Category: Blog

Demonstrations of large-scale algae biofuels production have already occurred. Over 8 tons of algae biomass have been produced at Cellana’s six-acre Kona Demonstration Facility (pictured below) for testing in biofuel and other applications.

As we mentioned last week, thousands of gallons have been manufactured by fermentation for the U.S. Navy as it develops a “green fleet” that can operate on domestically-produced alternative fuel. Pilot plants are slated to go online in Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, and elsewhere in the country throughout 2012.

For more interesting information about algae production projects, please go to the algae industry section of AllAboutAlgae.com.

The Department of Energy’s Biomass Program has recently announced an open position well-suited for an algae and biofuels enthusiast with a background in science, engineering or technology. The physical scientist will act as a technology and project manager, interacting closely with the private sector and government agencies on biofuel and bioenergy sustainability areas. This would be a great opportunity for those interested in the development of ‘drop-in’ biofuels that are compatible with existing infrastructure, such as algal biofuels. Continue reading Looking for a Biofuels Job?

CNN.com has a great story this week about the U.S. Navy’s upcoming demonstration of its Great Green Fleet. The demonstration is the latest step toward the Navy’s plan to meet half of its energy needs with non-fossil fuels by 2020.

The Navy has already conducted extensive testing with algae-based biofuels, and has plans to purchase 450,000 gallons of drop-in biofuels, with 100,000 of those made from algal oils, for the fleet’s operations.

Read the full story at CNN.com.

Photo: Official U.S. Navy Imagery

 

 

The leaders of some of the largest companies in America are taking a serious look at how “drop-in” biofuels from algae can significantly contribute to the supplies of fuel they need for their operations.

In the video below, Joel Murdock, managing director of Strategic Products for FedEx Express discusses the benefits of algae-based fuel and how algae-based fuel will compete with petroleum-based fuel:

Among the benefits he cites:

• Algae’s extremely high yield of fuels
• Oils from algae can be processed into several products—jet fuel, diesel, naphtha, and more
• Algal fuels have already been certified for aircraft operations

The events of the past few years have made it clear that the United States can no longer ignore the threats to its economy, climate and national energy security rising from its dependence on petroleum fuel. Continue reading Why Algae?