Category: Blog

The 2017 Algae Biomass Summit convened in Salt Lake City last month, and for those of you that were not able to attend, we can report that the event was one of our most successful showcases of the countless applications for algae that are developing in hundreds of markets.

Researchers, entrepreneurs, government agencies and investors had a chance to mingle, exchange information, and plan ahead for new initiatives in R&D and commercial partnerships. Some of the most dynamic topics included:

Water Quality and Nutrient Recovery

Microalgae-based approaches to nutrient recovery were even more popular this year, with new projects underway that harness algae in recovering excess nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients from municipal, industrial, and agriculture sources. Leading algae water treatment technology developers, utilities, and other players joined several sessions at the Summit, and nearly 25% of all Summit attendees signed up for the special tour of water treatment facilities that use algae technology in the Salt Lake area.

Health & Nutrition

Few sectors in the algae industry have seen more commercial progress than food and supplements such as omega-3 oils, which are invaluable as antioxidants, immune stimulants and anti-inflammatory ingredients. From new brands such as iWi from Qualitas Health, to the food ventures like Nonfood and Algama, algae are increasingly being looked to as a sustainable source of alternative proteins and plant-based ingredients. Many of these were featured at the Summit’s Algae Product Showcase, a dynamic display in the exhibit hall that gave attendees a chance to see first-hand a number of new and innovative algae products that are hitting the shelves.

Energy and Manufacturing

We all know that algae are a promising technology platform for manufacturing and energy, and developments discussed at the Summit demonstrate this path is still wide open. Summit attendees learned about the latest algae-based systems for CO2 mitigation that are being actively demonstrated at multiple power plants and manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada. Algal systems are also being used in manufacturing, with companies such as Algix stimulating excitement for their plastics and foams that are in use by a number of major product manufactures.

One lesson from 2017 is that the potential for algae seems endless! We saw more possibilities than ever before, and we saw more commercial products for consumers and services for municipalities and other partners.

We are putting the finishing touches on plans for 2018 Algae Biomass Summit! Keep your eyes open and be ready to make plans for the most important event in the algae industry.

See first-hand how algae is being used to recycle waste into value in
advanced water treatment operations during this tour only available to attendees of the Algae Biomass Summit in Salt Lake City.  Tour stops include:

South Davis Sewer District Plant: See how CLEARAS Water Recovery’s Advanced Biological Nutrient Recovery (ABNR™) technology is being used to recover phosphorous and nitrogen from wastewater, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, produce clean, recoverable water, and generate revenue from valuable co-products. 

Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility: See an algal biofilm technology applied for both wastewater remediation and bioproduct production at the largest municipal wastewater reclamation plant in Utah, processing in excess of 65 million gallons per day.

Salt Lake Algal Bloom Inspection: Learn about the types of green algae that are presenting challenges for recreation and irrigation, and the research approaches being implemented for the protection of human health and environment.

Several exciting applications for algae are attracting increased attention among algae entrepreneurs, investors and researchers. This year the agenda of the Algae Biomass Summit has been organized along special programming themes so that attendees can more easily attend the sessions that align with their own interests and network with the most relevant contacts. Read below to learn more about these topics and plan your trip to the Summit accordingly!

Algae for Water Quality and Nutrient Recovery

Microalgae-based approaches to nutrient recovery are gaining traction as the cost-advantage approach to recovering excess nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients from municipal, industrial, and agriculture sources. Hear from leading algae water treatment technology developers, utilities, and other players on how algae are changing the conversation on water quality through nutrient recycling and innovative downstream products.

Wednesday, November 1, 8:00 – 9:30 am

Waste Not, Want Not: Optimizing the Use of Algae as a Treatment Method for Wastewater

Wednesday, November 1, 10:45 – 12:15 pm

Nutrient Recycling: Cashing in on Carbon, Nitrogen, and Other Nutrients and Turning Environmental Mitigation into Economic Opportunity

Wednesday, November 1, 1:15 – 6:15 pm

Utah Algae Water Technology Tour

Innovations in Algae for Health & Nutrition

From omega-3 oils to antioxidants, immune stimulants and anti-inflammatory ingredients, a growing catalog of algae-derived health and nutrition products is hitting store shelves – with more on the way. Algae are also increasingly being looked to as a sustainable source of alternative proteins and plant-based food ingredients and as a promising production platform for innovative therapies and new drugs. This year’s conference features exhibits, presentations and networking with leading developers of algal DHA/EPA, astaxanthin, beta glucans, phycocyanin, and other nutraceutical ingredients; plant-based food alternatives; functional proteins and therapeutics.

 
Sunday, October 29, 7:00  – 8:30 pm
Algae 101 / Meet the Elite
Whether attending for the first time or the 11th, you will take something valuable from this industry orientation.

Monday, October 30, 9:00 – 10:15 am
Plenary Session 1: The Growing Role of Algae in Health & Nutrition
Whether as a sustainable source of alternative proteins, nutraceuticals and oils, or as a production platform for innovative therapies and new drugs, algae are increasingly a key source of health and nutrition solutions for the 21st century. This panel brings together algae innovators with brand owners – from global nutrition leaders to pioneers in plant-based products — to discuss opportunities and challenges in bringing algae health solutions to the global market.

Monday, October 30, 1:45 – 3:15 pm
Producing and Recovering Nutraceuticals and Other High Valued Nutritional Products
A variety of high valued products are being investigated in the commercial space. This session will present on challenges and advancements not only in production but recovery of Spirulina, Astaxanthin, Polyunsaturated Oils, and Omega-3 oil

 Applications of Algae in Oil & Gas, Mining, Manufacturing and Energy

Microalgae are emerging as a promising technology platform for a growing number of applications in extractive industries, manufacturing and energy. With support from the Department of Energy, algae-based systems for CO2 mitigation through carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) are being actively demonstrated at multiple power plants and manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada. Algal systems are also being evaluated for treatment of produced water, mining waste, and other industrial waste streams. And investments by leading energy companies, refiners and other public and private partners are delivering key advances in the production of algae-based transportation fuels and other products and materials.

Tuesday, October 31, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Navigating the Dual Role of Carbon as Pollutant and Critical Feedstock

Tuesday, October 31, 3:15 – 4:45 pm
Striving to Close the Cycle: Role of Algae in the Fossil Fuel and Mining Industry

Wednesday, November 1, 8:00 – 9:30 am
Industry Leaders: Commercial Progress in Carbon, Water and Fuels

Wednesday, November 1, 10:45 am – 12:15 pm
PLENARY SESSION – Nutrient Recycling: Cashing in on Carbon, Nitrogen, and Other Nutrients and Turning Environmental Mitigation into Economic Opportunity

Register for the Summit Today! 

Did you know the 2017 Algae Biomass Summit is still accepting applications for poster presentations? Submit your research, commercialization milestone or other breakthrough today to the largest algae conference!

Graduate and post-doc presenters are also eligible for theYoung Researcher Poster Competition! Cash prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. The closing date to participate in the poster competition is October 1.

This year will mark the 11th Algae Biomass Summit. It is a truly exciting time for algae with transformative changes emerging from technologies to end markets. We especially seek abstracts that present new discoveries, innovations and commercial progress in algae-based solutions in key markets including

1. food, feed and nutrition;
2. monetizing carbon, nutrient, and other waste streams; and
3. energy and fuels.

Submit your abstract here to be considered.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) and Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) each issued one additional algae research award this week bringing the total investment in algae by the DOE in 2017 thus far to 28 projects worth nearly $44 million — the strongest signal yet that ABO’s investment in education and advocacy is yielding strong returns for the algae sector.

On Friday, Michigan State University announced it has been awarded a $1 million grant from FE to explore algae-based technologies to capture power plant emissions and sustainably turn them into valuable products. This becomes the third algae carbon capture and use (CCU) project to be funded by FE following ABO’s successful effort in 2016 to increase CCU funding at FE to $10 million annually. 

On Tuesday, BETO announced up to $3.5 million has been awarded under the Algal Biomass Yield, Phase 2 (ABY2) funding program to a team led by the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). The team also includes Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines, Arizona State University, Sandia National Laboratories, POS Bio-Sciences, Sapphire Energy, and Utah State University. DOE awarded $15 million for three  additional ABY2 projects in 2016. 

The latest awards are on top of the 18 awards totaling $22 million for macroalgae research issued this month by ARPA-E under the MARINER program; seven awards totaling over $16 million issued by BETO under the PEAK funding opportunity earlier this year; and $1 million FE grant to the University of Kentucky to continue their algae CCU pilot project with Duke Energy.