Category: Press

Industry Leaders to Highlight New Discoveries and Improvements

Washington, DC (August 26, 2015)—The 9^th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, taking place in Washington, DC, September 29^th-October 2^nd will showcase more than 30 oral presentations by leading research scientists and experts from universities, companies and several national laboratories in its Progress in Algal Biology and Algal Systems Ecology tracks. The sessions will inform technical audiences about the latest algae strain improvement methods involving ‘omics’ and genetic manipulation, and growth and cultivation methods that are making possible the wide-scale commercial production of algae-based products.

“The importance of the innovations in biological research as well as in algal systems ecology that will be on display at this year’s Summit cannot be understated,” said Al Darzins, Program Chair for the Algae Biomass Summit. “Summit attendees will be directly engaged in discussions about the latest biologically-related research and the potential for new breakthroughs in systems ecology to influence markets for algae-derived products such as food, feed, and fuel, as well as services such as wastewater treatment and carbon capture.”

A few of the leading speakers and presentations in the Progress in Algal Biology track include:

• Dan Robertson, Joule Unlimited
  Biomass as Photobiocatalyst: Direct Production of Drop-In Fuels By Engineered Cyanobacteria
• Huiya Gu, Colorado School of Mines
  Nitrogen Recycling from Fuel-Extracted Algal Biomass: Residuals as the Sole Nitrogen Source for Culturing Scenedesmus acutus
• Sarah Smith, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
  Resolving Gene Regulatory Networks for Next Generation Strain Engineering
• Todd Lane, Sandia National Labs
  Economic Feasibility and Life Cycle Impact of a Turf-Scrubber Based Biorefinery

A few of the leading speakers and presentations in the Algal Systems Ecology track include:

• Alexander Beliaev, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  Synthetic Biology Platform for Building Self-Sustained Scalable Algal Consortia
• Laura Carney, Heliae Development
  Contamination Control for a Multi-Platform Algae Commercial Strategy
• Tisza Bell, Montana State University
  Can Ecology Provide Insight for Algal Lipid Accumulation Strategies in Open Systems?
• Anthony Siccardi, Texas A&M AgriLife Research
  A Comparison of Struvite and Traditionally Used Nutrients in 90-Day, Semi-Continuous, Mixed Population Trials in Outdoor Raceways

The combined Progress in Algal Biology and Algal Systems Ecology tracks represent one of four main technical tracks, plus plenary sessions and poster presentations, which comprise the agenda for the Algae Biomass Summit, the largest algae conference in the world. In total, there will be more than 100 live presentations during the Summit. In addition to being the headquarters of the Algae Biomass Organization, Washington, DC is a major hub for both the investment and policies that will influence the future of this growing industry.

The Summit comes to Washington, DC at a time when the industry is seeing more algae companies successfully moving their laboratory breakthroughs into the marketplace. Many companies are making new algae-derived products available to consumers or opening large-scale demonstration and pre-commercial facilities, with expectations for expansion in the future. ABO members are also ramping up outreach to national and state policymakers as they advocate for extended advanced biofuels tax credits, aggressive research and development, and strong support for Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technologies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create valuable products. More information can be found at www.allaboutalgae.com.

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the US algae Industry, produces the Algae Biomass Summit. More information about the Summit can be found at www.algaebiomasssummit.org.

Industry Leaders to Highlight New Production Capacity and Market Diversification

WASHINGTON, DC (August 20, 2015) — The 9^th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, taking place in Washington, DC, September 30^th-October 2^nd will highlight the exciting commercial production advances taking place in the algae industry across a wide range of markets. In the Summit’s Commercialization track, nearly 30 oral presentations by leading scientists and industry innovators will focus on the business strategies, technologies and sustainable production methods that are bringing to market algae-based products such as fuels, animal feed, nutritional supplements, food ingredients, Omega-3 fatty acids, bioplastics and chemicals.

“The leaders of the algae industry and research community are gathering in Washington, DC for the very first time at this year’s Algae Biomass Summit to highlight the unprecedented progress we have seen in algae’s potential to impact a number of multi-billion dollar markets,” said Al Darzins, Program Chair for the Algae Biomass Summit. “Companies from around the nation, and the world, are unveiling new production and process technologies, new facilities, new purchase agreements and other milestones. The commercial potential of these projects in terms of revenues, jobs and production yields will be hot topics at this year’s summit.”

A few of the leaders sharing insights of their operations at the Summit include:

• Braden Crowe, ATP3

Long Term Cultivation Studies at the Algae Testbed Public Private Partnership (ATP3): Results Over One Year of Unified Field Studies (UFS)

• Ninoska Delgado, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile

Microalgal Astaxanthin + Phytase Incorporation as Additive for Food

• Rodney Corpuz, Global Algae Innovations

Large-scale Longitudinal Algae Production Test

• Amha Belay, Earthrise Nutritionals

Recent Developments in the Use of Phycocyanin as a Nutraceutical and Natural Blue Food Colorant

• Peter Kipp, OpenAlgae

Commercial-Ready Algal Oil Recovery from Common Commercial Strains

These speakers will be supplemented by dozens of other presentations in the Summit’s Commercialization track, one of four tracks, plus plenary sessions and posters, which comprise the agenda for the Algae Biomass Summit, the world’s largest conference focused on algae-based technologies. In total, there are expected to be more than 100 live presentations during the Summit. In addition to being the headquarters of the Algae Biomass Organization, Washington, DC is a major hub for both the investment and policies that will influence the future of this growing industry.

This year, the Summit will offer an all-new opportunity for companies to showcase their businesses directly to investors at the “Innovation in Algae Startup Stage.” This will be an exclusive chance for selected companies to present their ideas and business models to a panel of investors and business advisors. More information is available at http://www.algaebiomasssummit.org/?page=StartupStage.

The Summit comes to Washington, DC at a time when the industry is seeing more algae companies successfully moving their laboratory breakthroughs into the marketplace. Many companies are making new algae-derived products available to consumers or opening large-scale demonstration and pre-commercial facilities, with expectations for expansion in the future. ABO members are also ramping up outreach to national and state policymakers as they advocate for extended advanced biofuels tax credits, aggressive research and development, and strong support for Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technologies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create valuable products. More information can be found at www.allaboutalgae.com.

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the US algae Industry, produces the Algae Biomass Summit. More information about the Summit can be found at www.algaebiomasssummit.org.

About the Algae Biomass Organization

The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501 (c)(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits and members and their affiliations, is available at the website: www.algaebiomass.org.

 

WASHINGTON, DC (August 6, 2015) The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry, today announced that Martin Sabarsky, CEO of Cellana, has been appointed Chair of the organization’s Board of Directors for the 2015-2016 term, and Jacques Beaudry-Losique, Senior Vice President of Corporate and Business Development at Algenol, has been appointed Vice Chair. Previous Chair, Tim Burns, Co-founder and Board Member of BioProcess Algae LLC, remains on the board.

Sabarsky and Beaudry-Losique will build on the solid work of their ABO predecessors to guide the algae industry as its member companies continue to build out a competitive supply chain for a plethora of products, from fuels and feeds to chemicals and nutraceuticals while also providing a novel – and economically viable – pathway for utilities to reduce their overall emissions through carbon capture and utilization.

ABO’s board guides the organization in its mission to educate the general public, policymakers, and industry about the benefits and potential of algae to provide sustainable solutions for commodity chemicals, fuels, food, and feed applications, as well as for high-value applications such as nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics among other applications. In addition, ABO’s board works closely with its Executive Director to advocate for policies that can accelerate the development of key market segments and commercial-scale algae production facilities for the full range of products that can be made from algae.

ABO’s board comprises representatives from multiple sectors of an industry that is experiencing more investment and seeing new commercial facilities opening or being planned around the world. Board members come from industry sectors that include academia, professional services, algae biomass producers, technology suppliers, project developers, and end-users.

“Martin and Jacques are respected leaders in the algae industry, and I look forward to working with them as we position algae technologies to have wide-ranging impacts in dozens of markets,” said Matt Carr, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “They are both existing board members, and their experience and organizational knowledge will help ABO open markets, develop investment opportunities, and advocate for policies that will accelerate this cutting-edge industry. Outgoing Chair Tim Burns deserves thanks for his invaluable leadership and hard work. I look forward to working with him as he continues his service on the board.”

Martin Sabarsky has more than 15 years of experience in the industrial biotechnology/cleantech industry and has served since 2011 as the CEO of Cellana, a leading developer of algae-based nutritional and energy products. Prior to joining Cellana, he led the corporate development function at Diversa Corp. (now known as Verenium Corp., a subsidiary of BASF) as Vice President of Corporate Development. Before Diversa, Sabarsky worked as a life sciences investment banker with Bear Stearns, where he was a lead banker on Diversa’s $200 million IPO in 2000.

He also worked as a transactional attorney with Latham & Watkins LLP. Sabarsky has a B.A. in Biology and Political Science from Brown University, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, and an M.B.A. from the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego. 

Jacques Beaudry-Losique has more than 25 years of experience working in the energy and technology sectors and is the Senior Vice President of Corporate and Business Development at Algenol, a global technology developer of algae-based carbon emissions solutions and fuel production. Prior to Algenol, Jacques was the Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy for Codexis, a publicly traded biofuels and biopharma company. From 2005 to 2011, he held senior management positions at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

While at the DOE, he led efforts to build a second-generation biofuels industry across two administrations, managed three clean energy programs, and served for two years as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy. He was also instrumental in decisions to invest more than $1.5 billion of Recovery Act funds in renewable energy projects, including $800 million in biofuels projects. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Montreal, an M.S. in Engineering Management from Stanford University, and an M.S. in Management from MIT.

Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing the world today. This tiny but powerful organism has the ability to simultaneously put fuels in vehicles, reuse CO₂, provide nutrition for animals and people, and create jobs for millions of Americans. More information can be found at www.allaboutalgae.com.

Opens the door for projects to convert waste CO2 into valuable products

WASHINGTON, DC (August 3, 2015) The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, issued the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s release of the final version of its Clean Power Plan, which notes that “state plans may allow affected EGU (Electric Generating Units) to use qualifying CCU technologies to reduce CO2 emissions that are subject to an emission standard, or those that are counted when demonstrating achievement of the CO2 emission performance rates or a state rate-based or mass-based CO2 emission.”

“This is a huge win for the algae industry, and one we have been working towards for more than a year. The rule gives new certainty to a number of companies across the nation that are commercializing
algae-based technologies that convert carbon dioxide generated at power plants into fuels, feeds, fertilizers and other valuable products.

“EPA’s recent approval of an advanced biofuel pathway for Algenol Fuels’ Direct-to-Ethanol®  technology, as well as several other peer-reviewed life-cycle analyses of other pathways, clearly show that utilization of carbon by algae substantially reduces CO2 emissions to the atmosphere.  There’s no doubt that algae carbon utilization can and will make an important contribution to achieving the Clean Power Plan’s emissions reduction goals.

“Carbon utilization will reduce the cost of emissions reduction for utilities and rate payers, and in some cases create a new revenue stream. This common-sense, market-driven approach has bi-partisan support throughout Congress and its growing importance is reflected by several bills in the House and Senate that direct federal agencies to increase funding for carbon utilization.

“EPA’s recognition of two ABO member companies that convert waste CO2 into fuels and chemicals with this year’s Presidential Green Chemistry awards demonstrated the Agency’s appreciation of the key role of carbon utilization in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Today’s final rule is a clear message that carbon utilization can and should be included in state compliance plans. It represents a huge gain for our industry and for the promise of carbon utilization, an idea that was not even considered by the EPA, Congress or the Obama administration a year ago.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Congress, Federal agencies, state regulators and the utility industry to accelerate the adoption of job-creating, emissions-reducing carbon utilization technologies.”

Carbon utilization technologies, such as algae cultivation, can transform carbon dioxide emissions into valuable products, simultaneously reducing harmful greenhouse gases and providing economic benefits. A number of algae companies across the country are working to commercialize new technology advances that convert concentrated sources of CO2 to renewable fuels, chemicals, fertilizer, plastics and feed ingredients, as well as high-value products such as Omega-3 nutritional supplements, powerful antioxidants, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

About the Algae Biomass Organization
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501 c(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies, and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits, and members and their affiliations, is available at the website: www.algaebiomass.org.

 

Common sense approach to reducing emissions while creating jobs and decreasing costs for ratepayers

WASHINGTON, DC (July 29, 2015) The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the algae industry, applauded U.S. Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA) and Matt Salmon (R-AZ) for introducing a bill designed to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that would spur research and development of carbon utilization technologies. The act will be called the ‘‘Carbon Capture Research and Development Act.’’

The Peters-Salmon bill would amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Secretary of Energy to consider the objective of improving the conversion, use, and storage of carbon dioxide produced from fossil fuels in carrying out research and development programs under that Act.

This bill is a companion bill to one offered in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Whitehouse (D-RI). Both bills direct the Secretary to amend Section 961(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16291(a)) by adding the following language at the end of the section “Improving the conversion, use, and storage of carbon dioxide produced from fossil fuels.’’

“We are so pleased that Congressmen Peters and Salmon have introduced the Carbon Capture Research and Development Act,” said Matt Carr, Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “Their bi-partisan collaboration shows that this common sense approach to dealing with carbon emissions is something that we can all get behind. We look forward to others in the House co-sponsoring the bill and moving it forward.”

Current approaches to emissions reduction that treat carbon like waste are energy-intensive and expensive, increasing costs for utilities and ultimately, ratepayers. Carbon utilization technologies like algae, conversely, convert waste carbon into marketable products. This approach can offset the cost of the carbon capture technology – and in some cases create an ongoing revenue stream. In both cases, ratepayers are spared.

“We’ve spoken with dozens of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and we hear time and time again that this makes so much sense,” said Carr. “Carbon utilization offers the environmental benefits of emissions reduction with the economic and job-creation benefits of a free-market industry – it’s a powerful approach to solving the problem of carbon emissions.”

Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic and climate challenges facing the world today. This tiny but powerful organism has the ability to simultaneously put fuels in vehicles, reuse CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people, and create jobs for millions of Americans. More information can be found at www.allaboutalgae.com.

About the Algae Biomass Organization
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501 c(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies, and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits, and members and their affiliations, is available at the website: www.algaebiomass.org.