Category: Blog

A new research paper analyzes real-world algae cultivation techniques in open ponds to estimate the yields that are possible from commercial-scale operations. The results only confirm the optimism of so many of us at the Algae Biomass Organization.

Authors of the paper in Algal Research found that existing strains and techniques could yields biomass yields of up to 78 metric tons per hectare per year.

These yields are unprecedented for large-scale open pond systems to date. Since they are based on real-world cultivation they only make expectations for commercial production more exciting.

The authors also used their data to estimate that the capitol costs associated with starting a 111 hectare base case facility (that’s about 274 acres.) would be between $59 – 67 million.

The research was conducted at Cellana’s facility in Hawaii. Cellana is one of ABO’s members leading the way toward algae commercialization, expanding a model that capitalizes on algae’s potential to provide revenues across a range of products: human nutritional supplements, aquaculture feeds and fuels.

You can read the full study at ScienceDirect.com.

Last Wednesday Democratic Senators Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Brian Schatz of Hawaii introduced legislation that would tax carbon emissions in the United States, and return the revenues to citizens through rebates and other tax reductions. A carbon tax is a common policy prescription for dealing with climate change, but the “American Opportunity Carbon Fee Act,” includes one provision that no other proposed climate legislation has covered: it offers incentives to technologies that recycle carbon dioxide.

For the first time an emissions-reduction bill includes carbon capture and utilization (CCU) as an accepted method for power plants and other industries to achieve CO2 reductions. Algae cultivation and harvesting technology is just one of many approaches that can use carbon dioxide as a feedstock for plastics, biofuels, chemicals and other products.

Only recently has the process of CCU been recognized in Washington, DC for its potential to meaningfully contribute to emissions reductions, and do so at a profit, since the products that can be made from carbon dioxide have huge markets.

Senators Whitehouse and Schatz are among the first to include CCU in serious legislation. They deserve thanks for their foresight and hard work introducing this concept into the consciousness of policy makers.

The American Opportunity Carbon Fee Act is a chance to have a discussion about dealing with climate change in a way that protects our environment and allows for innovation across industries. The Algae Biomass Organization is grateful that supporters of this legislation have also acknowledged the important role that new and emerging technologies can have in making all our lives better.

By Matt Carr

The big news from last  month is that ABO’s efforts to secure new funding and regulatory support for supplying carbon dioxide to industrial algaecultivation operations is beginning to pay off.

Last week marked a significant victory for ABO’s efforts to raise the profile of algae‘s ability to consume carbon dioxide and help fight climate change: U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) introduced legislation to prioritize research and development of carbon utilization technologies at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fossil Energy program.

It’s hard to believe that just a year ago carbon utilization wasn’t on the mind of most sitting U.S. Senators, but thanks to the efforts of ABO members we have found a number of allies on Capitol Hill that recognize the enormous advantage that comes with the ability to convert CO2 emissions into valuable products.

With their help we can accelerate the day algae become a source of renewable fuels, chemicals, food and feed products – all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

We still have a ways to go. Despite simmering support for carbon utilization in the House and Senate, there is still a lot of momentum going against us. Much of the hesitation is due to the large and important effort at federal agencies that has already gone into developing other climate technologies, such as carbon sequestration, and the lack of information about cutting-edge technologies like algae.

We need widespread support for carbon utilization because it would unlock the supplies of CO2 that will drive the development of new algae products, help establish new R&D programs, and convince the largest food, energy and materials companies that algae, a new raw material, is ready for tomorrow’s sustainable economy.

In the coming months we will need your help. Congress is debating a variety of proposals that could support algae R&D; the Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to finalize rules that will guide how states will control greenhouse gas emissions; and unsustainable pressures on our food supplies and environment are worsening.

If you are ready to take a stand for algae please spend a few short moments right now and write a letter to your Congressional delegation asking for carbon utilization support across federal agencies.

We’ve made the process a little easier for you–just go straight to ABO’sAlgae Action Center.

All you have to do is enter your contact info, make your own custom edits to a letter we have drafted and click the “submit” button.

Thanks to all of those that have added their voices so far. We are making progress, and now is the time to accelerate our efforts.

Today the the U.S. EPA released a proposed rule containing 2014, 2015 and 2016 renewable volume requirements (RVOs) under the renewable fuel standard (RFS).

The ambitious but achievable advanced biofuel volumes outlined in today’s proposal are an important step toward restoring the investment climate for advanced biofuels, and to providing market confidence for algae-based and other advanced biofuels in the years to come. EPA’s November 2013 RFS proposal to dramatically lower advanced biofuel volumes was a mistake that, combined with ongoing delays in approving new fuel pathways, crippled investment in advanced biofuels over the past 18 months. The advanced biofuel volumes proposed today are a signal to advanced biofuel investors that they can begin again to invest boldly in these vital technologies.

To achieve the full energy security, economic development and greenhouse gas potential of advanced biofuels, however, EPA must leave no doubt in its final rule for 2015 and 2016 and in future year rules that advanced biofuel developers will have a market for their fuel by setting volumes that take the advanced biofuels industry beyond today’s market constraints – including the so-called “blend wall” – and into a new era of fuel choice for all Americans.

By converting industrial sources of CO2 to advanced biofuels, algae and similar carbon-eating micro-organisms offer an unprecedented opportunity to transform CO2 emissions from environmental challenge to economic opportunity. It’s time that federal policy fully embraced this opportunity. Today’s proposal offers an important step in this direction.