Algae-based CO2 Capture at Power Plants - PowerPlantCCS

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Here's an interesting site (and blog) focussed on CO2 sequestration at power plants worldwide. Aptly called Power Plant CCS, it provides the latest updates on CCS at power plants worldwide. Interestingly, it has a special emphasis on researching the newest and novel methods for CCS at these plants.

I find this emphasis to be of enormous significance. While the three primary CCS methods - pre-combustion, post combustion and oxy-fuel combustion hog the headlines, along with the storage methods such as storing in depleted oil fields, in coal mines for methane recovery and saline aquifers, nobody really knows if any of these is sustainable in the long run. All we have as assurances are computer models. Pumping the CO2 into the ground sounds sort of scary to many people worldwide; also, capturing CO2 using any of the three methods is quite expensive - both in terms of money and energy.

It is against this background that research into more sustainable capture and storage mechanisms are vital. The site PowerPlantCCS provides research updates on such novel and innovative ideas.

For instance, there are three novel approaches about which detailed inputs are provided: CO2 sequestration using mineral carbonation, algae-based CO2 capture,
Carbon Mitigation through use of Biomass instead of Coal .

Of course, of the three mentioned above, what will be most interesting to readers is the detailed inputs given on algae-based CO2 capture at this site and blog. I will keep an eye out on any new updates on that site in this context.

Given that carbon capture and storage is likely to be one of the most important concepts that the world will be keen on researching, and also given that power plants have an urgent need to become less CO2 polluting, this is indeed an important site.

Good stuff.

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Cereplast Sees Algae as Viable Raw Material for Plastics

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Frederic Scheer, the owner of cereplast talks about bioplastics made from algae. Cereplast is a company that designs and makes sustainable plastics from starches found in tapioca, corn, wheat and potatoes 

Cereplast hopes to offer a plastic made with algae for commercial sale by the end of 2010 and is projecting its annual sales will have doubled by then.

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Cyanobacterium to Transform Carbon dioxide to Biofuel

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Researchers from the University of California in Los Angeles found a way to create genetically modified bacteria called cyanobacterium, which consume carbon dioxide and produce the liquid fuel isobutanol, reported Science Daily.

The research originally published on Wednesday in the journal Nature of Biotechnology states that consumption of carbon dioxide is directly powered by the sun, a process similar to photosynthesis.

The new method has two major advantages: it recycles carbon dioxide which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and it uses solar energy to convert carbon dioxide to liquid fuel which can be used in automobiles.

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Saudi Arabia to Capture CO2 using Algae

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Saudi Arabia first disclosed plans for the carbon injection project in October, but Mr al Naimi detailed a longer-term strategy noting that the eventual goal was to tie carbon capture with the kingdom’s interest in producing biofuels from algae.

“We are looking at capturing carbon dioxide, injecting it in sea water, creating algae and hopefully producing two things: ethanol – you might be surprised by our interest in ethanol – and food products,” he said.

Producing fuel from algae has become a priority of researchers across the world, including major oil companies such as ExxonMobil. But experts say scientists still need to induce each unit of algae to absorb more carbon dioxide and produce more oils to make algae a commercially viable source of energy.

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Biodiesel from Algae Used During United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Conference

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UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced that its Ecofining process technology was used to convert second-generation, renewable feedstocks to green diesel fuel that will power vehicles at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Conference (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

UOP's process technology converted oil from algae provided by Solazyme, a renewable oil company, to green diesel, which will be utilized during the Driving the Future showcase organized by Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A Mercedes Benz E-Class Sedan, an unmodified, factory-standard diesel vehicle, will be powered by unblended (B100) green diesel for the duration of the event.

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Wastewater Grown Algae to Bio-crude Oil Demonstration Project

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The Minister of Energy Hon Gerry Brownlee will open the largest wastewater algae to bio-crude oil demonstration project in the world this week.

The project combines NIWA’s scientific expertise on advanced wastewater treatment and algal production pond technology with Solray’s bio-crude oil conversion technology and is hosted by Christchurch City Council at the Christchurch Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The aim of the project is for NIWA to produce between 150 and 300 tonnes of algae per year from the 5 hectares of wastewater treatment High Rate Algal Ponds. After harvesting and dewatering, this algae could potentially be converted into 45,000 - 90,000 litres (275 - 550 barrels) of bio-crude oil by Solray.

This bio-crude oil would normally be converted into a variety of products such as LPG, petrol, kerosene, diesel and bitumen, but if this amount were completely converted to petrol, it would power between 22 and 45 cars per year.

See more: Science alert

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Nalco Carbon Project Selected for New Department of Energy Advanced Research Funding

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A project that uses an electrochemical process to capture a key greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2), from coal-fired power plants is among 37 "transformational" projects to be funded by the United States Department of Energy (DOE).

The objective of this carbon capture program is to meet DOE goals of removing as much as 90% of the CO2 from a power plant's flue gas while using less energy and at a lower cost than current technology. The carbon captured could then be used for a variety of potential uses including algae growth for enhanced biofuels production or for enhanced oil and natural gas recovery. It will build on an existing research partnership between Nalco and Argonne to develop advanced
technologies to reduce, reuse and recover power plant cooling water.

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Algae - A Secret Weapon in Climate Change War

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Here's an interesting article entitled "Algae may be secret weapon in climate change war" By Ruth Morris (AFP)

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W2 Plans to Sequester The Carbon Using Algae

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W2 Energy is forming a joint venture with Canadian battery recycler Toxco to generate electricity from battery waste. W2 will annually process 600 tons of plastics and carbon from recycled batteries and convert it into electricity and liquid fuel using gasification technology. This will be done in a mass-to-energy unit fitted into a truck trailer. The fuel and electricity generated will be supplied back to Toxco.

W2 plans to sequester the carbon and nitrogen oxides produced from the waste combustion and use it to grow algae in a reactor. In February, the firm paid USD375,000 to acquire plasma gasification technology from Kinectrics.

Source: StrategyEye

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Algae Link to Australia's Clean Coal Technology

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The former Queensland premier Peter Beattie said on Friday that algae could prove to be the solution to Queensland's clean coal dilemma and put Australia on course for a new future of alternative energy. 

At a University of Queensland bioscience seminar, Beattie said Australia would fall behind the rest of the world if the nation did not quickly diversify its energy offerings. He said attitudes were changing quickly in the U.S. regarding energy usage as President Barack Obama poured money into green research projects. 

He also suggested that Queensland scientists should collaborate with American institutes to be part of advances in solar, wind, wave, geothermal and algae-generated energy, saying the latter could provide a lifeline for Queensland's coal stocks. 

Research into clean coal so far has focused on trapping carbon in the earth but concerns have been raised that it could leak out. However, technology could allow carbon created from burning coal to be captured and used to feed algae, getting rid of the storage problem, Beattie said. 

Chemical compounds from the algae, which thrives on carbon dioxide, could then be extracted to make diesel or aviation fuel.

"We have to clean up coal because in 20 years, at the very latest, the energy mix is going to be different," he told reporters after his speech.

Source: Xinhuanet.com

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Green Plains Renewable Energy and BioProcessAlgae to Unveil Phase I Algae Project in Shenandoah, Iowa - Governor Chet Culver to Attend

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Press Release:

Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. announces the unveiling of BioProcessAlgae, LLC's Phase I photobioreactor pilot project. Green Plains is hosting the event at its Shenandoah, Iowa ethanol plant on October 14, 2009 in conjunction with the Iowa Power Fund Board meeting. BioProcessAlgae has completed the installation of Phase I of the multi-phase pilot project and algae production has commenced at the plant. The Company's research team will begin to collect production data over the next 120 days from the pilot project that will be instrumental in determining the scalability and functionality for future commercial deployment. 

"We have directly linked the carbon dioxide (CO2) from the plant into our algae producing Grower Harvester(TM) technology and we believe this to be the first ever deployment of this type in the United States," stated Tim Burns, Chief Executive Officer of BioProcessAlgae, LLC. "The objective of this multi-phase pilot project is to gather critical data to determine the scalability of our Grower Harvester technology as we look to commercialize it in the future. Our focus is to perfect the growing and harvesting of algae in an industrial process." 

"We are excited by the opportunities this technology offers to sequester the CO2 emitted at our ethanol plants," said Todd Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Plains Renewable Energy. "Our plants have warm water, waste heat and C02 which provide a perfect environment for the BioProcessAlgae Grower Harvester technology to be deployed. The algae produced have the potential to be used for advanced bio-fuel production, high quality animal feed, or as biomass for energy production, but our focus is solely on efficiently growing algae and sequestering carbon dioxide at this point."

"We are honored to have Iowa Governor Chet Culver attend this technology unveiling. The State of Iowa has been extremely supportive of this project, with the Iowa Power Fund providing a matching funds grant of $2.1 million for research and development. We firmly believe this technology has the potential to significantly help the environment, the ethanol industry and the Iowa economy," Becker added.

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Scotland's Whisky Distilleries Use Algae to Capture Carbon

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The Glenturret Distillery in Perthshire will use the ground-breaking system to turn fumes generated by whisky production into biodiesel.

David Van Alstyne, head of Scottish Bioenergy, said: "A couple of years ago the idea of using algae as carbon recycler sounded absurd but with the support of Shell, Edrington Group and the Scottish Environmental Technology Network we have built Britain's first pilot scale bioreactor."

Green MSP Robin Harper officially switched on the bioreactor, which could have implications for others in the industry.

He said: "This project is tremendously exciting, and I hope that it will be thoroughly successful.

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Australian Soil Becomes Food for Marine Algae

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The storms that engulfed Sydney in orange and yellow clouds last week may be a boon for sea life and lower carbon dioxide levels after as much as a million tons of dust were dumped into Australia’s oceans, providing a rich supply of food for algae. 

The gale-force winds that ripped through Sydney may have dumped the iron-rich topsoil from Australia’s drought-ridden Outback into the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean, where it would have been absorbed by algae, said Craig Strong, a coordinator for DustWatch, a research and monitoring agency.

The infusion of so much soil into the ocean may prove a veritable feast for plankton that feed on algae and are then eaten by fish, crabs and krill.“It’s been pretty well established that if iron is available, then it will lead to phytoplankton blooms,” said Heiko Daniel, a lecturer in agronomy and soil science at the University of New England in New South Wales. “And they take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.”

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Austria-based See-O-Two Developed Microalgae System for CO2 Capture

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Vienna, Austria-based See-O-Two has developed what it says is an industrial scale system to grow and use microalgae to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions and convert it into biomass to produce biofuels and bioplastics.

The company’s CEO Joachim Grill said its proprietary technology, developed in Austria and Germany, grows algae at three-to-six times higher productivity and at about 80 percent of the cost of competing systems. Grill spoke at the Cleantech Group’s Cleantech Forum XXIII in Boston this week as one of the jury-selected startups seeking funding.

He added that the company’s multi-stage growth process of the algae occurs in a closed pond system, which allows for temperature control. A two-acre plant, using the company’s technology, could produce 6,000 tons of algae and consume more than 13,000 tons of carbon dioxide, Grill said.

See-O-Two said it is already running a semi-installation at an undisclosed power company in Austria and recently sold a 20-acre plant to an undisclosed client in the Middle East. It's unclear whether the plant is operational.

“We have achieved market entry,” Grill said.

See-O-Two has raised $2.8 million to date from investors including See Private Equity Fund. See-O-Two brought in $200,000 in revenue in the past year. The company is projecting $14 million in revenue in 2011, mainly from licensing its technology.

The company is currently seeking investments of between $500,000 and $10 million, including co-investments made with blue chip private equity and venture funds to continue to scale its technology, Grill said.

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Australian Pork Industry Considers Algae

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The Australian pork industry believes it can be carbon neutral within five years.

The peak industry body says consumers want to buy sustainably-produced food and cutting emissions from pig farms is an important part of that. Australian Pork Limited's research and innovation manager, Darryl D'Souza, says emissions will be eliminated by introducing new types of feed and making better use of pig waste.

"Technology is developing very quickly to deal with methane capture and we're looking at things like algae, potentially, as a source of energy [or feed]," he says. 

Source: ABC rural

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Duke and ENN Group to Work on Carbon-Capturing Algae

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Power company Duke Energy Corp. said Wednesday that it has struck its second deal in just over a month with a large Chinese power company to develop sources of low-carbon energy.

Duke and ENN Group say ideas for potential development between the two include commercial solar projects, coal-based clean energy, biofuels, natural gas, smart grid, energy efficiency and carbon-capturing algae.

China and the U.S. are No. 1 and 2 when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions. The countries account for 40 percent of the world's total emissions. Both also heavily count on coal to drive their economies, with Duke using coal to generate about two-thirds of its electricity.

Jim Rogers, Duke's chairman, president and CEO, said if U.S. and Chinese companies can strike deals to work on climate change, then maybe it can lead to bigger solutions being reached by the governments of both countries. But he said the deals "mean nothing if they don't produce real projects, real solutions and are profitable."

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W2 Energy Combine Coal Gasification and Algae Cultivation

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W2 Energy will be using the Pennsylvania coal to show the industry that its technology will make 100% clean fuel plus electricity from the Pennsylvania coal. 

W2 Energy will be gasify the coal in the NT Plasmatron non thermal plasma reactor. In the NT Plasmatron, this high-quality Pennsylvania coal will turn into syngas and will also generate heat. The heat will be turned into electricity via the SteamRay Steam Engine, and the syngas will be turned into jet fuel, gasoline and diesel fuel in the MultiFuel Gas-to-Liquid Reactor. W2 Energy will also be absorbing the greenhouse gases generated by the coal with its SunFilter Algae Reactor plant previously announced on August 13th 2009.

Source: Reuters

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Carbon Dioxide Sources and the Production Of Algae

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Contributed Post:

SAM A. RUSHING
ADVANCED CRYOGENICS, LTD.
P.O. Box 419, Tavernier, FL 33070 USA
Tel 305 852 2597 Fax 2598
rushing@terranova.net
www.carbondioxideconsultants.com

Background

In the world of biofuels, algae is under the spotlight as a major destination of interest for CO2 usage from power and chemical projects, from the perspective as a greenhouse gas / carbon sink. Today, more than ever, methods for viable sequestration alternatives are essential to meet the changing political and environmental tone set by the US House of Representatives and the EPA – and ultimately established as a law. Also of strong interest is the usage of algae as a source of feedstock material for biodiesel, and perhaps fermentation. CO2 is an ingredient used by algae for normal growth, during photosynthesis, and of course, the challenge for a strong reduction of atmospheric CO2 content is one of today's greatest challenges. Algae can be a partial means to an end in this quest for greenhouse gas reduction, and at the same time serving as an essential ingredient required for algae cultivation. The driver in algae based CO2 fixation or sequestration has been CO2 sourcing from coal fired power plants. The coal fired power plants yield ½ of the power produced, and at the same time some 83% of the CO2 emitted from all power sources. For each Kwh of electricity, about 2.1 pounds of CO2 are produced, and sent out as flue gas, on average, from the coal fired power plants.

A range of 1.5 to 3.0 pounds of CO2 are required for one pound of algae cultivated. Power plant projects are under the greatest amount of pressure to reduce airborne CO2 emissions today, however, larger fermentation projects are also viable CO2 source targets; plus a number of commercial energy production and chemical manufacturing sources as well. Most of the testing for CO2 fixation by algae has been via the coal fired power plant, which is a lean CO2 content v. a fermentation project. The difference in CO2 content can make for a broad range in capital expense and production cost, as well as the raw gas specifications – that being nitrogen oxides (NO x) and sulfur oxides (SO x) are major culprits when defining which algae strains will accept the use of a raw flue gas with lots of the sulfur and nitrogen compounds v. a generally cleaner by-product from select chemical manufacturing processes; which may or may not require purification in this application. Therefore, hurdles via flue gas include selection of a viable algae for cultivation, assuming little or no purification takes place; plus the application of large volumes of raw gas could be problematic, from an application point of view.

Algae cultivation as a carbon sink is a popular consideration among those in the power generating business. In this scenario, generally DOE or industry sponsored demo projects have produced most of the headlines in the press as of late. In such settings, generally the algae project is located around or near the power facility, chemical manufacturer, or other projects which have a significant CO2 output. The difference among various CO2 emitters, in terms of the amount of CO2 available per pound or ton can be a day v. night scenario, and this would then create a range of requirements for capital investment, application technology, and results achieved. In real world terms, it is not always possible or convenient to allow an 'across the fence' algae production site, in part, since adjacent real estate is not always conveniently available.

As to algae fuel, this can represent up to 30 times more energy value per acre than a common crop, such as soybean. Other examples, include the difference with palm oil can average one – fifteenth the energy value when compared with algae. Given the high oil yield from algae, it is estimated that about one percent of today's one billion acres used in the United States for farming and grazing would be sufficient (as land, pond, or ocean space) to produce enough algae to replace all petro – diesel fuel used in the United States today. That is a significant number, and algae should be utilized and developed to take advantage of opportunities such as this.

Numerous challenges lie in this successful application of algae as a medium in the biofuels world, when considering CO2 applications, which include distance from the CO2 source to the algae production site, the nature of the CO2 source – and how it impacts the cost and feasibility in this application. All of this is highly sensitive to the increasing requirement to reduce carbon emissions.

Application of CO2 and Sources

Many of the projects which have been evaluated or are under a test today are electric power projects, generally coal – fired projects. Since coal – fired electric generating plants account for about 40% of today's CO2 emissions, and if CO2 emissions are reduced from this sector, a major impact on greenhouse gases would occur. In the United States, CO2 is now being recovered from the flue gas produced from coal fired cogeneration plants; and the economic model worked due to a prior energy law which fostered the use of cogenerated steam which is used in an amine (MEA) solvent recovery process – a method of concentrating the CO2 from a lean content in the flue gas. Further, when considering relatively large CO2 emitters, the ethanol industry has been in the spotlight due to a substantial amount of CO2 emitted in a concentrated form as a direct by-product of fermentation. As to fermentation by-product, anhydrous ammonia by-product, and the by-product of certain hydrogen reformer processes found in oil refineries, to name a few - would have CO2 raw gas content (often in a water saturated state) of 97 to 99% by volume.

When comparing this to emissions from combustion of various fossil fuels, such as coal, this can often range within the 12 - 15% by volume order of magnitude. Gas fired turbine exhaust in cogeneration can be below 3%; and heavier hydrocarbons have higher concentrations of CO2 accordingly. Some consider the need to concentrate the CO2 via traditional processes, such as MEA, which is quite expensive. If using MEA, this would represent between three and five times the cost of applying CO2 from a concentrated source, such as those named above – let's say fermentation. Other novel or test applications are underway with so-called proprietary processes, including membrane and refrigeration systems. In my experience, however, new and novel means of concentrating the CO2 are not commercially proven thus far.

Therefore, the economics behind what type of CO2 source is used, is driven by the raw CO2 content in the gas – source type, as well as the impurities found in this CO2 source. If the source is relatively clean, and well concentrated, direct application for CO2 fixation by certain algae strains is entirely feasible. Separately, when concentrating a flue gas v. using a highly concentrated source (chemical manufacturing by-product for example), the economics are like night and day.On the other hand, if these projects are DOE sponsored, or within the forthcoming greenhouse gas laws and CO2 emissions regulations call for economic considerations, perhaps the need for concentrating or refining is a viable possibility. 

It has been found that select strains of algae might be able to endure a harsher environment when applying directly a power plant based flue gas. It has been found that a broad spectrum of algae will not endure the SO x and NO x content of raw power plant flue gas; however, algae strains specifically defined as NANNO2 grew after a lag period of time when under 300 PPM of nitrogen oxide. Other results when applying direct power plant flue gas in this application of algae growth, specifically NANNP-2 and PHAEO-2 algae proved to be successful with the harsh power plant flue gas in an untreated state.

Some of the above findings have proven well in a raceway type setting for algae cultivation, when diffusing power plant flue gas v. using a refined and / or liquefied CO2. The other consideration, beyond algae type and growth tolerance in the direct flue gas setting, would be the availability of real estate or physical space for algae cultivation. This thought precipitates the question of transporting the CO2 source to the algae cultivation site.

CO2 Transportation and Algae Cultivation Sites

Traditionally, CO2 has been transported (via pipeline, truck and rail) in a liquid form; always purified when used in the merchant markets. The exception to much or any purification has been for EOR – enhanced oil recovery. It is important to remember that liquid CO2 would represent a great deal more carbon dioxide presence v. simply trying to transport a gaseous, dilute, power plant product. The construction of a liquid carbon dioxide pipeline can easily run $1million per mile; and when transported as a liquid via pipeline, this distance can be substantial, these CO2 pipelines which transport liquid to enhanced oil recovery (EOR) sites are often long distance lines, up to one hundred , and even hundreds of miles; this would require sufficient compression on the front end and compression sub-stations in route. As to the case when considering algae fixation as a means of sequestering CO2, and a further means of producing a substantial raw material for the manufacture of biodiesel, it is entirely technically feasible to transport CO2 via pipeline. Consideration has been given to projects which use high pressure from enriched sources of CO2, such as fermentation for various destinations such as EOR. This concept could be applied to biodiesel in the fixation of algae with the CO2 by-product. As to transport of raw flue gas long distances, I would say this may be entirely new for a project such as this. First, the question is whether or not the algae will endure the SO x and NO x, plus other constituents; however there is evidence, as outlined before, this is possible with select strains of algae. Next, capital cost considerations for compression and pipeline as the basic infrastructure would be necessary. In the end, since massive quantities of CO2 from fossil fuel combustion in the power sector can amount to 20 million tons daily on a global scale – this is from a total amount emitted by all sources as 75 million tons of CO2 daily. When taking this into consideration, all means of containing, sequestering, or fixing CO2 via a environmentally friendly and extremely useful product such as algae is an extraordinary opportunity. The end result is twofold – the production of an extremely useful and rich in energy value v. grain and other organic matter feedstock materials such as soy and palm oil. Many of the test or small scale algae cultivation sites have occurred in a series of tubes, and bags, which have provided proof of growth capabilities. Larger scale cultivation of algae for energy sources, would probably occur in ponds, or captive seaside facilities. Please see caption number 1 as a conceptual flue gas from power plants for supply of carbon dioxide to the algae project.

Ethanol – Algae – Biodiesel loop

An interesting concept, in coordination with the production of ethanol, or other enriched CO2 sources, could be via a loop system, whereby CO2 from the enriched source could supply algae the ever-important carbon dioxide ingredient, in conjunction with sunlight, water and nutrients; thus producing algae and the high energy oil from a specific algae for biodiesel. The same algae could be a feedstock for fermentation as well; thus creating a full loop system. Please see diagram number 1 to view this concept.

Summary

The greatest level of CO2 content would be found among select by-product streams in the chemical manufacturing industry; and the larger scale plants are probably those to be targeted in the planned new legislation and EPA directives. The first 25,000 tons per year are exempt from any cap and trade, or other mechanism proposed by the House of Representatives and floating around in the EPA; however, other mechanisms beyond cap and trade may take place with the new CO2 related directives. Therefore, the focus for greenhouse gas reduction as carbon dioxide alone will apply to larger industrial projects, power plants, chemical manufacturing, oil refining, cement plants, etc. If the source is enriched, such as fermentation, then a higher quality stream of CO2 is available up to 99% by volume, with lower levels of impurities. If this stream is flue gas from power plants, the CO2 content would probably not exceed 12 – 15% by volume. In either case, we are working with a raw gas. If the CO2 is liquefied and or purified, then a further investment is required; such as concentrating the weak CO2 content in the flue gas off a power project or other large fossil fuel combustion project. The transportation of this raw gas would most likely take place as a pipeline operation; however, within a reasonable distance from the source to the algae fixation site would make the most sense – but long distance transportation is possible, at a price. The concepts surrounding the application of various forms of raw CO2 feedstock for the algae project are entirely possible. However the more complex the treatment of the raw stream is, and the more distant the algae site is from the source; the economic feasibility becomes more challenging. Since such a large focus on (fossil fuel) based power plants is now underway, and since this is the largest single source type for global CO2 emissions, the payback against the investment for the infrastructure surrounding CO2 treatment and transportation, in the form of revenues from the sale of algae for biodiesel may well outweigh the challenges. This form of sequestering CO2 is unique, since it represents carbon fixation in plant life, and it also is an ingredient essential for the growth of an energy rich product for the biofuels industry.

About the author

Sam A. Rushing is a chemist, and a consultant, as well as president of Advanced Cryogenics, Ltd., with decades long CO2 and cryogenic gas expertise with the merchant sector and as an international cryogenic gas and CO2 consultant, serving the biofuels, energy, and chemical industries. Advanced Cryogenics is celebrating a 20 year anniversary this year. e-mail: rushing@terranova.net , phone 305 852 2597.

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Kirsten Heimann at James Cook Univ to Develop Algae Technology

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Australia is preparing to introduce technology that allows algae to capture half or more of the greenhouse gases emitted by a power station. The micro-algae thrive on carbon dioxide, producing food for livestock as well as biofuels and material for plastics.

The idea is to pump emissions from power stations into photo-bioreactors, which are large tubes filled with algae. When carbon dioxide from the power stations is mixed with water, the algae soak up much of it, using it as a nutrient. Once the algae are removed from the tubes, scientists say they can be buried in the seabed, where they could store indefinitely the carbon they have ingested. The algae can also be processed and used to create biodiesel fuel and fertilizer, as well as food for farm animals.

Kirsten Heimann at Queensland's James Cook University developed the technology.
 
"They take up carbon dioxide from the air or if you feed them carbon dioxide they take that and with the aid of sunlight they are converting that into sugars, proteins and oils," explains Heimann. 

Three of Australia's biggest coal-fired power stations are building algae farms to help them reduce pollution in a country where 80 percent of electricity is generated by burning coal. Burning fuels such as coal and oil pump vast amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

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Aquentium Inc,US enters Algae Business

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

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

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

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

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