ABO Blog
Algae Biomass Organization Announces 7th Annual Algae Biomass Summit in Orlando, Florida
Abstracts now being accepted for world’s largest gathering of algae industry producers, entrepreneurs, partners and researchers
MINNEAPOLIS—(February 15, 2013)—The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry, announced today that the 7th Annual Algae Biomass Summit will take place September 30th through October 3rd at the Hilton Orlando in Orlando, Florida. ABO chose Orlando for the world’s largest annual gathering of algae industry and research experts due to the presence of leading algae companies in the state, and for the potential of the southeast United States to become a center of commercial algae production.
ABO is currently accepting proposals and abstracts for speaking and poster opportunities at the Summit. Due to the large number of abstracts received last year the Summit’s review committee will give priority to those proposals received before April 3rd. More information on presentations and potential topics, and how to submit a proposal, is available at http://algaebiomasssummit.org.
“The Algae Biomass Summit has become the go-to place to reveal the latest scientific advances and commercialization milestones from a growing community of researchers and entrepreneurs that are using algae to make sustainable fuels, feed, chemicals and so many other products,” said Mary Rosenthal, the organization’s executive director. “The leaders of our industry will be discussing their progress, and looking for the next big advances.”
Speakers and attendees at the Algae Biomass Summit will include national and international technologists, producers, scientists, investors, and policy makers. During the course of the event, leaders and attendees will discuss issues of critical importance to the emerging algae industry, including the commercial development of algal production, current government and private initiatives, evolving technologies, processing concepts, life cycle analysis and project finance.
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.
Abstracts for the 2013 Algae Biomass Summit Now Being Accepted
The Algae Biomass Organization announced today that the 7th Annual Algae Biomass Summit will take place September 30th through October 3rd at the Hilton Orlando in Orlando, Florida.
ABO is currently accepting proposals and abstracts for speaking and poster opportunities at the Summit. Due to the large number of abstracts received last year the Summit’s review committee will give priority to those proposals received before April 3rd. More information on presentations and potential topics, and how to submit a proposal, is available at http://algaebiomasssummit.org.
We expect several new innovations and commercialization milestones to be in the news throughout 2013, meaning there will be quite a bit to talk about at this year’s Summit.
We are looking forward to your abstracts and proposals!
Can Algae Clean Coal?
A recent CleanTechnica article looks at a new project in Europe to use algae grown in seawater for power production. The research is presented as a way to replace coal, but algae’s need for carbon dioxide to in order to grow offers us another way to deal with emissions when outright replacement isn’t an option.
Besides becoming an energy source by themselves, algae are on the way to playing a big role in carbon capture and utilization (CCU). Instead of sequestering carbon from a power plant, CCU is the process of taking that carbon and creating new products from it—very similar to recycling.
Accelergy and BioProcess Algae are just two of many algae companies focusing on capturing CO2 and growing algae. In Hawaii, Cellana has entered into an agreement that would see CO2 from Hawaiian Electric and Maui Electric’s power generation facility piped to algae farms producing algal feeds, fuels, and other products. Other algae producers that will use CO2 streams to feed algae include Sapphire Energy and Aurora Biofuels.
Outside of companies focused exclusively on developing the technology needed to grow algae are several that will be supplying related services to the algae industry. ECO2Capture, for example, is developing technology to capture CO2 and prepare it for delivery to algae production facilities.
Even emitters are getting involved in CCU with algae. Duke Energy, one of the largest power producers in the US, is actively exploring how algae can be used to reduce fossil fuel emissions.
Elsewhere in coal country, algae researchers at the University of Kentucky are taking a close look at which algae production methods will work best with coal-fired power plants. Check out their video!
For those interested in learning more about CCU, consider the International Conference on Carbon Dioxide Utilization (ICCDU) coming up June 23-27 just outside Washington, DC.
Energy Department, Treasury Announce Availability of $150 Million in Tax Credits for Clean Energy Manufacturers
On Thursday the Department of Energy and the Treasury announced the availability of $150 million in tax credits as part of the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (commonly referred to at 48C) that was established by the Recovery Act.
These credits were not used by previous awardees in an initial round of $2.3 billion and will be awarded on a competitive basis.
There may be opportunities for ABO members. According to the 48C Manufacturing Tax Credit fact sheet, carbon dioxide capture and sequestration equipment and equipment for refining or blending renewable fuels are both included as eligible.
You can read more about this opportunity in the DOE’s announcement .
Best of luck to those that participate!