracted growing interest over the last thirty years. This interest has intensified over the last five years with the realisation that algal biofuels represent a low carbon and sustainable source of transport fuels that will not compete with food crops.
Besides finding the most appropriate species of algae for culture and understanding how to cultivate them on a large scale, one of the major bottlenecks in the process is harvesting the algae from the growth medium. A volume reduction of between 10 and 100 fold is required to yield a product that is suitable for oil extraction. Whilst this is achievable using current technology the cost of doing so is prohibitive. A cheaper way of separating the algae from the growth medium is to allow them to form floccs. Floccs are aggregations of individual algae that due to their large size settle quickly from the medium. This makes the separation of the algae from the medium straightforward and cheap. This process, called bio-flocculation remains poorly understood.
This joint project between the School of Marine Science and Technology and the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials at Newcastle University aims to investigate the process of bio-flocculation in the context of algal culture for biofuel production. The investigation will be in two parts:
• An Investigation of the Mechanisms of Bio-flocculation
Experimental work will use a system where the collision rate between algal cells is well defined. Laser-Doppler anemometry will be used to determine how the size of the algal aggregates changes over time. This information will allow the effects of temperature, nutrient conditions and pH to be investigated and for proposed mechanisms of bio-flocculation to be tested.
• The Effect of Chemical Additives and Other Organisms on Bio-flocculation
In an attempt to speed up/control the process of bio-flocculation, the methods and understanding developed in the first part of the project will be used to screen chemical additives and other microorganisms for their ability to enhance flocculation rate."
I am hoping that projects such as these lead to cheaper methods of microalgae harvesting
Source Link
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Here's an interesting research project that had been planned to be started at Newcastle University (School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials and School of Marine Science and Technology), in Oct 2008
The use of fresh water and marine algae to produce oil for conversion to transport fuel has attracted growing interest over the last thirty years. This interest has intensified over the last five years with the realisation that algal biofuels represent a low carbon and sustainable source of transport fuels that will not compete with food crops.
Besides finding the most appropriate species of algae for culture and understanding how to cultivate them on a large scale, one of the major bottlenecks in the process is harvesting the algae from the growth medium. A volume reduction of between 10 and 100 fold is required to yield a product that is suitable for oil extraction. Whilst this is achievable using current technology the cost of doing so is prohibitive. A cheaper way of separating the algae from the growth medium is to allow them to form floccs. Floccs are aggregations of individual algae that due to their large size settle quickly from the medium. This makes the separation of the algae from the medium straightforward and cheap. This process, called bio-flocculation remains poorly understood.
This joint project between the School of Marine Science and Technology and the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials at Newcastle University aims to investigate the process of bio-flocculation in the context of algal culture for biofuel production. The investigation will be in two parts:
• An Investigation of the Mechanisms of Bio-flocculation
Experimental work will use a system where the collision rate between algal cells is well defined. Laser-Doppler anemometry will be used to determine how the size of the algal aggregates changes over time. This information will allow the effects of temperature, nutrient conditions and pH to be investigated and for proposed mechanisms of bio-flocculation to be tested.
• The Effect of Chemical Additives and Other Organisms on Bio-flocculation
In an attempt to speed up/control the process of bio-flocculation, the methods and understanding developed in the first part of the project will be used to screen chemical additives and other microorganisms for their ability to enhance flocculation rate."
I am hoping that projects such as these lead to cheaper methods of microalgae harvesting
Source Link
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Marine Nanoplankton to Methane & Oil Using Emiliania huxleyi
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One interesting possibility for producing fuel from algae is the direct pyrolysis of microalgae. Wu et al. (1999) report the direct pyrolysis of marine nanoplankton as a source of methane and oils with Emiliania huxleyi, a widely distributed coccolithophorid species in world oceans with the authors suggesting this as one of the most promising candidates for the production of biofuel.
Does anyone have any more inputs on this?
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One interesting possibility for producing fuel from algae is the direct pyrolysis of microalgae. Wu et al. (1999) report the direct pyrolysis of marine nanoplankton as a source of methane and oils with Emiliania huxleyi, a widely distributed coccolithophorid species in world oceans with the authors suggesting this as one of the most promising candidates for the production of biofuel.
Does anyone have any more inputs on this?
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Opinion on Algodyne Harvesting Algae Blooms in the Wild
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Here's an opinion on AlgoDyne's idea of harvesting algae in the wild.
"AlgoDyne's concept of harvesting algae from the wild is not exactly new. Many similar ideas have been proposed in the past, most notably those of harvesting sea-weeds such as kelp on a large scale to utilize the biomass for energy. Several small companies have also been harvesting wild algae from lakes, with specially designed harvesting machines, for years. The process is energy intensive and cumbersome. It remains to be seen whether AlgoDyne's idea to actually collect phytoplankton from the open oceans is practicable. It basically remains an activity that can not be planned, scaled or rationalised, as algae blooms have the tendency to grow and disappear suddenly."
Source: Biopact
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Here's an opinion on AlgoDyne's idea of harvesting algae in the wild.
"AlgoDyne's concept of harvesting algae from the wild is not exactly new. Many similar ideas have been proposed in the past, most notably those of harvesting sea-weeds such as kelp on a large scale to utilize the biomass for energy. Several small companies have also been harvesting wild algae from lakes, with specially designed harvesting machines, for years. The process is energy intensive and cumbersome. It remains to be seen whether AlgoDyne's idea to actually collect phytoplankton from the open oceans is practicable. It basically remains an activity that can not be planned, scaled or rationalised, as algae blooms have the tendency to grow and disappear suddenly."
Source: Biopact
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Keith Addison's Take on Algae Fuels
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An in-depth look at biofuels from algae - 1 - by Keith Addison
Many of you will be knowing Keith, he is the wonderful person behind the JourneytoForeever project...
Here's his take on the algae biofuels efforts...he gives a lot of data from the ASP program and other efforts...while he does not exactly say anything positive or negative in this review (at least I can't see it in the text), his tone appears to say that perhaps this is a tough game...
By the way, lots of good info and data here, he has done a good summarization of the ASP program's closeout report - that could save you reading 300 plus pages of dense stuff!
Read his review here
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An in-depth look at biofuels from algae - 1 - by Keith Addison
Many of you will be knowing Keith, he is the wonderful person behind the JourneytoForeever project...
Here's his take on the algae biofuels efforts...he gives a lot of data from the ASP program and other efforts...while he does not exactly say anything positive or negative in this review (at least I can't see it in the text), his tone appears to say that perhaps this is a tough game...
By the way, lots of good info and data here, he has done a good summarization of the ASP program's closeout report - that could save you reading 300 plus pages of dense stuff!
Read his review here
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Microalgae Membrane Harvesting Project of Prof Harry Gregor - 1978
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Came across an interesting tidbit here about a membrane harvesting experiment for microalgae in 1978
"Professor Harry Gregor at Columbia University was funded for 2 years to develop membrane systems for cross-flow filtration harvesting of microalgae. However, the membranes available at the time, the pressure drops required, and the fouling problems encountered made this approach impractical."
Wonder if any one know of any similar experiments going on now? Given than harvesting presents a serious cost bottleneck for microalgae, could research on something like be reopened?
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Came across an interesting tidbit here about a membrane harvesting experiment for microalgae in 1978
"Professor Harry Gregor at Columbia University was funded for 2 years to develop membrane systems for cross-flow filtration harvesting of microalgae. However, the membranes available at the time, the pressure drops required, and the fouling problems encountered made this approach impractical."
Wonder if any one know of any similar experiments going on now? Given than harvesting presents a serious cost bottleneck for microalgae, could research on something like be reopened?
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
Simgae Low Cost Algae Production System from Diversified Energy & XL Renewables
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Diversified Energy Corporation has formed a partnership and licensing arrangement for a patent pending algae production system invented by XL Renewables, Inc. The approach, called Simgae™ (for simple algae), utilizes common agriculture and irrigation components to produce algae at a fraction of the cost of competing systems. It is claimed that the cost will be 1/2 - 1/16th the capital cost, and profitable oil production costs at $0.08 - $0.12/pound, and low operations and maintenance requirements...
Typical architectures currently rely on a series of rigid and complex frameworks and structures. As a consequence, capital costs can be anywhere from $100k’s to over $1M/acre. When factoring in the thousands of algae acres required, these up-front costs can kill a project.
Simgae™ offers a complete paradigm shift by delivering an agriculture-based solution to largescale algae production. Instead of creating elaborate architectures designed to push yield to its utmost maximum, the proposed system makes cost and simplicity the driving variables. The approach can be thought of as the “farmer’s solution” to algae production. The system uses unique thin walled polyethylene tubing, called Algae Biotape®, similar to conventional drip irrigation tubes. The patent pending biotape is laid out in parallel across a field. Under pressure, water containing the necessary nutrients and a small fraction of algae are slowly introduced into the biotape. Carbon dioxide is injected periodically and after roughly 24 hours the flow leaves the Algae Biotape® with a markedly greater concentration of algae than was started. All the supporting hardware components and processes involved in Simgae™ are direct applications from the agriculture industry. Re-use of these practices avoids the need for expensive and complex hardware and costly installation and maintenance.
The Simgae™ design is expected to provide an annual algae yield of 100 - 200 dry tons per acre. Capital costs are expected to be approximately $45k - $60k (a 2 - 16 times improvement over competing systems) and profitable oil production costs are estimated at only $0.08 - $0.12/pound. These oil costs compare to recent market prices of feedstock oils anywhere from $0.25 - $0.44/pound.
More information about Simgae™ can be found here
By the way, have you subscribed to the Oilgae Blog?; How about joining the Oilgae mailing list?; and our forum to discuss on with others?
Diversified Energy Corporation has formed a partnership and licensing arrangement for a patent pending algae production system invented by XL Renewables, Inc. The approach, called Simgae™ (for simple algae), utilizes common agriculture and irrigation components to produce algae at a fraction of the cost of competing systems. It is claimed that the cost will be 1/2 - 1/16th the capital cost, and profitable oil production costs at $0.08 - $0.12/pound, and low operations and maintenance requirements...
Typical architectures currently rely on a series of rigid and complex frameworks and structures. As a consequence, capital costs can be anywhere from $100k’s to over $1M/acre. When factoring in the thousands of algae acres required, these up-front costs can kill a project.
Simgae™ offers a complete paradigm shift by delivering an agriculture-based solution to largescale algae production. Instead of creating elaborate architectures designed to push yield to its utmost maximum, the proposed system makes cost and simplicity the driving variables. The approach can be thought of as the “farmer’s solution” to algae production. The system uses unique thin walled polyethylene tubing, called Algae Biotape®, similar to conventional drip irrigation tubes. The patent pending biotape is laid out in parallel across a field. Under pressure, water containing the necessary nutrients and a small fraction of algae are slowly introduced into the biotape. Carbon dioxide is injected periodically and after roughly 24 hours the flow leaves the Algae Biotape® with a markedly greater concentration of algae than was started. All the supporting hardware components and processes involved in Simgae™ are direct applications from the agriculture industry. Re-use of these practices avoids the need for expensive and complex hardware and costly installation and maintenance.
The Simgae™ design is expected to provide an annual algae yield of 100 - 200 dry tons per acre. Capital costs are expected to be approximately $45k - $60k (a 2 - 16 times improvement over competing systems) and profitable oil production costs are estimated at only $0.08 - $0.12/pound. These oil costs compare to recent market prices of feedstock oils anywhere from $0.25 - $0.44/pound.
More information about Simgae™ can be found here
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Algenol, Codon Devices in Algae Ethanol Partnership
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In Massachusetts, Codon Devices announced a multiyear partnership with Algenol, in which Codon will supply bioengineering technology and Algenol will contribute its scientific intellectual property, to produce algae based ethanol. (Jul 2008 news)
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In Massachusetts, Codon Devices announced a multiyear partnership with Algenol, in which Codon will supply bioengineering technology and Algenol will contribute its scientific intellectual property, to produce algae based ethanol. (Jul 2008 news)
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Ethanol from Blue-Green Algae - via Acetobacter xylinum genes
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Numerous alternative means of manufacturing ethanol have cropped up recently, such as this method devised by scientists from The University of Texas at Austin. This new method entails the use of a microbe, more particularly a photosynthetic cyanobacterium which is more popularly known as blue-green algae. This cyanobacterium can produce cellulose which could be turned into ethanol, as well as sucrose and glucose which could directly be converted to ethanol too. The cyanobacteria are able to produce cellulose through the implanted genes from vinegar bacterium, Acetobacter xylinum, which is a non-photosynthetic cellulose producer.
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Numerous alternative means of manufacturing ethanol have cropped up recently, such as this method devised by scientists from The University of Texas at Austin. This new method entails the use of a microbe, more particularly a photosynthetic cyanobacterium which is more popularly known as blue-green algae. This cyanobacterium can produce cellulose which could be turned into ethanol, as well as sucrose and glucose which could directly be converted to ethanol too. The cyanobacteria are able to produce cellulose through the implanted genes from vinegar bacterium, Acetobacter xylinum, which is a non-photosynthetic cellulose producer.
More from here
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Algae Funding - PetroSun to Introduce Algal Oil Working Interest Program
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PetroSun, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors have approved an Algal Oil WorkingInterest Program to fund in part the commercialization of its domesticalgae-to-biofuel farm systems. The initial Algal Oil Working InterestProgram will focus on converting aquaculture farm ponds located withinTexas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas to commercial algaefarm systems. The algae biomass harvested from these farm systems will beprocessed into biodiesel, aviation fuel, animal feed and other products.
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PetroSun, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors have approved an Algal Oil WorkingInterest Program to fund in part the commercialization of its domesticalgae-to-biofuel farm systems. The initial Algal Oil Working InterestProgram will focus on converting aquaculture farm ponds located withinTexas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas to commercial algaefarm systems. The algae biomass harvested from these farm systems will beprocessed into biodiesel, aviation fuel, animal feed and other products.
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Friday, December 12, 2008
lithium-free batteries from algae
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Maria Stromme, professor of nanotechnology , an engineering physicist, has found a way to extract cellulose from green algae bloom — a poison that is polluting coastlines and killing fish — and convert it into lithium-free batteries.Each fibre is covered with conducting polymer. The sheets so created have a large surface area that is coated with salt water for ion exchange. The sheets are flexible; they can be rolled up or cut into smaller sheets and stacked.
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Maria Stromme, professor of nanotechnology , an engineering physicist, has found a way to extract cellulose from green algae bloom — a poison that is polluting coastlines and killing fish — and convert it into lithium-free batteries.Each fibre is covered with conducting polymer. The sheets so created have a large surface area that is coated with salt water for ion exchange. The sheets are flexible; they can be rolled up or cut into smaller sheets and stacked.
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Jerry Brand - U of Texas Algae Culture Collection Director
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Jerry Brand is a very popular brand in the field of algae today - both for his department's wonderful culture collection and the good assistance it provides to those who wish to source the cultures, as well for the fact that he is an authority on algae.
Here's his bio page @ the Univ
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Jerry Brand is a very popular brand in the field of algae today - both for his department's wonderful culture collection and the good assistance it provides to those who wish to source the cultures, as well for the fact that he is an authority on algae.
Here's his bio page @ the Univ
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Michael Webber Says Algae Fuel Costs 10 per Gallon
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Of course there are all sorts of costs estimates floating around for making fuel from algae; but of course some estimates have more credibility than others - like this one from a faculty member at U of Texas @ Austin, which has a wonderful algae species culture collections and appears to be a hub of algae research,
According to Michael Webber of the University, http://www.engr.utexas.edu/faculty/bios/webber.cfm
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Of course there are all sorts of costs estimates floating around for making fuel from algae; but of course some estimates have more credibility than others - like this one from a faculty member at U of Texas @ Austin, which has a wonderful algae species culture collections and appears to be a hub of algae research,
According to Michael Webber of the University, http://www.engr.utexas.edu/faculty/bios/webber.cfm
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Michael Webber Says Algae Fuel Costs $10 per Gallon
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Of course there are all sorts of costs estimates floating around for making fuel from algae; but of course some estimates have more credibility than others - like this one from a faculty member at U of Texas @ Austin, which has a wonderful algae species culture collections and appears to be a hub of algae research,
According to Michael Webber of the University, algae fuel currently costs about $ 10 per gallon. The article does not mention the break-up, so guess you got to take this as a consolidated number. But this is a much better number I hear than those that suggest it could be $25 per gallon.
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Of course there are all sorts of costs estimates floating around for making fuel from algae; but of course some estimates have more credibility than others - like this one from a faculty member at U of Texas @ Austin, which has a wonderful algae species culture collections and appears to be a hub of algae research,
According to Michael Webber of the University, algae fuel currently costs about $ 10 per gallon. The article does not mention the break-up, so guess you got to take this as a consolidated number. But this is a much better number I hear than those that suggest it could be $25 per gallon.
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India Algae Fuel Project by NTPC, CSIR, Teri Using Photobioreactor - @ Dadri Plant
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Hoping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its coal-based power plants, NTPC Ltd will set up India’s first photobioreactor at its Dadri unit in Uttar Pradesh in association with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri).
The reactor will be set up at an investment of Rs11 crore and will use flue gas (a combination of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides) to grow algae and will help in carbon capture and absorption.
NTPC is India’s largest power generation company and CSIR is the largest publicly funded research and development organization; Teri is an independent think tank based in New Delhi.
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Hoping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its coal-based power plants, NTPC Ltd will set up India’s first photobioreactor at its Dadri unit in Uttar Pradesh in association with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri).
The reactor will be set up at an investment of Rs11 crore and will use flue gas (a combination of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides) to grow algae and will help in carbon capture and absorption.
NTPC is India’s largest power generation company and CSIR is the largest publicly funded research and development organization; Teri is an independent think tank based in New Delhi.
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Convincing Obama that Algae is the Best - Algae Biomass Organization will Try!
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As the infant algae industry organizes, it must make its case for the kinds of tax breaks, market incentives, loans, and research and development backing that other biofuel sectors have. Though corn and soybean growers long have lobbied in Washington, the Algal Biomass Organization is a new kid on the block.
Very soon, the organization will meet in the US capital to discuss how to convince Congress and the incoming Obama administration that algae are much more than the film inside your fish tank, the scum blooming in the neighborhood pond or, in one of their most complex forms, seaweed.
“We are up against formidable opposition from competing interests,” Jason Pyle, the chief executive of Sapphire Energy, said of resistance from ethanol and biodiesel groups during an algae industry meeting in Seattle earlier this fall.
Pyle said that current policy favored such alternative fuels as corn for ethanol or soybeans for biodiesel and provided only limited assistance to algae-related products. He said that one of the top priorities for the new Congress and the Obama administration in their first 100 days would be to write a comprehensive energy bill. Pyle said it was crucial that the algae industry make its presence known.
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As the infant algae industry organizes, it must make its case for the kinds of tax breaks, market incentives, loans, and research and development backing that other biofuel sectors have. Though corn and soybean growers long have lobbied in Washington, the Algal Biomass Organization is a new kid on the block.
Very soon, the organization will meet in the US capital to discuss how to convince Congress and the incoming Obama administration that algae are much more than the film inside your fish tank, the scum blooming in the neighborhood pond or, in one of their most complex forms, seaweed.
“We are up against formidable opposition from competing interests,” Jason Pyle, the chief executive of Sapphire Energy, said of resistance from ethanol and biodiesel groups during an algae industry meeting in Seattle earlier this fall.
Pyle said that current policy favored such alternative fuels as corn for ethanol or soybeans for biodiesel and provided only limited assistance to algae-related products. He said that one of the top priorities for the new Congress and the Obama administration in their first 100 days would be to write a comprehensive energy bill. Pyle said it was crucial that the algae industry make its presence known.
More from here
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University of New Haven Researchers Try Algae Fuel - Prof Carmella Cuomo
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Researchers from the University of New Haven will use a state grant to find out if any species found in Long Island Sound could become a viable source of biodiesel fuel.
"There are several [species] that hold promise," said associate Professor Carmella Cuomo, the principal investigator and coordinator of the marine biology program at the university.
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Researchers from the University of New Haven will use a state grant to find out if any species found in Long Island Sound could become a viable source of biodiesel fuel.
"There are several [species] that hold promise," said associate Professor Carmella Cuomo, the principal investigator and coordinator of the marine biology program at the university.
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Great Plains Renewable Energy Gets Iowa Power Fund Grant Approval for Algae Fuel
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In April 2008, GPRE received preliminary approval for a $2.3 million grant from the Iowa Power Fund to finance research and development in algae production. GPRE intends to revise the grant proposal to reflect the formation of BioProcess Algae.
Green Plains, based in Omaha, Nebraska, has the strategy to become a vertically-integrated, low-cost ethanol producer. Green Plains' ethanol segment operates four ethanol plants in Iowa, Indiana and Tennessee with a combined expected operating capacity of 330 million gallons of ethanol per year. Green Plains' agribusiness segment operates grain storage facilities and complementary agronomy, feed, and fuel businesses. Green Plains has a grain storage capacity of approximately 22 million bushels.
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In April 2008, GPRE received preliminary approval for a $2.3 million grant from the Iowa Power Fund to finance research and development in algae production. GPRE intends to revise the grant proposal to reflect the formation of BioProcess Algae.
Green Plains, based in Omaha, Nebraska, has the strategy to become a vertically-integrated, low-cost ethanol producer. Green Plains' ethanol segment operates four ethanol plants in Iowa, Indiana and Tennessee with a combined expected operating capacity of 330 million gallons of ethanol per year. Green Plains' agribusiness segment operates grain storage facilities and complementary agronomy, feed, and fuel businesses. Green Plains has a grain storage capacity of approximately 22 million bushels.
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Green Plains, Clarcor JV for Algae Fuels - Clarcor is a Filtration Systems Co
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BioProcess Algae LLC, a joint venture formed by Nebraska-based Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc., Tennessee-based filtration products manufacturer Clarcor Inc., Rhode Island-based photobioreactor and filtration system developer BioProcessH20 LLC and Ireland-based NTR PLC, was announced Nov. 18. GPRE committed $1.4 million in initial funding and with 25.5 percent interest in BioProcess Algae, it is the largest shareholder. (Nov 2008)
Source
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BioProcess Algae LLC, a joint venture formed by Nebraska-based Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc., Tennessee-based filtration products manufacturer Clarcor Inc., Rhode Island-based photobioreactor and filtration system developer BioProcessH20 LLC and Ireland-based NTR PLC, was announced Nov. 18. GPRE committed $1.4 million in initial funding and with 25.5 percent interest in BioProcess Algae, it is the largest shareholder. (Nov 2008)
Source
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Turning Algae Oil into Jet Fuel is Not Straightforward
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"Turning algae oil into jet fuel is not as straightforward as making biodiesel, says Joseph Kocal, director of renewables research with UOP, a division of Honeywell Inc. To make a truly drop-in fuel replacement, the fatty acids in the oil must be chemically transformed into paraffins to make a fuel that matches the ASTM 1655 standard for aviation fuel. Kocal says the first step was to remove the oxygen from the fatty acids, leaving long-chain hydrocarbons. For nearly all feedstocks, the hydrocarbons need to be shortened to produce compounds that will vaporize in the proper temperature range. Finally, the hydrocarbons go through a cracking process to isomerize them into branched molecules that won’t gel at the low temperatures found at high altitudes. The fuel will still need additional aromatic hydrocarbons to meet the ASTM specification. Kocal says these compounds could be manufactured from biomass in the future using pyrolysis. Most of the technology needed to produce jet fuel from algae oil is commonly used in the petrochemical industry. “The cost of making this fuel should be well in line with petroleum production costs if we can keep feedstock costs low,” he says"...Interesting
Source
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"Turning algae oil into jet fuel is not as straightforward as making biodiesel, says Joseph Kocal, director of renewables research with UOP, a division of Honeywell Inc. To make a truly drop-in fuel replacement, the fatty acids in the oil must be chemically transformed into paraffins to make a fuel that matches the ASTM 1655 standard for aviation fuel. Kocal says the first step was to remove the oxygen from the fatty acids, leaving long-chain hydrocarbons. For nearly all feedstocks, the hydrocarbons need to be shortened to produce compounds that will vaporize in the proper temperature range. Finally, the hydrocarbons go through a cracking process to isomerize them into branched molecules that won’t gel at the low temperatures found at high altitudes. The fuel will still need additional aromatic hydrocarbons to meet the ASTM specification. Kocal says these compounds could be manufactured from biomass in the future using pyrolysis. Most of the technology needed to produce jet fuel from algae oil is commonly used in the petrochemical industry. “The cost of making this fuel should be well in line with petroleum production costs if we can keep feedstock costs low,” he says"...Interesting
Source
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Heterotropic Algae Fed on Sugars from Cellulosic Biomass
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Heterotropic Algae Fed on Sugars from Cellulosic Biomass
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Researchers at the Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Ky., are partnering with San Diego-based General Atomics to study the potential for converting cellulosic biomass into biodiesel and ultimately jet fuel.
According to Dr. Bruce Pratt, chairman of the Department of Agriculture at EKU, researchers will look at using commercially available cellulase enzymes to convert cellulosic biomass to sugars, which will then be fed to heterotrophic algae that can convert sugars to oils without photosynthesis. “These are not the phototrophic types (of algae) that use sunlight,” Pratt said. “These are membranous-type algae and they are heterotrophic, because we need to feed them the nutrients rather than getting the nutrients from the sun. These strains of algae have very high oil content.” The oils are then extracted from the algae and converted to biodiesel.
The process is similar to how cellulosic ethanol is produced, but the end product is biodiesel. “To get ethanol, you take those sugars and ferment them to make alcohol. Our difference is taking the sugars and feeding them to algae and having the algae produce the oils.”
Source: Biodiesel Magazine
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Researchers at the Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Ky., are partnering with San Diego-based General Atomics to study the potential for converting cellulosic biomass into biodiesel and ultimately jet fuel.
According to Dr. Bruce Pratt, chairman of the Department of Agriculture at EKU, researchers will look at using commercially available cellulase enzymes to convert cellulosic biomass to sugars, which will then be fed to heterotrophic algae that can convert sugars to oils without photosynthesis. “These are not the phototrophic types (of algae) that use sunlight,” Pratt said. “These are membranous-type algae and they are heterotrophic, because we need to feed them the nutrients rather than getting the nutrients from the sun. These strains of algae have very high oil content.” The oils are then extracted from the algae and converted to biodiesel.
The process is similar to how cellulosic ethanol is produced, but the end product is biodiesel. “To get ethanol, you take those sugars and ferment them to make alcohol. Our difference is taking the sugars and feeding them to algae and having the algae produce the oils.”
Source: Biodiesel Magazine
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Algae Cultivation, Harvesting Cost Figures from Algae World 2008 Conference
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This article, which provided some useful data based on presentations at the Singapore Algae World 2008 Conference, was interesting mainly because it gives us some much needed real world data on costs for algae cultivation & harvesting, and also some trends
Key points:
1. Assuming oil is retailing at US$1 a litre, the production cost of algae has to fall to US$0.37 per kilogramme to encourage the use of the algae in biodiesel production, Syed Isa Syed Alwi of Malaysia's Sasaran Biofuel said.
2. The unit cost of producing Dunaliella Salina in an open pond system is about AU$5 (US$3.14) for each kilogramme of dry biomass, Professor Michael A. Borowitzka of Murdoch University said citing statistics gathered from some of the pilot algae projects around the world. I guess he is talking about the cost of cultivation and harvesting. (I am not sure based on what he got the number, especially because he is talking about open ponds). Oh by the way, that figure still compares favorably against the average AU$8 (US$5.04) to AU$12 (US$7.56) per kilogramme for Spirulina and the unit costs of other algae strain projects Borowitzka presented at the conference. Thank you for letting me know that!
(Borowitzka is one of the researchers behind the design of Western Australia's Hutt Lagoon, Dunaliella Salina open pond, the world's largest microalgae production plant. The plant capitalises on the high salinity tolerance level of the Dunaliella salina species and its proximity to the coastline of Western Australia.)
3. Borowitzka is working with an Australian outfit Z Filter, to test a newly adapted filtration harvesting mechanism at the Hutt Lagoon facility over the next 12 months. The new mechanism may reduce the current harvesting cost by at least 80 per cent, he said. I'd like to keep my eyes and ears open to know any updates on this. This could prove crucial.
4. As another researcher presenting at the Algae World 2008 suggests, no one singular production system can deliver the same goods at the same costs across all conditions
Now, that's a lot of inputs. $3.14 per Kg of algae biomass is depressing, though I doubt it is that high - I reckon it'd be closer to 2$ max for an open pond for biomass, that is before extraction and transesterification, but after harvesting.
I am again saying: harvesting appears to be a rather costly process for the microalgae stuff, I am still try to get a hang on cost estimates for this, but I am convinced that if exceptionally efficient harvesting methods are found, microalgae biomass production costs could be cut dramatically. Now that of course begs another question: Why microalgae and not macroalgae, if one could look at gasification / syngas / FT route? Search me!
Keeping all my fingers crossed
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This article, which provided some useful data based on presentations at the Singapore Algae World 2008 Conference, was interesting mainly because it gives us some much needed real world data on costs for algae cultivation & harvesting, and also some trends
Key points:
1. Assuming oil is retailing at US$1 a litre, the production cost of algae has to fall to US$0.37 per kilogramme to encourage the use of the algae in biodiesel production, Syed Isa Syed Alwi of Malaysia's Sasaran Biofuel said.
2. The unit cost of producing Dunaliella Salina in an open pond system is about AU$5 (US$3.14) for each kilogramme of dry biomass, Professor Michael A. Borowitzka of Murdoch University said citing statistics gathered from some of the pilot algae projects around the world. I guess he is talking about the cost of cultivation and harvesting. (I am not sure based on what he got the number, especially because he is talking about open ponds). Oh by the way, that figure still compares favorably against the average AU$8 (US$5.04) to AU$12 (US$7.56) per kilogramme for Spirulina and the unit costs of other algae strain projects Borowitzka presented at the conference. Thank you for letting me know that!
(Borowitzka is one of the researchers behind the design of Western Australia's Hutt Lagoon, Dunaliella Salina open pond, the world's largest microalgae production plant. The plant capitalises on the high salinity tolerance level of the Dunaliella salina species and its proximity to the coastline of Western Australia.)
3. Borowitzka is working with an Australian outfit Z Filter, to test a newly adapted filtration harvesting mechanism at the Hutt Lagoon facility over the next 12 months. The new mechanism may reduce the current harvesting cost by at least 80 per cent, he said. I'd like to keep my eyes and ears open to know any updates on this. This could prove crucial.
4. As another researcher presenting at the Algae World 2008 suggests, no one singular production system can deliver the same goods at the same costs across all conditions
Now, that's a lot of inputs. $3.14 per Kg of algae biomass is depressing, though I doubt it is that high - I reckon it'd be closer to 2$ max for an open pond for biomass, that is before extraction and transesterification, but after harvesting.
I am again saying: harvesting appears to be a rather costly process for the microalgae stuff, I am still try to get a hang on cost estimates for this, but I am convinced that if exceptionally efficient harvesting methods are found, microalgae biomass production costs could be cut dramatically. Now that of course begs another question: Why microalgae and not macroalgae, if one could look at gasification / syngas / FT route? Search me!
Keeping all my fingers crossed
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Midwest Institute, DOE Nanoscale Idea, Algae Biofuels Challenge - 3 More Efforts
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There are three more algae to fuel efforts that have been announced recently.
1. The Midwest Research Institute, an independent, nonprofit contract research organization based in Kansas City, Mo., formed a new research center to conduct research and development, process engineering, consulting and life cycle cost analysis services on algae and its uses.
2. The U.S. DOE’s Ames Laboratory, operated by Iowa State University, is researching nanoscale particles to harvest triglycerides, neutral lipids and fatty acids from microalgae for biodiesel production.
3. The British government has created the Algae Biofuels Challenge to accelerate the production of algae to extract oil for biodiesel.
That's some amount of efforts, I must say.
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There are three more algae to fuel efforts that have been announced recently.
1. The Midwest Research Institute, an independent, nonprofit contract research organization based in Kansas City, Mo., formed a new research center to conduct research and development, process engineering, consulting and life cycle cost analysis services on algae and its uses.
2. The U.S. DOE’s Ames Laboratory, operated by Iowa State University, is researching nanoscale particles to harvest triglycerides, neutral lipids and fatty acids from microalgae for biodiesel production.
3. The British government has created the Algae Biofuels Challenge to accelerate the production of algae to extract oil for biodiesel.
That's some amount of efforts, I must say.
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Valcent's High Density Veritical Bioreactor, HDVB Picture Gallery
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Here's a good number of images on the stuff Valcent is doing with its high growth bioreactors. You get a good idea of how the Valcent greenhouse looks and some pics of the support structure being installed for the bioreactor
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Here's a good number of images on the stuff Valcent is doing with its high growth bioreactors. You get a good idea of how the Valcent greenhouse looks and some pics of the support structure being installed for the bioreactor
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Solix Photobioreactor Cuts Algae Cultivation Costs by 90% ?
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Now, that's what I read here. When anyone claims they can cut anything by 90, you are naturally skeptical about it unless they are talking about cutting manpower in their companies by 90% which is perfectly believable under the circs!
Solix claims that they have a unique photobioreactor design that will cut costs of growing in algae by 90%. So what's so great about their PBRs? They claim two things. 1. They say that since a large part of PBR operating costs are in due to the energy required for bubbling the CO2, they have a method by which this CO2 circulation is done in a far more efficient manner; 2. It appears from the article and the picture that they are using some sort of flat plate photobioreactors and not the usual tubular photobioreactors. The company claims that the shape of the bioreactor increases the amount of sunlight absorbed by the plates.
Well, possibly they have some great ideas out there, but one needs to really see their PBRs perform in the real world and show the type of cost decreases they are talking about.
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Now, that's what I read here. When anyone claims they can cut anything by 90, you are naturally skeptical about it unless they are talking about cutting manpower in their companies by 90% which is perfectly believable under the circs!
Solix claims that they have a unique photobioreactor design that will cut costs of growing in algae by 90%. So what's so great about their PBRs? They claim two things. 1. They say that since a large part of PBR operating costs are in due to the energy required for bubbling the CO2, they have a method by which this CO2 circulation is done in a far more efficient manner; 2. It appears from the article and the picture that they are using some sort of flat plate photobioreactors and not the usual tubular photobioreactors. The company claims that the shape of the bioreactor increases the amount of sunlight absorbed by the plates.
Well, possibly they have some great ideas out there, but one needs to really see their PBRs perform in the real world and show the type of cost decreases they are talking about.
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Thursday, December 11, 2008
PetroSun and Shanghai Jun Ya Yan move into algae commercialization in China
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PetroSun, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: PSUD) announced today that the recent meetings held in Shanghai between PetroSun and Shanghai Jun Ya Yan Technology Development Co., Ltd. resulted in the completion of an agreement to move the parties into the initial stage of the commercialization of the algae-to-biofuel industry in China.
The terms of the agreement between PetroSun and Shanghai Jun Ya Yan include a forty million dollar sole funding commitment by Shanghai Jun Ya Yan for the construction and equipping of the initial algae farm system. The profits from the algae-to-biofuel operations will be disbursed on a 50/50 basis between the parties. PetroSun China, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PetroSun, Inc., will manage the field operations.
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PetroSun, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: PSUD) announced today that the recent meetings held in Shanghai between PetroSun and Shanghai Jun Ya Yan Technology Development Co., Ltd. resulted in the completion of an agreement to move the parties into the initial stage of the commercialization of the algae-to-biofuel industry in China.
The terms of the agreement between PetroSun and Shanghai Jun Ya Yan include a forty million dollar sole funding commitment by Shanghai Jun Ya Yan for the construction and equipping of the initial algae farm system. The profits from the algae-to-biofuel operations will be disbursed on a 50/50 basis between the parties. PetroSun China, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PetroSun, Inc., will manage the field operations.
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New Haven Researchers Check Algae from Long Island Sound As Biodiesel
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Researchers from the University of New Haven will use a state grant to find out if any species found in Long Island Sound could become a viable source of biodiesel fuel.
Professor Carmella Cuomo, the principal investigator and coordinator of the marine biology program at the university will share the $135,276 grant from the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology with Eddie Luzik of the university's chemistry department. Luzik will try to identify which organisms have the right mix of lipids, or fats, and how best to extract the oil from them.
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Researchers from the University of New Haven will use a state grant to find out if any species found in Long Island Sound could become a viable source of biodiesel fuel.
Professor Carmella Cuomo, the principal investigator and coordinator of the marine biology program at the university will share the $135,276 grant from the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology with Eddie Luzik of the university's chemistry department. Luzik will try to identify which organisms have the right mix of lipids, or fats, and how best to extract the oil from them.
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Drum Filter for Algae Harvesting - Filtration Using Rotary Drum Filters
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One of the questions regarding algae fuel is the best method to harvest algae. It should be noted that algae harvesting could form a significant part of the total cost of producing algae fuel.
A number of methods are discussed - sedimentation, filtering, centrifugation, coagulation / flocculation & froth flotation. It is difficult to say which is the best, but different companies have been having success with differing methods so it is indeed a tough call.
On filtration, some of the questions are what type of filters should be used if indeed one is looking at filtration as the method to harvest. On this, based on the case studies I have seen so far, I think the most common filters that have been used are the drum filters. These types of filters are rather standard fare and have been used in industries for many years.
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One of the questions regarding algae fuel is the best method to harvest algae. It should be noted that algae harvesting could form a significant part of the total cost of producing algae fuel.
A number of methods are discussed - sedimentation, filtering, centrifugation, coagulation / flocculation & froth flotation. It is difficult to say which is the best, but different companies have been having success with differing methods so it is indeed a tough call.
On filtration, some of the questions are what type of filters should be used if indeed one is looking at filtration as the method to harvest. On this, based on the case studies I have seen so far, I think the most common filters that have been used are the drum filters. These types of filters are rather standard fare and have been used in industries for many years.
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Algae @ John Lennon Airport, Liverpool for CO2 Sequestration & Biodiesel
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Origo Industries announced it has signed a deal to trial its Ecobox technology at Liverpool John Lennon airport. The trial will see CO2 from air handling units on the terminal building filtered through a photo-bioreactor containing algae. The CO2 will be absorbed by the algae, accelerating its development to a point where it can be refined to produce a biofuel.
The airport plans to use the resulting biofuel to run its ground-based vehicles, while the waste biomass produced by the refining process will be passed through a drying process and fed into a burner which will supply some of the airport's heating and hot water.
Origo said that it hoped to be produce up to 250 litres of biofuel a day using the system when it starts operating next summer
Full news report here
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Origo Industries announced it has signed a deal to trial its Ecobox technology at Liverpool John Lennon airport. The trial will see CO2 from air handling units on the terminal building filtered through a photo-bioreactor containing algae. The CO2 will be absorbed by the algae, accelerating its development to a point where it can be refined to produce a biofuel.
The airport plans to use the resulting biofuel to run its ground-based vehicles, while the waste biomass produced by the refining process will be passed through a drying process and fed into a burner which will supply some of the airport's heating and hot water.
Origo said that it hoped to be produce up to 250 litres of biofuel a day using the system when it starts operating next summer
Full news report here
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Algae Fuel Investments - Are Algae Investments Affected by the Economy?
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It seems like only yesterday that oil was 140$ a barrel, and Bill Gates had invested 100 million $ into Sapphire Energy. There was talk of every second company in the world looking to invest in algae oil, and venture capitalists were suddenly asking themselves "Now what the heck are algae all about?"...
And then, now it looks like it is back to reality. Oil is at 43 $ per barrel, its lowest price in the last many years, the PR departments at many algae companies suddenly seem to have gone on a holiday, and venture capitalists are back to discussing Obama's energy policy.
I'm hoping that alt energy investing doesn't go the way fads go. Also hoping that people realise that whatever the oil prices are today, that oil ain't gonna exist 50 years later.
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It seems like only yesterday that oil was 140$ a barrel, and Bill Gates had invested 100 million $ into Sapphire Energy. There was talk of every second company in the world looking to invest in algae oil, and venture capitalists were suddenly asking themselves "Now what the heck are algae all about?"...
And then, now it looks like it is back to reality. Oil is at 43 $ per barrel, its lowest price in the last many years, the PR departments at many algae companies suddenly seem to have gone on a holiday, and venture capitalists are back to discussing Obama's energy policy.
I'm hoping that alt energy investing doesn't go the way fads go. Also hoping that people realise that whatever the oil prices are today, that oil ain't gonna exist 50 years later.
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Algae Biodiesel Cost - What Exactly Makes Algae Fuel Costly?
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Whether it is the person who I meet at a conference, or folks who interact at Oilgae blog, or people who write to me, the one big question they always ask is, "How much does it cost to make fuel from algae?"
Now, I am not going to say I have precise answers, but based on cost estimates of various components as well as based on what other experts and companies have mentioned, I think it is fairly obvious that it is very difficult to have the final fuel cost to be anything less than 7-8 $ per gallon is one uses photobioreactors.
I'd reckon the two main significant cost components of algae fuel are photobioreactors (capex and also its depreciated value in the annual expenditure) and cost of harvesting (my estimates run from anywhere between 0.25 - 1 $ per gallon based on what methods one uses, including capex depreciation). Of these the photobioreactors appear to be the really scary cost component, with current estimates running at about 75-100$ per 100 m2. At that rate, taking a 10% depreciation annually alone would make the depreciated cost of PBRs equal to almost 3-4 $ / gallon of algae fuel produced.
The other two cost components - extraction and transesterification - appear to be fairly reasonable and are comparable to the costs for any other biomass - less than 50 cents per gallon, together.
Based on the above, I'd agree with what some experts have said - closed systems, especially photobioreactors, are simply unlikely to make the cut in future unless someone can bring down their costs by 60-80%. Now that's asking for something really sttep.
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Whether it is the person who I meet at a conference, or folks who interact at Oilgae blog, or people who write to me, the one big question they always ask is, "How much does it cost to make fuel from algae?"
Now, I am not going to say I have precise answers, but based on cost estimates of various components as well as based on what other experts and companies have mentioned, I think it is fairly obvious that it is very difficult to have the final fuel cost to be anything less than 7-8 $ per gallon is one uses photobioreactors.
I'd reckon the two main significant cost components of algae fuel are photobioreactors (capex and also its depreciated value in the annual expenditure) and cost of harvesting (my estimates run from anywhere between 0.25 - 1 $ per gallon based on what methods one uses, including capex depreciation). Of these the photobioreactors appear to be the really scary cost component, with current estimates running at about 75-100$ per 100 m2. At that rate, taking a 10% depreciation annually alone would make the depreciated cost of PBRs equal to almost 3-4 $ / gallon of algae fuel produced.
The other two cost components - extraction and transesterification - appear to be fairly reasonable and are comparable to the costs for any other biomass - less than 50 cents per gallon, together.
Based on the above, I'd agree with what some experts have said - closed systems, especially photobioreactors, are simply unlikely to make the cut in future unless someone can bring down their costs by 60-80%. Now that's asking for something really sttep.
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Algae Photobioreactor - Low Cost, High Efficiency, from Algasol Renewables
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You hear it everyday - "if only photobioreactors could be much cheaper, perhaps algae fuel could be cost effective".
Last few months, we have been seeing a number of companies start efforts into producing lower cost photobioreactors, and Algasol is one more to be added to this list.
Algasol Renewables SL, located in Spain is making interesting efforts at making high-performance low-cost photobioreactors. This is what their web site has to say: "The technology is based on a low-cost closed photobioreactor system. The closed process design allows for the growing of different species of algae optimized for productivity and end product. Contamination – a potential threat in open ponds is avoided.
The Algasol Renewables photobioreactor technology is superior both in terms of cost and efficiency compared to other photobioreactor designs.
Algasol Renewables expects to have the world’s largest and most cost efficient micro algae photobioreactor pilot plant in 2010."
2010 is still some time away but it is good to see more companies making efforts into PBRs.
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You hear it everyday - "if only photobioreactors could be much cheaper, perhaps algae fuel could be cost effective".
Last few months, we have been seeing a number of companies start efforts into producing lower cost photobioreactors, and Algasol is one more to be added to this list.
Algasol Renewables SL, located in Spain is making interesting efforts at making high-performance low-cost photobioreactors. This is what their web site has to say: "The technology is based on a low-cost closed photobioreactor system. The closed process design allows for the growing of different species of algae optimized for productivity and end product. Contamination – a potential threat in open ponds is avoided.
The Algasol Renewables photobioreactor technology is superior both in terms of cost and efficiency compared to other photobioreactor designs.
Algasol Renewables expects to have the world’s largest and most cost efficient micro algae photobioreactor pilot plant in 2010."
2010 is still some time away but it is good to see more companies making efforts into PBRs.
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Algae Gasification - Get Gasoline & Diesel from Algae the Simple Way
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Nice post here on a video on algae gasification. I think algae gasification directly to syngas and then on to more fuels has a lot of potential.
As the note in the post also mentions, gasification eliminates the need to extract oil from the algae because the algae is vaporized by the heat of the gasifier to syngas. Syngas is used to produce gasoline (and a whole host of other hydrocarbon fuels) through the use of proprietary catalysts.
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Nice post here on a video on algae gasification. I think algae gasification directly to syngas and then on to more fuels has a lot of potential.
As the note in the post also mentions, gasification eliminates the need to extract oil from the algae because the algae is vaporized by the heat of the gasifier to syngas. Syngas is used to produce gasoline (and a whole host of other hydrocarbon fuels) through the use of proprietary catalysts.
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Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Continental Airlines Picks Sapphire Energy for Bio Jet Fuel
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Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) said Monday it has picked Sapphire Energy as a supplier of algae-based biofuel to power the airline's first bio-fueled test flight scheduled for next month.
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The news puts San Diego-based Sapphire in a small club of algae-to-biofuel startups who have landed deals to produce large quantities of fuel.One engine will be powered by a fuel that's half traditional jet fuel and half biofuel derived from algae and Jatropha.Sapphire will provide the algae-based biofuel, and Terrasol will provide the jatropha-based biofuel, Continental reported.
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Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) said Monday it has picked Sapphire Energy as a supplier of algae-based biofuel to power the airline's first bio-fueled test flight scheduled for next month.
Advertisement
The news puts San Diego-based Sapphire in a small club of algae-to-biofuel startups who have landed deals to produce large quantities of fuel.One engine will be powered by a fuel that's half traditional jet fuel and half biofuel derived from algae and Jatropha.Sapphire will provide the algae-based biofuel, and Terrasol will provide the jatropha-based biofuel, Continental reported.
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