Category: Blog

The Algae Biomass Summit kicked off yesterday and judging from the excitement here in Orlando the momentum around algae is stronger than ever.

In addition to the exciting agenda of commercialization and research updates there is a new event this year. The Young Innovators Lounge is specifically aimed at connecting the new generation of ABO members with established algae companies and researchers. The Young Innovators Lounge will be a place where ABO members that have recently finished their education, or are soon to finish, can showcase their curriculum vitae.

Additionally, companies, academic institutions and national labs will be able to post employment, internship and research opportunities. If you are one of the attending employers at the Summit ABO encourages you to consider posting job announcements, supplying company materials, joining them for a discussion, or browse CV’s for the newest and brightest algal researchers!

If you have materials which you would like to supply, you may drop them off at the ABO booth at the Summit.

Further, during each of the Energy Breakout Sessions, the Young Innovators Lounge will host leaders from both industry and academia for “round table” discussions to discuss research and speak candidly with young ABO members.

Stop by the ABO booth in the exhibit hall here in Orlando for more information!

Media sponsor note: As part of their media sponsorship for the 2013 Algae Biomass Summit Marketwired has generously offered to provide attending companies with a discounted rate on press releases distributions. Marketwired distributions let you reach media and other influencers around the world, allow you to add SEO-friendly keywords, hyperlinks and multimedia like images and video, and give you a metrics dashboard to gauge your reach and visibility.

Stop by ABO’s booth in the exhibit hall the the Summit to learn how attendees can take advantage of this offer!

 

Something was missing from the EPA’s proposal to regulate how much carbon dioxide can be emitted from new power plants: algae and other technologies that can absorb tons of CO2 as they grow. Reusing carbon dioxide emissions to grow algae that can then be turned into fuels, fertilizers, biochemicals or other products would associate a revenue stream with emissions reduction, rather than the costs associated with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), EPA’s preferred method in the new rules.

It is true that CCS has the potential to prevent a lot of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere, but experts also predict it could as $60 dollars per ton of CO2 to capture the gas and bury it underground. This form of waste disposal is one way to reduce emissions, but options to reuse or recycle the gases also deserve to be included.

The EPA’s draft rule briefly mentions using CO2 emissions in manufacturing and production, but not nearly with the same level of detail as CCS. This is why ABO released a statement encouraging the EPA to include carbon capture and reuse (CCR) as an approved strategy for compliance under its New Source Performance Standard.

“It’s time to turn the lemon of carbon emissions into lemonade,” said Mary Rosenthal, Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “By transforming what is currently viewed as waste product into a new revenue stream, we can achieve a rare trifecta – overall emissions reductions, a return on investment, and job growth that comes with a new domestic industry for renewable commodities.”

In addition to the statement, Mary also chimed in on a recent discussion at the National Journal’s Energy Experts blog on the subject.

The EPA is accepting comments on the rules for 60 days (as of September 2o), and ABO is encouraging anybody that would like to see algae play a role in emissions reductions strategies to submit their own comments. ABO will be doing the same, but the more we let the EPA know these technologies are available, and that they can introduce a new incentive to reduce CO2 emissions, the better.

A new life cycle analysis of fuels made from algae, such as gasoline, low sulfur diesel and jet fuel, concludes they can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 68 percent over petroleum. The same peer reviewed research shows that the energy that can be obtained from algae-derived fuels exceeds the amount of energy needed to produce them, and they are even approaching energy returns that are comparable to petroleum. ABO’s press release has more details. 

This research is significant because it is the first life cycle analysis that looks at data from real world production. Most previous studies have used laboratory data or theoretical projections. The fact that data from an operating algae-to-energy farm shows such great results is extremely encouraging for an industry that is moving quickly toward commercial production.

More coverage of this research can be found at Green Car Congress, CleanTechnica, Greenwire (subscription) and TG Daily.

One other important note about the state of today’s algae technology is the rapid pace of development. The authors of the study note that with expected improvements in the industry algae biofuels are set to surpass advanced biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol in terms of both energy returns and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Last Friday ABO-member Algix held a grand opening for its newest facility near Marion Junction, Alabama that harvests the algae from catfish-farming operations for processing into biodegradable plastics.

The Selma-Times Journal has the story and pictures. Among the impressive details about Algix’s products is the news that the company is already working with an impressive list of companies looking for suppliers of sustainable products: Apple, Clorox, BASF and Shaw.

Algix is also a great example of the algae industry integrating with traditional farming industries. The company expects a rapid increase in the number of catfish farmers it works with. The Selma-Times quoted Butch Wilson, president of Catfish Farmers of America:

“The bottom line is going to be affected significantly,” Wilson said. “We will have to use less chemicals and farmers will also get cash from allowing Algix to clean up their ponds. Honestly, I think this is like discovering oil.”

The grand opening at the Algix facility was also part of ABO’s Summer of Algae, an educational campaign my member companies to open their doors and show the public, policy makers and the media some of the exciting developments in the rapidly growing algae industry. Other events this summer have included an open house at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences’ National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota (NCMA) in East Boothbay, Maine  and a certificate of appreciation presented to Representative Matt Salmon (R-AZ) by Arizona-based ABO member Heliae.

The Algae Testbed Public-Private-Partnership (ATP3) at Arizona State recently announced open enrollment for its latest workshop on algae cultivation techniques.

The ASU News site as more information on the workshop and how to sign up.

This workshop is ideal for those interested in obtaining a broad overview of the management of microalgal cultures at scale, and for advanced students and trainees interested in the practical applications of microalgae. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, share information and network. Printed and electronic materials will be included and a certificate of completion will be provided at the conclusion of the workshop. Workshop enrollment is limited to 15 participants and will be filled on a first-come basis. Be sure to sign up at atp3.org/education.