Category: Blog

Yesterday the leading topic at the Algae Biomass Summit here in Denver was the unique advantages algae have in the field of sustainability. An ABO press release goes into more details about yesterday’s proceedings. Biomass Magazine also just published this great update on the day’s discussions.

The Summit is generating other news in the press. Some of the recent coverage:

• Ryan Warner at Colorado Public Radio interviewed Colorado-based Summit participants on the potential of algae to provide fuel and feed. Absolutely worth a listen for the discussion on the importance of algae co-products like paper, plastics, pigments, dyes and proteins.

• This morning Scott Streater at E&E News details the significance of Senator Mark Udall’s comments to Summit attendees made on Monday. Streater quotes the senator discussing the importance the Department of Defense investments in biofuel:

“While Congress drags its feet and argues about whether alternative energy is a waste of time and money, the military is charging ahead with a wide variety of programs that are saving lives and money right now,” Udall said.

He said yesterday that these efforts are likely to advance biofuels technology significantly, and that instead of cutting this research back in the name of fiscal restraint, the federal government should be investing more heavily into alternative fuels research.

• Jim Lane at Biofuels Digest today looks at BioProcess Algae and how algae technology is making C02 streams a valuable source of revenue.

• Tom Bryan at Biodiesel Magazine writes about impending commercialization trends discussed at the Summit.

Today’s agenda is filled with breakout panels on commercialization, science and policy. Tomorrow we conclude with the Young Algae Researcher awards and presentation of Below the Surface’s algae-fueled motorcycle. Still plenty of time to learn the latest from industry leaders and the next generation of algae innovators!

We kicked off the sixth Algae Biomass Summit here in Denver yesterday afternoon with a crowded hall of more than 700 listening to Senator Mark Udall’s keynote that highlighted the national security dimensions that go along with developing a commercial algae industry here in the United States.

The military has a long history of developing technologies that are critical to its mission, and biofuels are no exception.

A press release today goes into more detail about the opening remarks and panel discussion among several algae business leaders that followed. Jim Lane of Biofuels Digest moderated the conversation and wrote today about some of the news, including Algenol’s announcement that they have achieved production rates of 7000 gallons/acre, in today’s edition of the Digest.

And just outside an exhibition hall that includes the latest technology and service providers to the industy is Below the Surface’s record-breaking algae-fueled motorcycle.

Creating commercial quantities of biofuel from algae can be accelerated with smart public-private partnerships that bridge the research and development of new technologies with the large-scale production and operations that will be required to bring the new fuels and other products to market.

That’s why last week’s news from the Department of Energy is so good for algae’s prospects. DOE announced last Tuesday that a $15 million award for advancing algae production will go to supporting efforts at the Arizona State University led Algae Testbed Public-Private Partnership (ATP³).

This makes ATP³ the nation’s first algae technology testbed.

What’s a testbed? ATP³ is a network of research institutions and companies that will pool resources in a way that allows new algae technologies, strains and techniques to be tested and evaluated for their potential to succeed at large-scale production. The ability to conduct this kind of testing can boost new industries that are perfecting technologies in laboratory settings.

The DOE support of a national algae testbed shows that the incredible milestones the algae industry has achieved over the past few years, coupled with steady technical improvement, are convincing evidence that algae commercialization must be accelerated.

Given that the state government in Arizona has already passed sensible laws that support algae business, and that Arizona State has deep experience in algae research,  it is likely that ATP³ will be adding to the number of milestones already achieved.

You can read more about the ATP³ testbed and participating organizations at ASU News.

Algae innovation and commercialization will be hot topics at the Algae Biomass Summit in Denver, Colorado that is running September 24-27. Find out more and register here!

The big announcement today from the Algae Biomass Organization is that Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper will give an opening keynote at the Algae Biomass Summit in Denver on September 24.

From the press release:

“Colorado is home to some of the leading algae research and commercialization efforts and Governor Hickenlooper has been a strong advocate of clean energy and the benefits it can bring in terms of jobs, energy security and environmental sustainability,” said Mary Rosenthal, Executive Director of ABO. “The Governor’s decision to address the Summit is a reflection of how important the expanding algae industry is to finding new sources of renewable fuels, chemicals, feed and food without adverse impacts on water usage or valuable agricultural land.”

The Algae Biomass Summit, the largest algae conference in the world will convene in Denver Sept 24-27. Since it’s beginning six years ago the Summit has become the gathering and networking event for algae entrepreneurs, major corporations, suppliers, manufacturers, producers, end-users and policy experts. Some of the accolades from previous Summits:

“Invaluable information for all kinds of aspects of the whole algae industry.”
–Linxing Yao, Iowa State University

“The ABO summit provided the right mix of industry, academia, and interested investors, committed to building and expanding the role of algae in biofuels, feeds, and products. Collaborations and partnerships developed at ABO will influence the field and industry for decades to come.”
–Ryan Dorland, Ph.D., Cellana LLC

“It was one of the best conferences I’ve attended.”
–Lauro André Ribeiro, University of Coimbra

This year we are expecting one of the largest crowds yet, with attendees coming from around the world to discuss the latest breakthroughs and milestones, and to plan for the industry’s next steps.

Click here for more information and to register!

This week Mary Rosenthal, executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization, joins other energy leaders in a discussion about the United States’ energy independence in the National Journal’s Energy Expert Blog.

Mary notes that demand for fuels is going to continue, eventually surpassing the ability of fossil fuel supplies to be sufficient. If we want the benefits of improved energy independence, we can’t rely exclusively on existing sources, and the unique advantages of algae will make these incredibly efficient organisms an increasingly attractive option.

“If we want independence (the ability to produce more than we consume, forever), we can’t rely on sources of energy derived from finite resources. In the case of the algae industry, our “wells” are aboveground, never need digging and never run dry. Supporting technologies such as these will help get us a long way towards independence.”

To read Mary’s full response, and those of other experts, click here.