ABO Blog

Dispatch from the Algae Biomass Summit

The 2014 Algae Biomass Summit opened yesterday with more than 600 industry leaders who gathered to hear presentations by top officials from the Department of Energy, CEO’s of leading algae companies, and experts in national security, technology development and research.

Some of the days highlights:

“There’s an algae for that”

MattsKickOffMatt Carr, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization greeted Summit attendees with a presentation that reminded the industry of the great potential algae has to tackle problems such as climate change, food supplies, as well as energy and water shortages.

Algae’s potential is so great that almost regardless of the problem, “there’s an algae for that,” said Matt as he listed the innovations and solutions that will be discussed this week at the Summit.

Follow developments at the Summit on Twitter: #ABS14

Sign the carbon utilization petition

Matt also announced that ABO has initiated a “We the People” petition

petition encouraging the White House to encourage the EPA to allow states to meet CO2 reduction goals by recycling CO2 with carbon capture & utilization (CCU) technology.

Virtually every speaker at the opening sessions acknowledged that algae’s need for CO2 is an unprecedented opportunity for utilities and other carbon dioxide emitters to think of CO2 as an opportunity rather than a problem.

You can contribute to this effort! Support common sense, market-driven, job-creating and emissions-reducing technologies by signing the petition here.

Department of Energy Announces Up to $25 Million to Reduce Costs of Algal Biofuels

During his opening keynote address David Danielson, Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy announced up $25 million in funding that will be targeted toward reducing the cost of algal biofuels to less than $5 per gasoline gallon equivalent by 2019.

Check out the full DOE announcement.

Updates from Industry Leaders

Biofuels Digest editor and publisher Jim Lane commented that the industry is indeed evolving when he finds himself moderating two panels on commercialization progress instead of the single panels on the topic at previous Summits.

Mr. Lane guided updates, discussion and questions from a packed auditorium with executives from Algenol, BioProcess Algae, Heliae, Matrix Genetics, Sapphire Energy, ALGIX, LLC, Cellana, Earthrise Nutritionals, Synthetic Genomics and Muradel.

The one word theme? Products. Each company reported new moves to commercialize a wide range of algae-derived products in markets with trillion dollar potentials.

MikeBreen2Saving Lives – Algae and National Security

Mike Breen, Executive Director of the Truman National Security Project provided attendees with an inspiring talk about the importance of developing renewable and domestic supplies of fuels to improve our national security.

Noting his own experience in the military protecting fuel convoys from attack, Mr. Breen told the hundreds of algae industry entrepreneurs and scientists gathered in San Diego that they have full support from his organization’s clean energy campaign Operation Free:

“Challenges of this magnitude can only be confronted with enormous innovative effort. Some might find the size of this challenge paralyzing when compared to the size of this room. But you have a duty to succeed. And I’m here to tell you that you’re not in it alone. The thousands of veterans and supporters of Operation Free are standing with you.”

Read more excerpts of Mr. Breen’s talk here.

SCHOTT and Algatechnologies Announce R&D Partnership

Natural-astaxanthin supplier Algatechnologies plans to boost algae production in a big way with new, thin-walled glass tubes developed in partnership with SCHOTT AG.

Nutritional Outlook has the story.

Media Coverage

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

Algae Biomass Organization Recognizes Six Students with Young Algae Researcher Awards At Algae Biomass Summit

Awards recognize outstanding research in algal biology and engineering

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – October 1, 2014 – Six student scientists were presented with the third annual Young Algae Researcher Awards today for their contributions to fields of algae biology and engineering at the 2014 Algae Biomass Summit, the official conference of the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO).

The awards are presented at the world’s largest gathering of algae industry and academic leaders and recognize outstanding research projects by early-career scientists that are finding new ways to use algae to create a range of renewable fuels, fertilizers, plastics and other products. The students presented their ideas via posters which were featured in the Summit’s exhibit hall.

More than 120 posters were accepted this year, representing a wide variety of technologies and research projects. A panel of 6 judges evaluated the posters based on six key criteria: presentation, methodology, data analysis, poster integrity and the presentation of the poster by the presenter him or herself.

“Congratulations to each of these young and ambitious scientists,” said Matt Carr, Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “The ideas and research they are presenting today will become the technologies, products and companies of tomorrow. We look forward to seeing them continue to make progress. ”

The Young Algae Research Awards are presented to winners for research conducted in two subject areas: biology and engineering. For outstanding research in algae biology, awards went to:

  • 1st Prize: Wilson Mendoza, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC – San Diego (Mendoza won first place in the biology category at the 2013 Algae Biomass Summit in Orlando, Florida)
  • 2nd Prize: Alexander Zevin, Arizona State University
  • 3rd Prize: Niu Du, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC- San Diego

For outstanding research in algae engineering, the awards went to:

  • 1st Prize:  Pavlo Bohutskyi, Johns Hopkins University (Bohutskyi received the third place algae engineering award at the 2013 Algae Biomass Summit)
  • 2nd Prize: Bhavish Patel, Imperial College London
  • 3rd Prize: Peter Schnurr, University of Toronto

The Algae Biomass Summit concludes Thursday afternoon. Information on the event, including a full agenda is available at http://algaebiomasssummit.org.  Ongoing developments can also be monitored via the Twitter hashtag #ABS14. Next year’s Summit will be held in Washington, D.C.

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.

Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing our world today.  Algae have the power to simultaneously put fuels in our vehicles, recycle CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people and create jobs for millions of Americans. More information can be found at www.allaboutalgae.com.

 

Algae Biomass Summit Launches White House Petition to Encourage EPA to Approve CO2 Recycling as Emissions Reduction Strategy

WASHINGTON, DC–(Marketwired – Sep 30, 2014) –  The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) today announced that it has initiated a “We the People” petition to the White House and called for those who support common sense, market-driven, job-creating and emissions-reducing technologies to sign the petition, located here: http://wh.gov/ilUxI.

This is another step in ABO’s continued efforts to secure Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies to meet the emissions reductions targets set by the agency.

The announcement was made at the 8th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, taking place in San Diego and featuring more than 600 of the world’s leading algae researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs, labs, startups and global Fortune 500 companies.

“We need EPA and those involved in the power generation industry to recognize that algae and other technologies can convert waste carbon into a range of valuable products,” said Matt Carr, Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “Algae need CO2 in order to grow, making waste CO2 from power plants a valuable input. We believe the EPA should recognize this value and encourage the recycling of waste CO2.”

“We need to look no further than the aluminum industry for a parallel. More than 70 percent of the total aluminum ever produced has been recycled into valuable products and is in use today. The industry saves more than 90 percent of the energy costs required to produce products,” continued Carr. “More than 670,000 jobs are supported and the industry produces $152 billion in economic impact. We have a similar opportunity with recycling of carbon — and EPA acknowledgement of the potential for CCU is key for our industry to reach its full potential.”

The text of the petition reads as follows:

“The EPA should encourage states to meet CO2 reduction goals by allowing the recycling of CO2 via carbon capture & utilization (CCU) technology. This common sense approach reduces overall emissions, creates a revenue stream for utilities that offsets the cost of compliance, keeps rates low for taxpayers and stimulates economic development and job creation across the country.

“Technologies are now available to utilize CO2 captured from power plants and fed directly to organisms like bacteria and algae, which can be converted into valuable products, such as fuels and chemicals, animal feed and human nutrition. The Clean Power Plan should recognize CCU as a viable pathway for compliance with new rules.”

“It’s important that people understand this petition is not algae-specific,” continued Carr. “We’re calling on anyone who can beneficially reuse waste carbon to join us in this petition and push the EPA to accept carbon capture and utilization as a viable emissions reduction strategy.”

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 atwww.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.

Dispatch from the Algae Biomass Summit

Algae Biomass Organization logo


The Largest Algae Conference in the World  

The Algae Biomass Summit
Dispatch from the Algae Biomass Summit 
 

The 2014 Algae Biomass Summit opened today with more than 600 industry leaders who gathered to hear presentations by top officials from the Department of Energy, CEO’s of leading algae companies, and experts in national security, technology development and research.   

Some of the days highlights: 
Matt Carr at the Summit
Matt Carr kicks off the Summit
 
“There’s an algae for that”
Matt Carr, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization greeted Summit attendees with a presentation that reminded the industry of the great potential algae has to tackle problems such as climate change, food supplies, as well as energy and water shortages.
Algae’s potential is so great that almost regardless of the problem, “there’s an algae for that,” said Matt as he listed the innovations and solutions that will be discussed this week at the Summit.
Follow developments at the Summit on Twitter: #ABS14


Sign the carbon utilization petition

Matt also announced that ABO has initiated a “We the People” petition 

petition encouraging the White House to encourage the EPA to allow states to meet CO2 reduction goals by recycling CO2 with carbon capture & utilization (CCU) technology. 
 
Virtually every speaker at the opening sessions acknowledged that algae’s need for CO2 is an unprecedented opportunity for utilities and other carbon dioxide emitters to think of CO2 as an opportunity rather than a problem.

You can contribute to this effort! Support common sense, market-driven, job-creating and emissions-reducing technologies by signing the petition here.


Department of Energy Announces Up to $25 Million to Reduce Costs of Algal Biofuels
During his opening keynote address David Danielson, Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy announced up $25 million in funding that will be targeted toward reducing the cost of algal biofuels to less than $5 per gasoline gallon equivalent by 2019. 
 
 

Updates from Industry Leaders

Biofuels Digest editor and publisher Jim Lane commented that the industry is indeed evolving when he finds himself moderating two panels on commercialization progress instead of the single panels on the topic at previous Summits. 
 
Mr. Lane guided updates, discussion and questions from a packed auditorium with executives from Algenol, BioProcess Algae, Heliae, Matrix Genetics, Sapphire Energy, ALGIX, LLC, Cellana, Earthrise Nutritionals, Synthetic Genomics and Muradel. 
 
The one word theme? Products. Each company reported new moves to commercialize a wide range of algae-derived products in markets with trillion dollar potentials.
 
Saving Lives – Algae and National Security
Mike Breen at the Summit
Mike Breen

Mike Breen, Executive Director of the Truman National Security Project provided attendees with an inspiring talk about the importance of developing renewable and domestic supplies of fuels to improve our national security.

 
Noting his own experience in the military protecting fuel convoys from attack, Mr. Breen told the hundreds of algae industry entrepreneurs and scientists gathered in San Diego that they have full support from his organization’s clean energy campaign Operation Free:
 
“Challenges of this magnitude can only be confronted with enormous innovative effort. Some might find the size of this challenge paralyzing when compared to the size of this room. But you have a duty to succeed. And I’m here to tell you that you’re not in it alone. The thousands of veterans and supporters of Operation Free are standing with you.”
 
SCHOTT and Algatechnologies Announce R&D Partnership 
Natural-astaxanthin supplier Algatechnologies plans to boost algae production in a big way with new, thin-walled glass tubes developed in partnership with SCHOTT AG.


Media Coverage
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
 
By Jim Lane
 
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Sign ABO’s White House Petition to Approve CO2 Recycling as an Emission Reduction Strategy

The 8th annual Algae Biomass Summit kicked off today with the Algae Biomass Organization’s Executive Director Matt Carr challenging the algae industry to think:

Why are we here?

Forest fires, flooding, shrinking ice caps and other environmental disasters are becoming more prevalent and severe due to climate change. Food pressures, energy supplies and water shortages are become more serious economic and security challenges the world over.  Matt reminded the hundreds of Summit attendees that they have gathered in San Diego this week because the algae industry is part of the solution.

As a member of the algae community, you too can take action by signing ABO’s We the People petition to the White House.

The petition asks the White House to ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permits states to use carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies  as they work to meet emissions reductions targets set by the agency.

Farming algae requires large quantities of CO2, and using the waste CO2 from power generation to grow algal biomass that can be converted in to fuel, chemicals and other valuable products can flip the cost-equation that is traditionally associated with carbon capture. By recycling CO2 we can simultaneously reduce emissions and stimulate economic growth.

Take the next 2 minutes to support common sense, market-driven, job-creating and emissions-reducing technologies today! Sign the petition here:http://wh.gov/ilUxI.