Department of Energy announces the 2016 National Algal Biofuels Technology Review

by Paul Mullen

The United States Department of Energy, recently announced an update to the 2010 National Algal Biofuels Technology Review. The Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) conducted multiple workshops, and worked alongside research partners to ensure that the 2016 National Algal Biofuels Technology Review will spearhead new technology while displaying the current position of the accelerating algal biofuels industry. This review is a fantastic resource for researchers, engineer’s and decision makers, by providing a summary of algal biofuel research progress to date and the challenges that could be addressed by future RD&D activities.

Three algae companies awarded $1 million each by the Energy Department

by Paul Mullen

The Energy Department announced that they will be awarding 23 small businesses with $1 million each over the next two years to help the small businesses advance their concepts. Three algae companies were among those selected:

• Manta Biofuel LLC – Development of a high throughput algal dewatering system using magnetic particles which will enable domestic production of renewable gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel.

• MicroBio Engineering – Algal bioflocculation for solid-liquid separation. A low-cost, scalable process of algae harvesting will be developed for biofuel production and demonstrated at a significant scale.

• Techverse Inc – Advanced, low-cost, system for algae dewatering. This project will develop a novel algae dewatering system meeting U.S. DOE’s performance and cost targets for algae harvesting.

For more information regarding the awards and a complete list of all the companies click here.

Heliae’s PhycoTerra Microalgae-Based Soil Amendment Registered for Specialty Crops

Heliae Development LLC, an ABO member company based out of Arizona (site of the 2016 Algae Biomass Summit), has successfully registered its PhycoTerra, a soil amendment comprised of mixotrophic microalgal cultures, for use on specialty crops grown in the United States.

Dr. Jon Hansen, vice-president, science and technology at PhycoTerra states, “compared to macroalgae products, such as kelp and seaweed extracts, the whole cell microalgae in PhycoTerra supplements soil by adding or restoring natural elements from microalgae that are found in healthy soil ecosystems.”

To develop the microalgae-based soil amendment, Heliae uses its unique pasteurization process that stabilizes the microalgae and maintains its valuable attributes that facilitate healthy plants and the bicrobiome of the soil.

PhycoTerra’s trials on vegetable and fruit crops have shown promising results, including improved plant stands and healthier plants overall, which will ultimately lead to more marketable fruit.

“When you consider all of these benefits, especially the potential to harvest higher marketable yields of top quality crops earlier in the growing season, it’s clear that PhycoTerra has a bright future in U.S. crop production,” adds Hylon Kaufmann, business and sales strategy specialist.

For more information about Heliae’s PhycoTerra, visit http://phycoterra.com/

And don’t forget to register for the Algae Biomass Summit!

ATP3 Workshop: Microalgal Culture Management and Strain Selection

Sign up for the upcoming Algae Testbed Public-Private Partnership (ATP3) workshop, “Algal Culture Management and Strain Selection,” held in Austin, TX on August 22-26, 2016.

Presentations will cover the fundamentals of isolating and identifying microalgae, handling and managing microalgal cultures (including methods for cryopreservation), screening strains for desirable characteristics, genetically improving strains, and analysis of lipids and higher-value products.

ATP3 offers superior formal and informal education and training in the use of microalgae as feedstock for biofuels and coproducts, through hands-on learning opportunities, workshops, and seminars held at ATP3 partner sites and selected public events.

Click here for details.

Could Kelp be the new Kale?

by Paul Mullen

Kale, known as a superfood for its nutritional values, contains large amounts of calcium, iron, vitamin A & C. To grow kale there are certain requirements such as arable land, freshwater and often time fertilizer and pesticides. Kelp on the other hand requires no arable land, no freshwater, no fertilizer and no pesticides. Kelp also has many nutritional values as it provides a healthy dose of iodine, potassium, calcium, protein, soluble fiber, Omega 3 fatty acids and other micronutrients. Kelp not only benefits humans through its nutritional values as it also benefits the environment as it absorbs carbon dioxide thus reducing ocean acidification. National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” explores the future of kelp cuisine. Read the full article and hear the NPR report here.