Category: Blog

Algae biofuels get a lot of attention for the sheer impact they could have on our energy economy. A renewable supply of domestic fuels would deliver enormous environmental and economic advantages. But algae companies are finding that the road to fuel production also presents the opportunity to market algae-derived feed, food and nutraceutical products. In many cases these markets can be tapped well before commercial fuel production is viable.

Today at Nutraingredients-usa.com Hank Schultz looks at the different kinds of expertise required for fuel and nutraceutical markets in the algae industry. He interviews Greg Sower, a toxicologist for Environ International on what hurdles companies face as they look to tap into various markets, and how the variability of this relatively new industry is playing out.

It’s an informative read, whether you are a new algae entrepreneur or established industry leader.

Greg Sower is also a featured speaker at the upcoming Algae Biomass Summit in Orlando, Florida September 30-October 3. Early bird registration expires Monday, August 19. Hurry and register for the largest algae conference in the world!

 

The 7^th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, taking place in Orlando, Florida, September 30-October 3 highlights a wide range of new technologies and scientific breakthroughs in algae production systems during the Engineering and Analysis track.  Through more than 30 presentations, leading scientists, researchers, and industry innovators will discuss papers and offer presentations on the new methods for analyzing and producing algae-based products such as fuels, animal feed, nutritional products, bioplastics and chemicals.

“Groundbreaking research and best practices from around the industry will be presented at this year’s summit, highlighting the continuing innovation and new approaches to commercialize algae-based products,” said Ron Chance, Senior Scientific Advisor, Physical Sciences at Algenol and Chair of the Summit’s Engineering and Analysis track. “These presentations will showcase the key breakthroughs in production methods, extraction processes and cultivation techniques that can help bring sustainable, algae-based products to a wide range of industrial and consumer markets.”

Highlights from the Engineering and Analysis presentations include:

• Bounded Opportunities: Physical, Biological, Material and Economic Constraints on Photobioreactor Design

Pete Lammers, Professor, New Mexico State University

• A Comparison of Two Cultivation Systems: Open Pond and Algae Raceway Integrated Design (ARID)

James Richardson, Regents Professor & Senior Faculty Fellow, Texas A&M University

• Technical And Economic Aspects for Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Algae

John Holladay, Manager, Biomass Sector, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

• Low Energy, Wet Solvent Extraction

Jason Quinn, Assistant Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Utah State University

You can find the full agenda for the Algae Biomass Summit here, and remember to sign up by August 19^th to take advantage of early bird registration.

On August 1, the US Energy Department announced $16.5 million in grant funding to four groups focused on producing fuels from algae. Hawaii BioEnergy, New Mexico State University and ABO member Sapphire Energy each received $5 million, with California Polytechnic State University receiving $1.5 million.

These investments reinforce the promise of algae technology to help the Energy Department achieve its stated commitment of producing cost competitive algae biofuels by 2022.

“By partnering with industry and universities, we can help make clean, renewable biofuels cost-competitive with gasoline, give drivers more options at the pump and cut harmful carbon pollution,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.

The administration’s support further emphasizes how important advanced biofuels derived from sustainable sources like algae are for our energy security, economic growth and environment.

You can read the full announcement from the Energy Department here.

This past Friday at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences’ National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota (NCMA) in East Boothbay, Maine, the public was invited to an open house that was also the first Summer of Algae event of 2013.

Reports are that hundreds turned out the visit NCMA facility for tours that featured talks on the importance of maintaining the diversity of NCMA’s collection for future research in the biotechnology industry. Microscopes were also available for the attendees to view the strains close up.

Plenty of algae-related souvenirs were also available. Check out the “Got Algae” shirts in the picture on Bigelow’s Facebook page:

The Summer of Algae is ABO’s annual campaign of open-houses and educational events to raise awareness about the promise of commercial algae production to create jobs, domestic fuels, feed and food products, as well as plastics and biochemicals.

The series of open-house style events and news announcements gives local and national officials an opportunity to experience the research, products and jobs being created by leading algae companies and research institutions.

Read ABO’s press release of last week for a list of participating ABO members.

Today the Algae Biomass Organization announced the beginning of another annual Summer of Algae campaign. ABO members are opening their doors and making announcments as part of a coordinated effort to get the word out about the innovative work being done to commercialize algae cultivation as a renewable source of fuels, food, feed and speciality chemicals and plastics.

The Summer of Algae kicked off today with at event at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences’ National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota (NCMA) in East Boothbay, Maine.

Other participants in the campaign stretch from coast-to-coast and include ABO members Algenol (Florida); Algix (Alabama); Duke Energy (Kentucky); Matrix Genetics (Washington); Montana State University (Montana); Sapphire Energy (New Mexico and California); and the University of Arizona (Arizona).

More information is available in ABO’s press release, and keep an eye on this blog for updates on individual Summer of Algae events.

The Summer of Algae culminates with the 7^th annual Algae Biomass Summit, being held this year in Orlando, Florida September 30^th – October 3^rd.There is still time to get early-bird registration rates, and ABO members get an even better deal!