Category: Blog

For those interested in the latest in algae research, the current volume of Industrial Biotechnology is a special edition on Research Advances in Algae-Based Biofuels and Bioproducts.

The volume includes papers on innovations in open pond cultivation, high-value products, the energy-water-food nexus, and new approaches in analysis. Be sure to take a look at these valuable contributions!

The Vermont Bioenergy Initiative draws the connection between diversified agriculture and local renewable energy production for on farm and community use. Aiming to supply farm inputs and reduce fossil fuel consumption, this program supports research, technical assistance, and infrastructure development in emerging areas of bioenergy. Since 2003 the program has focused on biodiesel production and distribution for heating and transportation, oil crops for on-farm biodiesel and feed, grass for heating, and algae for biofuels and wastewater management.

With funding from the US Department of Energy secured by US Senator Patrick Leahy, the Vermont Bioenergy Initiative has supported a number of algae to biofuel research projects. This early-stage research and development is determining the most viable and cost-effective methods for accessing algae’s commercial potential to produce clean renewable energy while treating wastewater and supplying nutrient-rich feeds and food.

Dr. Anju Dahiya, president of General Systems Research (GSR) Solutions, a recipient of grant funds from the Vermont Bioenergy Initiative, has been looking for high lipid algae strains, and scaling those up to a level that could be available for commercial use, especially for biofuels.

“At GSR Solutions, we are looking at producing algae not just for biofuels, but combining it with waste water treatment and to produce other valued byproducts as well. This is very significant, because this would make algae production cost-effective. This would also help in nutrient recovery,” says Dahiya.

GSR Solutions will be assessing the feasibility of growing oleaginous algae strains in the company’s private lab in Burlington for up scaling with waste streams from dairy farms and breweries. These strains will create a biodiesel product that is interchangeable with home heating oil, diesel, and jet fuel. In addition, the process can produce an organic fertilizer that can substitute for imported synthetic versions.

For more on the potential for algae to produce biofuels and other products here in Vermont, including videos, reports, an image gallery, and helpful links, visit www.vermontbioenergy.com/algae.

Photo credit: GSR Solutions

Australia-based Aurora Algae announced its plan last week to build its first commercial algae farm, a decision that’s been under review since 2013.

Among the many factors the company considered were:

• Location – Aurora Algae’s algae grows best in salt water, in warm climates without too much rainfall. South Texas is a great fit for these requirements. NREL’s Simulated Algal Growth Environment reactor identified this region as a lucrative place to grow algae.

• Labor Cost – South Texas already has a very skilled local labor force at a cost 30% lower than in Australia.

• Existing Infrastructure – Aurora Algae is transforming an old 2,000 acre shrimp farm already equipped with infrastructure for 1,800 acres of ponds and movement of water. Texas A&M has emerged as a hotbed for algae research, which could be a valuable resource as well.  

The initiation of an algae development rush in the heart of oil country has begun. The Texas wind industry is already booming – let’s add another win for renewables!

Read Biofuels Digest’s interview with Aurora Algae’s CEO Greg Bafalis and corporate affairs chief Paul Brunato here.

The U.S. Navy is on a mission to find U.S.-made fuel that will achieve a stable and independent source of energy for the Navy along with national and economic security for the nation.

Algae could be part of the solution.

Just this week, Dennis McGinn, U.S. Navy Assistant Secretary for Energy, Instillations and Environment, paid a visit to Arizona State University’s Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI). AzCATI is the largest university-based algae facility on the globe.

“Algae biofuel represents great potential in that it is sustainable and scalable. That’s why we’re interested in working with ASU and the industry to advance this technology,” said McGinn.

Under the Defense Production Act, the U.S. Navy partners with the DOE and USDA to invest in industries that are determined crucial to national security – biofuel production is a huge priority and the Navy already has invested millions.

The Navy wants to have 10-50% biofuel blends in their ships. This can be achieved after getting biofuel cost down to $3.50 a gallon or less and producing biofuels at a commercial scale of 170 million gallons a year by 2016.

Learn more about Dennis McGinn’s visit to AzCATI here.

 

This week Utah State University’s Jeffery M. Moody, Christopher M. McGinty and Jason C. Quinn published their research, Global evolution of biofuel potential for microalgae, in the online Early Edition of ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’.

Moody, McGinty and Quinn’s research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy to leverage a large-scale, outdoor microalgae growth model. These USU researchers used meteorological data from 4,388 global locations to find the global productivity potential of microalgae. Previous to this research, resource assessments of microalgae based biofuel production systems were taken from laboratory-scale data.

Moody, McGinty, and Quinn’s research included biological effects, geographical location and cultivation agriculture to assess lipid and biomass productivity potential of microalgae cultivated in a traditional closed-system photobioreactor.

These USU researchers drew conclusions on two fronts:

• Global Productivity Potential and Variability – Closed photobioreactor systems represents a promising production system compared to open raceway pond based on increased stability and improved volumetric productivity from extended surface area and a short light path. Moderate climate diversity aided by closed-systems allows for less infrastructure changes throughout the year. A change in temperature in any direction causes a negative impact on biomass and lipid productivity.
• Scalability – When water, nutrients and CO2 are not limiting, significant fractions of the transportation fuel requirements can be met by algae. In their research, on a conservative level, algae yielded 2,500 gallons of biofuel per acre per year in contrast to corn (435 gallons) and soybeans (66 gallons). They conclude Brazil, Canada, China, and the U.S. could produce enough algae biofuel to supplement more than 30 percent of those countries’ fuel consumption.

“Our findings will help to justify the investment in technology development and infrastructure to make algal biofuel a viable fuel source,” said Moody.