ABO Blog

Algae-based fuels enter the mainstream with historic flight

CHICAGO – November 7, 2011 – Mary Rosenthal, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the U.S. algae industry, today issued the following statement regarding the first U.S. commercial flight to be powered by algae-based biofuel, which landed earlier today at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport:

“On behalf of the U.S. algae industry and the Algal Biomass Organization, I want to congratulate ABO members Solazyme, Honeywell’s UOP and Boeing for their part in today’s historic United Flight 1403 which flew from Houston to Chicago powered in part by algae-based biofuel. Solazyme and Honeywell’s UOP produced the algae-based biofuel for the Boeing 737-824 aircraft.

“I also want to salute Boeing and United Airlines for their leadership roles in advancing aviation biofuels.

“It’s a great day for commercial aviation and an incredible day for the U.S. algae industry, which is working to meet the future demand for transportation fuels through sustainable, domestic and entirely renewable algae-based fuels.

“Today’s flight demonstrates without a doubt that algae-based fuels are ‘here and now’, and as companies across the country scale up operations, we expect to see more aircraft and vehicles fueling up with clean, domestic fuels made from algae.”

About the Algae Biomass Organization

Founded in 2008, the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable products 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.

Media Contact:
John Williams, Scoville Public Relations for ABO
206-625-0075 x1, jwilliams@scovillepr.com

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) endorses tax parity for advanced biofuels

MINNEAPOLIS –October 27, 2011 – Day two of the 2011 Algae Biomass Summit, the official conference of the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) and the world’s largest algae industry conference, was highlighted by discussions about the technological advances that will be bringing innovative algae-based products and fuels into everyday life.

Presentations and panel discussions throughout yesterday focused on the latest advances in algae biology, animal and aquaculture feed, algae processing, production and other components of the value chain for the new and rapidly expanding global algae industry.

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) urged attendees during a lunchtime video keynote to build on existing technological foundations that can help bring the next generation of advanced biofuels into large scale production, like that of the ethanol industry that has become a vital part of Minnesota’s economy. Recognizing the importance of federal support for domestically produced, sustainable fuels, Senator Klobuchar told the 800 conference attendees that algae-based fuels deserve to compete on a level playing field with fossil fuels when it comes to tax policy and industry subsidies.

Also addressing the conference during the luncheon was Cynthia (C. J.) Warner, president of Sapphire Energy. Predicting an enormous spike in demand for fuel in the coming decades, Ms. Warner described that the latest technologies behind algae-based fuels, like those that Sapphire is using to begin algae production on a commercial scale, have the ability to rapidly and economically provide for future transportation fuel needs.

The summit will continue through 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 #ABS11.

About the ABO

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a non-profit organization 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.

Media Contact:
John Williams, Scoville PR for ABO
206-660-5503, jwilliams@scovillepr.com

Business and environmental interests come together as commercial production advances

MINNEAPOLIS – October 27, 2011 – On the third day of the 2011 Algae Biomass Summit, the official conference of the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), experts on environmental and economic sustainability sat down with algae business leaders to discuss the role that commercial algae products can play in meeting some of the most pressing environmental and food-production challenges facing the world today.

Algae’s unique properties of high yields, fast growth and reduced greenhouse gas emissions has brought the organisms to the attention of many in the environmental community, just as sustainability concerns have become an important part of the business models for many in the algae industry planning on expanding their commercial production efforts.

Leading environmental and sustainability experts shared with business leaders their hope for algae fuels, fertilizers and other products to help meet challenges around climate change, food production, and diminishing water supplies.

Acknowledging the importance of engaging early with the newly expanding algae industry, experts from the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment, the National Resources Defense Council, Future 500, Rainforest Alliance, and the Biotechnology Industry Organization discussed some of the challenges and lessons from other industries that have rapidly expanded from laboratory science to large commercial production.

The largest Algae Biomass Summit to date concluded today with panel discussions on the latest biotechnology research and the experiences of algae firms that are building new facilities and marketing products. More than 800 people from 20 countries attended the conference.

Information on the event, including a full agenda is available athttp://algaebiomasssummit.org. Next year’s summit will be held in Denver, Colorado.

About the ABO

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a non-profit organization 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.

Media Contact:
John Williams, Scoville PR for ABO
206-660-5503, jwilliams@scovillepr.com

Reality of commercial production for food, feed and fuel dominates discussions on Day One

MINNEAPOLIS (October 25, 2011) The 2011 Algae Biomass Summit, the official conference of the Algal Biomass Organization (ABO), officially opened this morning in Minneapolis with remarks by Senator Al Franken (D-MN) and other leaders on the role the algae industry can play in stimulating economic growth, enhancing national security and addressing climate change.  More than 800 industry leaders and stakeholders from 20 countries are participating in the event, the world’s largest algae conference.

Senator Franken (D-MN) helped kick off the event with a keynote address stressing that algae-based fuel will be an important part of economic development in Minnesota and around the country. Senator Franken’s call for algae-based fuels to receive the same tax treatment as other biofuels, and for the elimination of subsidies on dirty energy, was well received by many of the event’s attendees.

Following Senator Franken’s remarks, several algae business leaders discussed the latest trends that are shaping this emerging industry, including plans to dramatically increase production over the next few years. Executives at Sapphire Energy, Phycal Inc., BioProcess Algae, Heliae Development , Algenol Biofuels, and ExxonMobil described several different technologies being commercially deployed to market the many products that can be derived from algae.

A lunchtime keynote by Harrison Dillon, president at Solazyme, offered a case study of what just one company is doing to exploit the full potential of algae. Dillon walked through how his company is manufacturing designer oils that can be used to make everything from transportation fuels that work in the tanks of today’s cars and trucks, to food products like margarine and cooking oils, to high-end cosmetics.

Judy Canales, administrator of USDA’s Rural Development, Business and Cooperative Programs, also spoke to attendees over lunch on her agency’s commitment to renewable energy development, as well as the direct assistance they provide to entrepreneurs and businesses operating in the space.  She asked the audience to stress the importance of continued funding for Rural Biomass programs in the 2012 Farm Bill.

The summit will continue through 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 #ABS11.

 

 

 

About the ABO

The Algal Biomass Organization (ABO) is a non-profit organization 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.

Media Contact:
John Williams, Scoville PR for ABO
206-660-5503, jwilliams@scovillepr.com