ABO Blog

The Department of Energy yesterday issued a Request for Information on the “development of algae production and downstream processing technology to enhance the yield of algal biofuel intermediate products.”

Basically this means that DOE is looking for input on the best way future research, development and deployment projects can help produce commercial-scale yields of biomass, oils or other algae products that can ultimately be processed into biofuels. Large yields will be critical to producing competitively priced biofuels.

ABO encourages those with expertise in the algae industry to submit comments. DOE often relies on the private sector and the research community to understand the latest challenges, and the ways they might be overcome.

Responses are due by August 1, 2012. Read the full RFI for all the details, and for information on how to submit comments at the DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy site.

Last week the Senate passed a Farm Bill that included much-needed energy provisions that will leverage America’s agriculture industry in the effort to improve our energy independence.

Before it passed, one effort to dilute the Farm Bill was an amendment that would have eliminated support for biorefinery, renewable chemical and biobased product manufacturing assistance programs. This amendment was defeated by a 36-63 vote, and we’d like to thank all ABO members and algae enthusiasts that asked their Senators to support robust energy programs in the Farm Bill.

We encourage you to contact members of the Senate that voted for the Farm Bill and thank them for their support. You can find out how your Senator voted here.

Next, the Farm Bill goes to the House Committee on Agriculture, probably after the July 4 recess. It is likely that the energy provisions will be under even greater threat than they were in the Senate.

Some of the latest preparations for testing the Navy’s Great Green Fleet have been visible recently:

On June 13 the Military Sealift Command (MSC) fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser began loaded 900,000 gallons of an advanced biofuels mix. The fuels will be part of the Navy’s Great Green Fleet testing that will begin June 29 in waters near Hawaii. Several ships and aircraft will use biofuels during extended testing.

Yesterday in Puget Sound the Everett-based Coast Guard Cutter Henry Blake made its first voyage using biofuel derived from algae. This was the first time the entire ship’s operations were run with biofuels—any system that runs on diesel was successfully operated using the new fuel.

The raw video below shows the algal fuel mix being pumped into the Henry Blake’s tanks.

The biofuels being used this summer work with the military’s existing engines and infrastructure, allowing for an easy transition.

Domestically produced advanced biofuels offer the Department of Defense an excellent strategic advantage: they will protect military operations against the price volatility of fossil fuels, as well as outright supply disruptions caused by the actions of unfriendly nations.

Today the Senate will take up the Farm Bill, S. 3240, at 2:15 p.m., and begin debating and voting on more than 70 amendments. It is important for the algae community to add its voice today.

Included in these amendments is one proposed by Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) that will effectively strike Section 9003, the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance programs. This amendment will eliminate the program and its mandatory funding. As you know, Section 9003 of the Farm Bill provides loan guarantees for the development, construction and retrofitting of commercial-scale biorefineries, and grants to help pay for the development and construction costs of demonstration-scale biorefineries.

It is unknown when this amendment will come up during the debate, as the Senate will be voting continuously in what is known as a “voterama.” Therefore, it is important to contact your Senators now and ask them to vote NO on the Toomey Amendment, #2226.

Senators do listen to their constituents, and your support can help the industry in its efforts to provide America with renewable sources of domestically produced fuel, food and other products.

Sometimes overlooked in conversations about aglae-based biofuels is the fact that algae is also a feedstock for feed, nutritional supplements, fertilizers, chemicals and much more. The production of algal biofuels also creates significant quantities of biomass that can be used for a range of coproducts—the result is additional revenue streams for algae producers.

For those companies working toward an ultimate goal of accessing fuel markets, the co-product markets available today are acting as stepping stones in their efforts to increase production. In many cases these other markets are turning into a viable business model for algae companies.

Continue reading Stepping Stones to Biofuel