Category: Press

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (October 2, 2014) – The Algae Biomass Organization today applauded the Department of Energy’s announcement of up to $25 million in funding that will be used to advance technology and production methods that will drive down the costs of biofuels and other bioproducts that are produced from algae. David Danielson, Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy announced the funding at the 8^th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, the largest algae conference in the world.

“We are grateful for the Department of Energy’s ongoing commitment to cost-competitive biofuels and bioproducts derived from algae,” said Matt Carr, Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “This announcement’s focus on commercializing algae technologies shows that the industry has made enormous strides developing algae into a source of energy, renewable products, economic development and improved national security.”

The funding is part of the DOE’s goal of reducing the cost of algal biofuels to less than $5 per gasoline gallon equivalent by 2019. Funds will support two topic areas: developing algae cultures that can produce both fuels and bioproducts that increase the overall value of the biomass; and developing crop and carbon dioxide utilization technologies that boost algae yields.

The announcement was made at the 8^th Annual Algae Biomass Summit to more than 600 of the world’s leading algae researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs, labs, startups and global Fortune 500 companies. Many of these companies are marketing algae-based products and operating or commissioning new commercial demonstration facilities that produce algae-derived fuels, fertilizers, plastics, nutritional ingredients and other products.

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.

Awards recognize outstanding research in algal biology and engineering

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – October 1, 2014 – Six student scientists were presented with the third annual Young Algae Researcher Awards today for their contributions to fields of algae biology and engineering at the 2014 Algae Biomass Summit, the official conference of the Algae Biomass Organization (ABO).

The awards are presented at the world’s largest gathering of algae industry and academic leaders and recognize outstanding research projects by early-career scientists that are finding new ways to use algae to create a range of renewable fuels, fertilizers, plastics and other products. The students presented their ideas via posters which were featured in the Summit’s exhibit hall.

More than 120 posters were accepted this year, representing a wide variety of technologies and research projects. A panel of 6 judges evaluated the posters based on six key criteria: presentation, methodology, data analysis, poster integrity and the presentation of the poster by the presenter him or herself.

“Congratulations to each of these young and ambitious scientists,” said Matt Carr, Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “The ideas and research they are presenting today will become the technologies, products and companies of tomorrow. We look forward to seeing them continue to make progress. ”

The Young Algae Research Awards are presented to winners for research conducted in two subject areas: biology and engineering. For outstanding research in algae biology, awards went to:

• 1^st Prize: Wilson Mendoza, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC – San Diego (Mendoza won first place in the biology category at the 2013 Algae Biomass Summit in Orlando, Florida)
• 2^nd Prize: Alexander Zevin, Arizona State University
• 3^rd Prize: Niu Du, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC- San Diego

For outstanding research in algae engineering, the awards went to:

• 1^st Prize:  Pavlo Bohutskyi, Johns Hopkins University (Bohutskyi received the third place algae engineering award at the 2013 Algae Biomass Summit)
• 2^nd Prize: Bhavish Patel, Imperial College London
• 3^rd Prize: Peter Schnurr, University of Toronto

The Algae Biomass Summit concludes Thursday afternoon. Information on the event, including a full agenda is available at http://algaebiomasssummit.org.  Ongoing developments can also be monitored via the Twitter hashtag #ABS14. Next year’s Summit will be held in Washington, D.C.

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.

Products made from algae are the natural solution to the energy, food, economic, and climate challenges facing our world today.  Algae have the power to simultaneously put fuels in our vehicles, recycle CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people and create jobs for millions of Americans. More information can be found at www.allaboutalgae.com.

 

WASHINGTON, DC–(Marketwired – Sep 30, 2014) –  The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) today announced that it has initiated a “We the People” petition to the White House and called for those who support common sense, market-driven, job-creating and emissions-reducing technologies to sign the petition, located here: http://wh.gov/ilUxI.

This is another step in ABO’s continued efforts to secure Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies to meet the emissions reductions targets set by the agency.

The announcement was made at the 8th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, taking place in San Diego and featuring more than 600 of the world’s leading algae researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs, labs, startups and global Fortune 500 companies.

“We need EPA and those involved in the power generation industry to recognize that algae and other technologies can convert waste carbon into a range of valuable products,” said Matt Carr, Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “Algae need CO2 in order to grow, making waste CO2 from power plants a valuable input. We believe the EPA should recognize this value and encourage the recycling of waste CO2.”

“We need to look no further than the aluminum industry for a parallel. More than 70 percent of the total aluminum ever produced has been recycled into valuable products and is in use today. The industry saves more than 90 percent of the energy costs required to produce products,” continued Carr. “More than 670,000 jobs are supported and the industry produces $152 billion in economic impact. We have a similar opportunity with recycling of carbon — and EPA acknowledgement of the potential for CCU is key for our industry to reach its full potential.”

The text of the petition reads as follows:

“The EPA should encourage states to meet CO2 reduction goals by allowing the recycling of CO2 via carbon capture & utilization (CCU) technology. This common sense approach reduces overall emissions, creates a revenue stream for utilities that offsets the cost of compliance, keeps rates low for taxpayers and stimulates economic development and job creation across the country.

“Technologies are now available to utilize CO2 captured from power plants and fed directly to organisms like bacteria and algae, which can be converted into valuable products, such as fuels and chemicals, animal feed and human nutrition. The Clean Power Plan should recognize CCU as a viable pathway for compliance with new rules.”

“It’s important that people understand this petition is not algae-specific,” continued Carr. “We’re calling on anyone who can beneficially reuse waste carbon to join us in this petition and push the EPA to accept carbon capture and utilization as a viable emissions reduction strategy.”

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 atwww.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.

SAN DIEGO, CA. (September 12, 2014) – The Algae Biomass Organization continues to expand the breadth and depth of experts in energy, agriculture, national security and sustainability at the 8^th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, taking place in San Diego, California, September 29-October 2. The new speakers join an impressive agenda of keynotes, plenaries and networking opportunities at the world’s largest algae conference. Registration and agenda information is available at http://algaebiomasssummit.org.

“With Assistant Secretaries of Departments of Navy and Agriculture; Directors and Program Managers from several federal agencies; Executive Directors of major trade associations; more than 100 speakers & panelists; 50 exhibitors and more than 100 posters, this year’s summit offers attendees an unparalleled opportunity to learn, network and collaborate, ” said Matt Carr, Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization.

Energy: New speakers that will address algae’s potential to address energy challenges include:

• David Danielson, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
• Jonathan Male, Director, Bioenergy Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy
• Neil P. Rossmeissl, Algal Program Manager, Bioenergy Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy

Agriculture & Food: Speakers discussing algae’s potential in food and agriculture, as well as regulatory requirements facing algal products currently hitting the market include:

• Chris Cassidy, Renewable Energy Advisor, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Steven Scott Nicholls, USDA Rural Development, Business & Energy Programs Specialist
• Daniel Fabricant, CEO & Executive Director, Natural Products Association

National Security: On the topic on national security and the need for new sources of renewable, domestically produced biofuels:

• Mike Breen, Executive Director, Truman National Security Project

Sustainability: Speakers addressing the Summit on the topic of algae’s role in environmental and economic sustainability include:

• Ana Zacapa, Director, Ceres California
• Matt Rudolf, Business Development & Americas Director, Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials

Research: To discuss the latest advances in algae research and development some of the leading scientists in the field at the Summit will include:

• Stephen Mayfield, Director, California Center for Algae Biotechnology
• Jose Oliveras, Executive Director, National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts
• Mark Huntley, Principal Investigator, Cornell Consortium
• Tryg Lundquist, Associate Professor, California Polytechnic State University
• Jeffrey Kanel, President & CEO, Renewable Algal Energy, LLC

These new speakers join other leaders that are accelerating the development of algae technologies, such as Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA) and Matt Salmon (R-CA), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Algae Caucus (via video address) and Dennis McGinn, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Energy, Installations & Environment and San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

In total, there are expected to be more than 100 live presentations during the Summit—in-depth examinations of the latest scientific breakthroughs, commercial successes and financing models. San Diego is a hub of algae industry activity, and hundreds of entrepreneurs, researchers, investors and users of algal products are expected at the event.

The Summit comes at a time when industry is increasingly looking for new sources of alternative fuels, feed stocks, and consumer products. 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.

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.

Industry leaders to highlight new production capacity and market diversification

SAN DIEGO, CA. (September 4, 2014) — The 8^th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, taking place in San Diego, California, September 29-October 2 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 more than 20 presentations by leading scientists, researchers, and industry innovators from leading algae producers and end users will discuss the business strategies, technologies and production methods that are bringing to market algae-based products such as fuels, animal feed, Omega-3 fatty acids, cosmetics, bioplastics and chemicals. Registration and agenda information is available at http://algaebiomasssummit.org.

“The leaders of the algae industry are gathering in San Diego at this year’s Summit to highlight the unprecedented progress that has been made toward commercial production, and the tapping of new multi-billion dollar markets,” said Matt Carr, Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “Many of these companies are past the technology development stage, and are now sharing news of purchase agreements, new construction and other advances. Who is selling what to whom will be a hot topic at this year’s event.”

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

• Amha Belay, Sr. Vice President and CTO at Earthrise Nutritionals
• Tim Burns, CEO at BioProcess Algae
• Jim Flatt, CTO at Synthetic Genomics
• Jason Kolb, Vice President at ALGIX, LLC
• James Levine, CEO at Sapphire Energy
• David Lewis, CEO at Muradel
• Margaret McCormick, CEO at Matrix Genetics
• Martin Sabarsky, CEO at Cellana
• Fred Tennant, Vice President of Business Development at Heliae
• Paul Woods, CEO at Algenol Biofuels

These speakers will be supplemented by dozens of other presentations in the Summit’s Commercialization track, one of three 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. San Diego is a hub of algae industry activity, and hundreds of entrepreneurs, researchers, investors and users of algal products are expected at the event.

The Summit comes at a time when industry is increasingly looking for new sources of alternative fuels, feed stocks, and consumer products. 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.

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.