Author: Carrie Cox

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is hosting a workshop on Carbon Capture and Utilization in Orlando, Florida from May 23-24. The workshop will feature speakers from the DOE Office of Fossil Energy to talk through strategies with experts on the intersection of CCU and algae cultivation.

The aim of the gathering is to collect stakeholder input on the following areas:

• Sourcing CO2, including quality, quantity, siting and transport considerations
• CO2 utilization and carbon balances in end products
• Strategies to reduce costs and sustainably produce algal biofuels and bioproducts while utilization waste CO2.

Registration, lodging information, and a draft agenda can be found on the workshop webpage.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, has released a Request for Applications (RFA) that should be of interest to many in the algae industry.

The USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative-Sustainable Bioenergy and Bioproducts Challenge Area is designed to achieve the long-term goal of advancing the bioeconomy by facilitating development of regional systems for the sustainable production of bioenergy, industrial chemicals, and biobased products from renewable sources and building a strong workforce, increasing stakeholder engagement, and informing policy makers.

They are soliciting applications in two priority areas:

• Lignin or nano-cellulosic co-products from biomass feedstocks
• Biomass feedstock genetic development and evaluation

Applications can come in the form of research projects, multi-function integrated Research, Education and/or Extension projects and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants.

The closing date for the RFA is Wednesday, June 28, 2017.

For more details, please visit the USDA website.

ABO is offering a special spring discount for those attending the 11th annual Algae Biomass Summit! If you register before the end of the month of April, you can save up to $300. After April 30^th, our regular Early Bird Rates will be in effect.

This year’s Algae Biomass Summit is taking place in Salt Lake City from October 29-November 1. The world’s largest algae conference, the Summit unites industry professionals from all sectors of the world’s algae utilization industries including those involved financing, algal ecology, genetic systems, carbon partitioning, engineering & analysis, biofuels, animal feeds, fertilizers, bioplastics, supplements and foods.

The Algae Biomass Summit is where future and existing producers of algae products go to network with other industry suppliers and technology providers. It’s where project developers converse with utility executives; and where researchers and technology developers rub elbows with venture capitalists.

For more details, please visit the Algae Biomass Summit site.

On June 6–7, 2017, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) will sponsor a workshop to advance the understanding of current market barriers and opportunities for increasing the deployment of biofuels and bioproducts manufactured from wet and gaseous waste streams. 

Algae cultivation can be used to consume waste carbon dioxide from power generation or other industries, as well as wastewater from a variety of sources. The workshop will be an excellent chance to give BETO input on how algae can play a role in waste-to-energy conversion. 

The event’s primary purpose is to elicit stakeholder input about the following topic areas:

1. Key factors in feedstock disposition decision making
2. Critical biofuel and bioproduct customer considerations
3. Next steps for overcoming challenges and advancing commercialization.

Learn more about the workshop on BETO’s website.

ACI’s 7th European Algae Industry Summit is fast approaching. Taking place on 26th & 27th April 2017 in Nice, France, the two way event will bring together key players within the algae industry including leaders from food, feed, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics across the globe to join our forum discussions and gain a deeper understanding of recent industry developments and, most importantly, economically viable applications.

The event targets algae cultivation plant owners and operators, food, feed, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics companies, leading algae/biomass research institutes, technology providers for cultivation, harvesting, dewatering, drying, oil extraction and processing, plant engineers and constructors, algae end market users, biofuel producers and green energy & biotech investors.

Key Topics Include:

• Global Updates on Algae Trade
• LCA and Techno-Economic Analysis
• Market Establishment with High Value Applications Cultivation
• Efforts towards Economically Efficient Technologies
• Microalgae in Chemicals, Commodity & Speciality Feeds
• Waste Water Treatment
• Algae: The Future of Food?
• Advantages of Algae in Nutraceuticals & Cosmetics
• Industry Case Studies: What Can We Learn from Both Successes & Failures?

For more information and to view the latest agenda, please visit the event site.