ABO Blog

ABO believes that reliance on obsolete data and faulty assumptions undermines all conclusions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 25, 2010 – The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, today challenged the conclusions of a published report in Environmental Science and Technology claiming that “conventional crops have lower environmental impacts than algae in energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and water.” The report was based upon obsolete data and grossly outdated business models, and overlooked tremendous improvements in technology and processes across the production cycle. ABO strongly believes that these obsolete data and faulty assumptions seriously undermine the credibility of the study’s conclusions.

“We appreciate and support the interest in algae among the scientific community, and agree that examination of the life cycle impacts of algae for fuel processes is important,” said Mary Rosenthal, executive director of ABO. “However, we expect such research to be based on current information, valid assumptions and proven facts. Unfortunately, this report falls short of those standards with its use of decades old data and errant assumptions of current production and refining technologies.”

Among the many concerns of ABO about the report are:

• Assumptions about algae growth systems. The report uses a first generation, raceway-style pond system as its benchmark. Many leading algae companies abandoned that approach years ago and have a variety of more advanced cultivation systems, some of which are unrelated to the methods the authors sought to assess.
• Assumptions about co-location. By assuming the production facility is not co-located with a large CO2 emitter, calculations for sourcing CO2 are flawed, resulting in a higher attribution of CO2 for algae plants. Most commercial-scale algae projects are being developed alongside major emitters in order to beneficially reuse CO2 that will take the place of equivalent carbon emissions from petroleum fuels.
• Assumptions about water use. The study assumes fresh water and non-potable salt water are equal. A sustainable industrial algae production model uses non-potable, non-agricultural water in the process of making liquid fuels.
• Assumptions about nutrient use. Because the report does not look at the full algae fuel cycle, ignored is the opportunity to consider the ability of algae producers to recycle nutrients and avoid such a substantial burden.
• Assumptions about energy use. Because the authors admittedly did not consider the full algae fuel cycle, which allows energy reuse through biodigester biogas combustion coupled with the carbon recycling from all of the aspects of biodigestion, the report errantly gives a higher emissions burden.
• Assumptions about purchase of CO2 and fertilizer. The base case assumes algae farmers will purchase CO2 and fertilizer, yet such an approach is so prohibitively expensive it would never happen in reality. Yet those inputs are the major drivers of the negative impacts in the study.

Lastly, the authors make it very clear that their approach is “stochastic.” ABO believes the results of any stochastic study, defined as “of or pertaining to a process involving a randomly determined sequence of observations each of which is considered as a sample of one element from a probability distribution,” should not be given the same weight as studies and analyses based on facts and other measurable data.

“Even with the scientific shortcomings of the survey, it shows that with a few improvements, algae is much better than terrestrial plants as a fuel source,” said Dr. Stephen Mayfield, director of the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology. “The truth is that the algae industry is already well beyond the obvious improvements these authors suggest, and as we add these new efficiencies algae will become much more environmentally beneficial.”

In general, the Algae Biomass Organization firmly believes life cycle assessments are critical to the development of the industry, given the need to accurately assess and quantify the environmental impact of algae-derived energy. Its membership supports the development of robust LCAs, but believes that the process should include input from a multitude of stakeholders, including algae technology companies, NGO’s and other scientists. ABO has published a set of guidelines for LCA on itswebsite and is working with a cross section of industry leaders to develop a definitive LCA framework for algal biomass systems.

About the ABO
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and advocate for the development of commercially-viable transportation and power generation fuels as well as other non-energy applications for algae biomass. 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.

Contact:
John Williams, Scoville PR for ABO
206-625-0075,  jwilliams@scovillepr.com

Industry group identifies three priorities for legislators, throws support behind four bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 19, 2009) – The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) conducted a policy briefing to make the case for legislation to help accelerate the commercialization of algal biomass-based energy solutions. In open forums and individual briefings with legislators, ABO and its members delivered key insights gleaned from surveys of more than 400 algae industry leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs and end users. They also identified and voiced support for several pieces of legislation currently being considered by Congress.

On behalf of its more than 170 members, ABO focused on three key messages for policymakers.
First, the majority of respondents believe that the most compelling attributes of algae are its ability to serve as a replacement for fossil-based fuels while also beneficially re-using carbon dioxide. While algae have tremendous potential for many other uses in the long term, the industry believes that the most pressing needs are in the areas of energy independence and carbon dioxide reduction.

Second, when it comes to the development of standards and other regulations, the industry survey identified the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency as the three most appropriate Federal entities with whom to interface today. Nonetheless, ABO recognizes the important role the Department of Defense has played in fostering acceptance and use of algae-based fuels.
Third, within the industry there is broad support for the development of lifecycle assessments and technical standards that benchmark the environmental impacts and benefits of algae-based technologies. Such data are imperative to illustrating the long term sustainability of algae biomass and quantifying its environmental impact. These must be developed in concert with algae developers as well as other stakeholders, including key environmental NGOs.

These messages are particularly relevant as Congress and the Obama administration continue to support the development of sustainable and renewable energy technologies. No fewer than half a dozen bills, amendments and regulations concerning algae’s treatment as a biofuel feedstock are currently being considered in Congress. Legislative support for feedstock parity that puts algae on a level playing field with other biofuel feedstocks is absolutely essential to algae’s potential for radically changing the domestic energy industry. Such legislation would also complement tremendous advances that have been made over the past two years in the algae industry’s technological development, commercialization efforts and investment from the financial community and oil industry.

“The legislative decisions being made today will impact our industry now and far into the future,” said Mary Rosenthal, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “It’s important that policymakers fully understand the potential for algae to help resolve critical issues facing our world – GHG emissions reduction, energy security and job creation – all of which a strong algae industry will help address.”

In addition to the key themes and messages, ABO and its member companies identified several key pieces of legislation for support, including:

Renewable Fuels Promotion Act of 2009 (S. 1250). Sponsored by Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), this bill would give algae-based fuels tax parity with cellulosic biofuels.

Algae Fuel Parity Act (HR 3460). Sponsored by Representative Brian Bilbray (R-CA), this bill would amend the Clean Air Act to include algae-based biofuels in the Renewable Fuel Standard and in the cellulosic biofuel producer tax credit.

American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (HR 2454). Sponsored by Henry Waxman (D-CA) and supported by Edward Markey (D-MA), this legislation recognizes algae’s ability to beneficially reuse CO2 and ensures algae’s place in a cap-and-trade regime.

Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act of 2009 (S. 1733). The Kerry-Boxer bill sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator John Kerry (D-MA) recently was amended in the chairman’s mark to level the playing field for advanced green biofuels and recognize the potential of algae to beneficially reuse CO2, create jobs and increase the nation’s energy independence. The bill also includes the House provision that makes room for algae-based fuels in a cap-and-trade regime. The RFS amendment was offered by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Senator Tom Carper (D-DE). This bill also has seen key support from Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) who supported algae-based fuels during the process.

These bills collectively reflect the initiatives undertaken by ABO and its member companies during the past year, during which they stressed two key needs. First, algae must receive the same tax incentives, subsidies and other financial benefits currently accorded other feed stocks. In addition, the industry believes that algae must be recognized as an effective carbon reduction strategy and safe for commercial production under the same regulations governing other traditional renewable fuel feedstocks.

“With many thanks to the hard work and advocacy of our member companies and several elected officials, we are close to achieving the goals we set earlier this year,” said Rosenthal. “The industry, and as a result our environment, national security and economy will benefit.”

About the ABO
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and advocate for the development of commercially-viable transportation and power generation fuels as well as other non-energy applications for algae biomass. 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.

Contact:
John Williams, Scoville PR for ABO
206-625-0075,  jwilliams@scovillepr.com

Publicly available testimony highlights algae’s role as a carbon-reducing, sustainable biofuel feedstock and the need for financial and regulatory parity to support development of industry, commercialization

WASHINGTON – October 29, 2009 – The Algae Biomass Organization’s (ABO) Executive Director Mary Rosenthal testified before Congress today on the economic and environmental benefits of algae-based fuels, as well as on steps legislators can take to ensure algae receive[s] benefits and financial incentives similar to those afforded to other biofuel feedstocks. As the leading trade organization representing the broad interests of the burgeoning algae industry, the ABO was asked to present testimony to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research, which has jurisdiction over energy and bio-based energy production, on the status of 2nd and 3rd generation biofuel feedstocks.

During her testimony to the Subcommittee, Ms. Rosenthal outlined the key benefits of algae-based fuels as compared to other feedstocks, including commercial scalability, carbon dioxide recycling, use of non-arable land for production, and the wide range of fuel products such as ethanol, biodiesel, and biojet that can be derived from algae. Ms. Rosenthal reinforced the position of the ABO and its more than 170 members organizations that algae are a sustainable, renewable feedstock that will strengthen the United States’ energy independence should be a key component of an overall national low-carbon energy policy.

Rosenthal outlined three key actions that Congress can take to ensure parity for the algae industry with other next generation feedstocks. Those recommendations included:

• Financial parity – Algae should receive the same tax incentives, subsidies and other financial benefits that other renewable fuels, particularly cellulosic biofuels, receive.
• Regulatory parity – Algae is currently excluded from the majority of the Renewable Fuel Standard, due to a 16 billion gallon carve out for cellulosic biofuels. The carve out should be changed so that it is technology neutral, thus allowing algae-based and other environmentally sustainable fuels to contribute to our nation’s efforts to become energy independent.
• Recognition of carbon dioxide reuse– Algae’s unique ability to turn carbon dioxide into renewable fuels will allow the organism to play a significant role in abating carbon emitted by industrial sources. Consequently, algae’s beneficial reuse of carbon dioxide should be acknowledged and accounted for in carbon capture and sequestration legislation.

Ms. Rosenthal’s testimony reflected conclusions and policy positions drawn during the organization’s recent 3rd annual Algae Biomass Summit, held on October 7-9 in San Diego. The Algae Biomass Summit is the algae industry’s premier global conference and is designed to highlight scientific advances and encourage knowledge sharing to accelerate the development of algae-based solutions for global energy, environmental and economic issues. The third annual summit drew more than 700 attendees from across the industry (academia & science, private & public sector, finance, etc.) and featured more than 70 expert speakers, 45 poster presentations and 25 exhibitors, providing attendees a wide range of information and expertise on the algae industry.

About the ABO
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and advocate for the development of commercially-viable transportation and power generation fuels as well as other non-energy applications for algae biomass. 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.
Media Contact:
John Williams, Scoville PR for ABO
206-625-0075, jwilliams@scovillepr.com

ABO believes provisions will strengthen algae industry, promote development and commercialization of algae-based fuels

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 28, 2009 – The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the leading trade association for the industry, today recognized the leadership of Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, for including the RFS amendment offered by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Chair of the Senate Energy Committee, and Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) in the Chairman’s mark of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733). The amendment effectively levels the playing field for advanced green biofuel feedstocks, and recognizes the potential of algae to reduce CO2 emissions, create jobs and increase the nation’s energy independence.

The key provision in the chairman’s mark clarifies the mandates outlined in the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) of the Clean Air Act. The “Advanced Green Biofuels” amendment establishes greenhouse gas reduction targets for the fuels produced from the renewable biomass and clarifies that algae and other renewable biomass which meet these standards qualify under the RFS.

“By adding the Bingaman-Carper amendment, Senator Boxer and her colleagues on the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works have addressed one of the biggest challenges to commercialization of algae-based biofuels – parity with other feedstocks,” said Mary Rosenthal, Executive Director of the ABO. “Since algae-based fuels meet the requirements of the RFS for emissions reductions and renewable biomass, it is only fair that they be treated the same as other feedstocks.”

In addition, ABO recognized the participation and leadership of Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) who supported algae-based fuels during the process.

About the ABO
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and advocate for the development of commercially-viable transportation and power generation fuels as well as other non-energy applications for algae biomass. 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.

Contact:
John Williams, Scoville PR for ABO
206-625-0075,  jwilliams@scovillepr.com

More than 800 industry experts to attend three-day event designed to encourage knowledge sharing and highlight advances in industry

SEATTLE – September 8, 2009 – The 2009 Algae Biomass Summit, the official conference of the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) and the algae industry’s premier global conference, announced today it is expecting to draw more than 800 attendees for a three-day event exploring the development of algae-based solutions to global energy, environmental, and economic issues. The third annual summit, which will take place October 7-9, 2009 in San Diego, will also include a record number of more than 70 expert speakers, 70 poster presentations and 25 exhibitors, providing attendees a wide range of information and expertise on the algae industry.

“The quality of speakers and presenters, record number of abstract submissions and high registrations for this year’s Algae Biomass Summit reflects the growing promise of algae as a crucial source for clean and renewable energy,” said Thomas Byrne, Chair of the ABO’s Event Committee and founder of Byrne & Company Ltd. “This conference will be the premier event for the industry and will provide a preeminent platform for cooperation and advancement in algal technology and policy.”

The ABO has posted the final conference agenda, which features dozens of presentations from national and international technologists, producers, scientists, investors, and policy-makers. During the course of the event, these leaders and the hundreds of attendees will discuss issues of critical importance to the emerging algae industry, including the commercial viability of algae production, current government and private initiatives, evolving technologies, processing concepts, and venture and project finance.

Dr. J. Craig Venter, a well-known leader in genomics and the founder of Synthetic Genomics, Inc., will open the summit with his keynote presentation titled “From Reading to Writing the Genetic Code.” Also featured at the summit will be a tribute session to Ralph Lewin, “the father of green algae genetics”, a distinguished scientist, author and professor, who spent nearly 50 years at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.

The Algae Biomass Summit’s founding sponsors are Byrne & Co Ltd and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Additional sponsors include FedEx, Raytheon, The Boeing Company, Airbus, Stoel Rives, Invitrogen, and Sapphire Energy.

More information, including registration for the 2009 Summit, is available online: www.algaebiomass.org/events.

About the ABO
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and advocate for the development of commercially-viable transportation and power generation fuels as well as other non-energy applications for algae biomass. 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
206-625-0075,  jwilliams@scovillepr.com