ABO Blog – Page 104

ATP3 Workshop: Large-Scale Algal Cultivation, Harvesting and Processing

This November 3-7 ATP³ in Arizona is hosting a workshop for those interested in learning algae cultivation and processing techniques. These workshops are a must for any company or individual that wants to make the most out of their algae production, test new technologies or develop new products!

ATP³ offers superior formal and informal education and training in the use of microalgae as feedstock for biofuels and coproducts, through hands-on learning opportunities, workshops, and seminars held at ATP³ partner sites and selected public events.

You may find registration information and a complete description at http://atp3.org/education-and-training/.

Check out this video to learn more about ATP³.

Bioeconomy Worth Trillions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report on the enormous opportunities in the biobased economy, and included some recommendations on how biobased product development can be accelerated to improve sustainability and economic growth.

The US bioeconomy has been valued at $1.25 trillion. In Europe that figure is $2.7 trillion, accounting for 20 million jobs.

The report, Why Biobased?, and brings together findings from government programs, academic research and non-profits to explore how sustainability policy and businesses are driving economic growth with biobased products. Algae are becoming a new agricultural source of feeds, foods, fuels and chemical products that can be produced without significant impacts on freshwater or land-use.

The USDA report concludes that biobased chemicals alone could soon make up 10 percent of the entire chemical market, and eventually over two-thirds of all our chemical products. That’s over 50,000 products and a $1 trillion global market.

The Biotechnology Industry Organization estimates that jobs in renewable chemicals will rise from 40,000 in 2011 to over 237,000 by 2025.

This impact may only grow as commercial algae production comes online, since algae deliver yields of oils and proteins many times more than almost any other crop.

To access the Why Biobased? report, visit http://www.biopreferred.gov/files/WhyBiobased.pdf.

Algae Biomass Organization Applauds Department of Energy’s Announcement of $25 Million in Funding to Reduce Costs of Algae Biofuel Production

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (October 2, 2014) – The Algae Biomass Organization today applauded the Department of Energy’s announcement of up to $25 million in funding that will be used to advance technology and production methods that will drive down the costs of biofuels and other bioproducts that are produced from algae. David Danielson, Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy announced the funding at the 8^th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, the largest algae conference in the world.

“We are grateful for the Department of Energy’s ongoing commitment to cost-competitive biofuels and bioproducts derived from algae,” said Matt Carr, Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “This announcement’s focus on commercializing algae technologies shows that the industry has made enormous strides developing algae into a source of energy, renewable products, economic development and improved national security.”

The funding is part of the DOE’s goal of reducing the cost of algal biofuels to less than $5 per gasoline gallon equivalent by 2019. Funds will support two topic areas: developing algae cultures that can produce both fuels and bioproducts that increase the overall value of the biomass; and developing crop and carbon dioxide utilization technologies that boost algae yields.

The announcement was made at the 8^th Annual Algae Biomass Summit to more than 600 of the world’s leading algae researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs, labs, startups and global Fortune 500 companies. Many of these companies are marketing algae-based products and operating or commissioning new commercial demonstration facilities that produce algae-derived fuels, fertilizers, plastics, nutritional ingredients and other products.

Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic and climate challenges facing the world today. This tiny but powerful organism has the ability to simultaneously put fuels in vehicles, reuse CO₂, provide nutrition for animals and people and create jobs for millions of Americans. More information can be found at www.allaboutalgae.com.

About the Algae Biomass Organization

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501 c(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits and members and their affiliations, is available at the website: www.algaebiomass.org.

Algae Foundation Announces Student Travel Grant Winners

With the 2014 Algae Biomass Summit coming to a close, there is no doubt that the algae industry has a promising future.

Prestigious keynote speakers like Dennis McGinn, Jonathan Male, Michael Breen and David Danielson as well as science and business leaders from the algae industry were in attendance, yet it is the enthusiasm and accomplishments of students showing that the algae industry will continue making advancements in the future.

Yesterday the Algae Foundation announced several travel grants that were awarded to graduate students for attending the Summit. This kind of assistance to young algae researchers is part of the the Algae Foundation’s core mission, which was formed to engage in and fund educational outreach, research, development and other activities.

Applicants for the Algae Biomass Summit 2014 Travel grant submitted an abstract and a letter of recommendation. Matt Carr, executive director of the ABO and the Algae Foundation, presented the $500 travel grants to the winners on stage at the Summit.

The Algae Biomass Summit 2014 Student Travel Grant winners are:

· Lenny de Jaeger, AlgaePARC, Wageningen University

· Javier Gimpel, University of California, San Diego

· Alexander Zevin, Arizona State University

· Mona Mirsiaghi, Colorado State University

· Lisa Anderson, University of California, Davis

· Elena Barbera, Universita Degli Studi de Padova

· Tanya Sabharwal, University of Texas, Austin

Congratulations to all of the winners!

Dispatch from the Algae Biomass Summit

The Largest Algae Conference in the World

The Algae Biomass Summit

Dispatch from the Algae Biomass Summit

The second full day of the 2014 Algae Biomass Summit featured presentations on the potential of algae to utilize captured carbon emissions, commitments from the Navy to use biofuels, standards for industry measurements, and more.

Some of the highlights from yesterday:

Sign the petition Summit in San Diego

Carbon utilization has been a hot topic at almost every session at the Summit. In one panel exclusively devoted to the topic industry leaders remarked that despite the policy paralysis in the United States on carbon emissions, the skepticism that surrounds the costs of carbon capture technologies and their success, there are still several approaches that can work in the near term. Resources are being devoted to those approaches outside the United States, many of which include algae cultivation.

Advancing those technologies in the U.S. would be accelerated by establishing a few large demonstrations–similar to those employed by utilities in the past for next generation energy production technologies, only much less expensive.

You can help develop these technologies by signing ABO’s petition asking the White House to ensure the EPA allows states to pursue algae and carbon utilization technologies for emissions reductions. Sign here today!

Algae in the Navy
Dennis McGinn, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Energy, Installations & Environment addressed attendees of the Summit with one simple message from the Navy for algae biofuel producers:

If you make algae-based fuels, the Navy will buy them.

McGinn’s speech cemented the undisputed national security advantage that comes from renewable, domestically produced algae-based fuels. The Department of Defense continues a long tradition of leadership in energy transitions, being among the first institutions to adopt steam power in ships, then coal and oil, nuclear power, and now biofuels.

Young Algae Researcher and Travel Grant Awards

ABO announced the winners of the third annual Young Algae Researcher Awardsat the Summit. The awards are presented to winners for research conducted in two subject areas: biology and engineering.

The Algae Foundation, ABOs sister organization that supports algae education also announced the winners of this year’s travel grant awards that allow young graduate students to attend professional conferences such as the Summit.

Congratulations to the next generation of algae leaders!

Industry and Regulatory Standards

Algae industry leaders deploying a wide range of technologies heard from Lieve Laurens, Senior Scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory on ABO’s latest efforts to establish a common language for the algae industry with Algae Industry Measurements 6.0.

Algae-derived food and nutritional product producers were treated to insights on FDA approvals and regulations from Daniel Fabricant, CEO & Executive Director, Natural Products Association. Mr. Fabricant discussed regional differences in the FDA and state approval processes, approaches to genetic modification and gave a preview of the vital issues that the FDA will be concerned with in 2015 and beyond.

Media Coverage

Algae Biomass Organization launches petition to support approval of CO2 Recycling for emissions reduction in Biofuels Digest
By Jim Lane

Algae Industry Growing, Transforming in the U-T San Diego

An op-ed by ABO’s Executive Director Matt Carr and Cleantech San Diego’s President Jason Anderson

Algae as biofuels focus of summit in the U-T San Diego

by Bradley Fikes, biotechnology reporter

Algae, Will Bossie Like It? in Biofuels Digest

By Jim Lane

Onward to 2015

The Algae Biomass Summit concludes today. Next year the world’s largest algae conference will be in Washington, DC, September 30 – October 2, 2015.

See you there!