Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Algae fuel / biofuels could be years from reality
Biofuels Smackdown: Algae vs. Soybeans - Industry waters say the ‘Holy Grail’ of feedstocks for biofuels could be years from reality
December 7, 2006
By Jennifer Kho, Red Herring
Excerpts:
1. While some see algae as the ideal source for biofuels, industry watchers at ThinkEquity’s Greentech Summit in San Francisco held in Dec 2006 said the technology is likely to be years away.
2. “Algae, as a biodiesel feedstock, is further out than cellulosic ethanol”, according to one; "Algae simply aren’t available in large-enough quantities right now"
3. Many consider algae an attractive alternative because of its high lipid density. Algae could theoretically produce 10,000 gallons of oil per acre
4. Because algae could be grown in a factory, instead of on farmland, it could also help counter the “food vs. fuel” argument about biofuels.
5. Algae could be better for the environment because algae-growing takes about a third of the water as it takes to grow soybeans
6. There are shorter-term prospects than algae.
7. The company Greenfuels is targeting costs of $100 to $200 per ton of algae “over the longer term.”
8. Reliability of algae biofuel is also an issue
9. While farm crops already have additional value in byproducts other than oil, algae doesn’t have a ready-made market.
10. Despite the problems, a number of startups—and their investors—think the potential for algae is worth the risk.
Companies & personalities mentioned: Martin Tobias, CEO of biodiesel company Imperium Renewables, Luca Zullo, director of bioenergy at Cargill; Lissa Morgenthaler-Jones, CEO of LiveFuels, a company developing “biocrude” from algae; Ira Ehrenpreis, a general partner at the cleantech venture capital firm Technology Partners; Doug Cameros, the chief scientific officer for Khosla Ventures; Cary Bullock, CEO of Greenfuel Technologies, a startup developing a technology to turn smokestack emissions into ethanol and biodiesel.
Full article here
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Boulder, Colorado firm Solix Biofuels developing algae-based fuel
Boulder firm developing algae-based fuel
The Denver Business Journal - December 8, 2006
Excerpts:
1. Solix Biofuels Inc. plans to commercialize an alternative fuel over the next two years. The Boulder-based startup is working with Colorado State University on a technology that can produce large quantities of oil from algae and convert it into biodiesel.
2. The technology could potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce reliance on petroleum reserves.
3. A strong case can be made for global domestication of algae as an energy crop, feels the CEO of Solix.
4. The company & the university are collaborating with Fort Collins-based beer maker New Belgium Brewing Co. to use excess carbon dioxide from the brewery's plant to test the algae-based biodiesel process.
Personalities & companies mentioned: Bryan Wilson, director of CSU's engines and energy conversion laboratory, Doug Henston, CEO of Solix, CSU president Larry Penley
Full report here
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Fill your car with fuel from pond scum in 2010
Fill your car with pond scum in 2010
December 12, 2006, CNET News.com
Excerpts from this article:
1. The company LiveFuels is partnering with Sandia National Labs to devise a version of car fuel out of algae...The science comes from Sandia; LiveFuels handles the business side of things. The company has already trademarked the name Supercrude
2. According to LiveFuels, it can potentially get 10,000 gallons of useable hydrocarbons for an acre-size pond a year. The hydrocarbons will be transformed into diesel or petroleum.
3. The ponds will be fed by farm waste water.
4. The North Sea Deposit, among others, was created by prehistoric algal blooms, according to some scientists.
5. A lot of research lies ahead in figuring out how to optimize the algae for petrol production, because the lab strains tend to be out-competed in the real world.
6. As an aside, there is a possibility that we can harness microbes to do the chemical transformation and fermentation. The company Dyadic International has found a prolific fungus that they believe can transform waste products from farms into fuel, while the company Microgy has devised a digester that turns a mix of cow manure and microbes into natural gas. Other microbe-related start-ups include Mascoma, Ceres, Cambrios, Fundamental Applied Biology (FAB) and Synthetic Genomics.
Posted by Michael Kanellos, full article here
Personalities mentioned: LiveFuels CEO Lissa Morgenthaler-Jones.
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Biofuel co says algae may provide 80% of New Zealand diesel
Biofuel firm thinks algae could provide 80% of NZ's diesel
Marlborough-based biofuels company Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation says a new biodiesel derived from algae could cover about 80% of the country's demand for the fuel.
Excerpts:
1. Produces bio-diesel derived from algae from local sewage ponds.
2. Chairman Barrie Leay says the economic potential of the fuel is enormous, and that Aquaflow planned to increase capacity to produce 1 million litres of bio-diesel from the sewage ponds over the next year.
3. New Zealand Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said a combination of sources for bio-diesel is the ideal situation
Full report here from Radio New Zealand
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Monday, January 01, 2007
Algal sludge turns to fuel in Christchurch, New Zealand
Algal sludge turns to fuel
By Beck Eleven @ Stuff.co.nz | Tuesday, 19 December 2006
A team of Christchurch scientists and engineers will lighten the load on the environment by making fuel from algae growing in the Bromley oxidation ponds.
Excerpts:
1. The project will use two ponds and cost almost $1 million.
2. David Painter, the team's coordinator, & a faculty at the University of Canterbury, said the project would methods in a unique way.
3. Environmental benefits include oil for transport, LPG gas, reduction of ammonia discharged into the Avon-Heathcote Estuary and a fertiliser from by-products.
4. Microscopic algal organisms will be encouraged to link cells to grow more abundantly in the waste water ponds.
5. The algae will photosynthesise, taking harmful gases from atmosphere and flue gases from local industry.
6. Bubbles will float the weeds to the water's surface where a paddle-wheel system will harvest the algal sludge.
7. Seed funding for the project will come from the Christchurch-based Sustainable Initiative Fund Trust, an off-shoot from Terra Nova.
Personalities, Companies and organizations mentioned: University of Canterbury, Christchurch firm Solvent Rescue, Solvent Rescue Managing Director Chris Bathurst, David Painter, a faculty at University of Canterbury, NZ
See full report here
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Algae Biofuel to be in market in 2007 in New Zealand (NZ)
Biofuel could be on market in 2007 in NZ
A Marlborough company hopes to market new biofuel made from algae by end of 2007- fuel tested at Parliament, a 17 December 2006 report from NZ City.
The fuel, made by Aquaflow, was blended with mineral diesel and test-driven in a four-wheel drive vehicle at Parliament on Friday.
The Company director says the algae is currently grown in sewage ponds...Other areas are dairy factories and other nutrient-rich waste streams.
Persaonlities mentioned: Vicki Buck, AquaFlow Director, NZ Energy Minister David Parker
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
AlgoDyne Ethanol Signs Non Disclosure Agreement with Asian Investors
Press release - AlgoDyne Ethanol Signs Non Disclosure Agreement with Asian Investors
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AlgoDyne Ethanol Energy Inc. (‘AlgoDyne’ or the ‘Company’) (OTCBB:ADYN) is pleased to announce that it has been contacted by a consortium of Asian investors who have shown a strong interest in the Company’s proprietary mico-algae-based (phytoplankton) process. AlgoDyne’s technology provides a powerful means to produce clean, renewable energy from the continual harvest of bio-mass from Photo-Bioreactors. The end result is the production of ethanol from the fermentation of the algae, methanol from the anaerobic digestion of the algae, biodiesel from the extraction and transesterification of the algae, high-quality coal from hydrothermal carbonization of the algae residue, electricity by converting ethanol and methanol to electrical energy, coal from hydrothermal carbonization and animal feed from the remaining protein residue - all in a carbon dioxide neutral way.
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Micro algae to Jet Fuel Bio J-8 - Fuel Oil from Microalgal Lipids
Micro algae to Jet Fuel Bio J-8
Inexpensive Jet Fuel from Microalgal Lipids
A pressing energy need is to develop domestic, renewable substitutes for transportation fuel. Neither ethanol nor biodiesel can help supply jet fuel, for which energy density and low-temperature fuel properties are critical. Ethanol is not dense enough having only about half the energy per volume of jet fuel. Biodiesel has about 80% the energy density of kerosene, but can solidify at the low temperatures of high altitude flight. The solution could come from a combination of hydroprocessing — a technology already used by petroleum refineries — and microscopic algae. With hydroprocessing technologies used by refineries to catalytically remove impurities or reduce molecular weight, the algal oils could be made into a kerosene-like fuel very similar to current military jet fuels, says this press release from Earthtoys .
Related sites: EBT Inc
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
Oil, Water, Air Remediation & Animal Feed from Algae
Oil, Water, Air Remediation & Animal Feed from Algae
Arizona State University (ASU) researchers Qiang Hu and Milton Sommerfeld are shedding a whole new light on the plant in the Laboratory for Algae Research & Biotechnology (LARB) at the Polytechnic campus, says this report from Check Biotech, reported by Christine Lambrakis
The duo has been able to take their combined 40-plus years of research with algae and apply it to use in air and water remediation, alternative fuels and animal feed. During that time, they have identified 100 to 200 algal species of the more than 1,500 they have studied that are hardy and potent for various uses from producing algal oils for biofuels to removing carbon dioxide from power plant emissions and nutrients from various wastewaters.
Other key words: growing mass quantities of algae, industrial photobioreactor, byproducts, organic fertilizer, anaerobic digestion, methane, ethanol, waste nutrients, agricultural wastewaters, algae species, lipids, airplanes & jets
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae
Oilgae Blog
algOS - Biodiesel from Algae Open Source
Oilgae - Oil & Biodiesel from Algae provides links, directory, web links resources for algae-based biofuels & biodiesel. Intended to be useful for research, information, inputs, news for buyers, sellers, manufacturers, traders, suppliers, producers, exporters / importers of algal oil and algal fuels. Will provide info on biofuel feedstock, algal feedstocks, algae oil and link details on fuel from algae, bio-fuel, bio-diesel, algal oils & bio-fuels production and uses, biofuels trade & market resources, price data, statistics, prices, demand-supply for buyer, seller, manufacturer, trader, supplier, exporter and producer
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