Category: Blog

The 8^th annual Algae Biomass Summit kicked off today with the Algae Biomass Organization’s Executive Director Matt Carr challenging the algae industry to think:

Why are we here?

Forest fires, flooding, shrinking ice caps and other environmental disasters are becoming more prevalent and severe due to climate change. Food pressures, energy supplies and water shortages are become more serious economic and security challenges the world over.  Matt reminded the hundreds of Summit attendees that they have gathered in San Diego this week because the algae industry is part of the solution.

As a member of the algae community, you too can take action by signing ABO’s We the People petition to the White House.

The petition asks the White House to ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permits states to use carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies  as they work to meet emissions reductions targets set by the agency.

Farming algae requires large quantities of CO2, and using the waste CO2 from power generation to grow algal biomass that can be converted in to fuel, chemicals and other valuable products can flip the cost-equation that is traditionally associated with carbon capture. By recycling CO2 we can simultaneously reduce emissions and stimulate economic growth.

Take the next 2 minutes to support common sense, market-driven, job-creating and emissions-reducing technologies today! Sign the petition here:http://wh.gov/ilUxI.

Influential speakers from all across the country are coming together for the world’s largest algae event – the 2014 Algae Biomass Summit – taking place on September 29 – October 2, 2014.

While at the summit, we suggest that you attend former U.S. Army Captain and Truman Project Executive Director Mike Breen’s headline address on September 30, 2014 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am PT. Breen will highlight the role that advanced biofuels, like algae, can play in strengthening our national security.

Learn more about the Truman National Security Project and Executive Director Mike Breen here.

Congrats to Proterro today on their partnership with Bunge for a pilot study of Proterro’s sucrose-production technology in Brazil. Unlike most – if not all – other bio-based feedstock companies, Proterro makes sugars instead of consuming them.

Proterro’s patented sugar-making process uses CO2, sunlight and water, and integrates patented transgenic sugar-producing cyanobacteria with a patented photobioreactor for cultivating those microorganisms.

It’s yet another example of the versatility of algae and the importance of the EPA recognizing – and approving – the use of Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) as an approved emissions reduction strategy for power plants.

ABO continues to make the case for CCU with the EPA and the broader industry. We have a great panel of experts talking about this very topic at next week’s Algae Biomass Summit. The panel is moderated by Ron Kent, Southern California Gas Company, a SEMPRA Energy company and features Danielle Petrucci, U.S. Department of Energy – Office of Fossil Energy; Jamie Rhodes, Trestle Energy; Mark Allen, Accelergy Corporation; and Tim Zenk, Sapphire Energy.

The Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has issued a grant opportunity on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office. TheTargeted Algal Biofuels and Bioproducts (TABB) announcement seeks alternative pathways to overcome two key barriers to commercializing algal biofuels:

1. the cost of producing algal biomass; and

2. the yields of biofuel and bioproduct feedstocks produced from algae.

The goal is to enable a modeled minimum fuel selling price, assuming mature technologies, of less than $5 gasoline gallon equivalent for algal biofuels through creation of valuable products alongside fuels and achieving increased biomass productivity that leads to higher feedstock yields.

The submission deadline for concept papers is October 30, 2014. The deadline for full applications is December 15, 2014.

More information about this Funding Opportunity Announcement is available at:
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=266388

This new funding is a direct result of ABO’s successful efforts to secure $30 million in dedicated DOE support for algae biomass research and development. Thank you to all of you who weighed in with your Members of Congress in support of this effort.

Registered guests of the Algae Biomass Summit are invited to attend the Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Reception with San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

Sponsored by 

The Marriott Hall is located just outside of the North Tower at the Marriott Marquis and Marina Hotel.