Algae fuel is getting another boost with the announcement of a $3 million grant to create kerosene-based aviation fuel derived from the substance.

Arizona State University researchers have already moved past the laboratory stage on the project and are working on a pilot scale production system. The research team says that cost reduction benefits are greater than with kerosene produced from petroleum.

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Major partners in this round of funding include Braemar Energy Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners, who were joined by return backers The Roda Group and Harris & Harris Group.

Solazyme’s novel biofuel production method involves growing algae in the absence of light. In nature, algae use light to make sugar and then make oil from that sugar. Solazyme skips the light part and just feeds their algae sugar to get them to make oil.

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And a joint venture between Rose Ann Cattolico at University of Washington and investment company Recently Allied Minds might soon see a different type of algae for different types of situations.

"People don’t realize how many types of algae there are – from single cells to large kelp – and each one develops differently," Cattolico said. "What we’re trying to do is choose the best of the best, the ones that produce the right lipids for a particular type of fuel."

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Could cyanobacteria eventually become a more popular biofuel than corn, sugarcane, or even algae? Quite possibly. According to Science Daily, cyanobacteria can convert up to 10 percent of the sun’s energy into biomass.

This is a drastic improvement over the 1 percent rate of crops like corn and sugarcane, as well as the 5 percent rate of algae. With such a high conversion rate, cyanobacteria could replace a hefty amount of fossil fuels without taking up too much land.

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The search for alternative energy sources and fuels has certainly uncovered some surprising and exciting results. And perhaps the most surprising, if you’re not a biological scientist or aficionado (assuming that there are such bio groupies) is algae, or as some call it; pond scum.

]]> http://ecoscraps.com/2008/08/26/is-pond-scum-the-answer-for-green-energy/feed/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/20/solazyme-hopes-to-mass-produce-algae-biodiesel-in-three-years/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/20/solazyme-hopes-to-mass-produce-algae-biodiesel-in-three-years/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:27:07 +0000 Ariel Schwartz http://cleantechnica.com/2008/08/20/solazyme-hopes-to-mass-produce-algae-biodiesel-in-three-years/

I’ve often thought that algae could be one of the keys to our energy future, and now I’m more convinced than ever. In a conference call earlier today, Solazyme CEO Jonathan Wolfson said that his company is capable of producing millions of gallons of biodiesel derived from algae within 3 years.

Solazyme is the first company to produce algae diesel that meets US standards, but until today their production timeline was unknown.

“The technology is moving a lot quicker than some people would expect,” Wolfson said.

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Australia’s Commonwealth Science and Research Organization (CSIRO) reports that lignocellulose, a component of plants and wood, could potentially be used as a cheap fuel—as inexpensive as $40-60 a barrel.

Even better, lignocellulose biofuels are compatible with current facilities. All they need for conversion is an extra unit in front of any existing sugar biofuel facility.

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A new milestone was reached recently in the race to make fuel from algae a conventional oil alternative: high-octane gasoline that is compatible with any gas-guzzling vehicle. The feat was performed by Sapphire Energy, a company that manufactures “green crude”. Sapphire uses single-cell algae to produce a chemical mixture that contains extractable fuel for cars and other transport vehicles. While the green crude is chemically identical to crude oil, it is completely carbon neutral.

The algal energy doesn’t require the use of agricultural land and water, and it deliver 10 to 100 times more energy per acre than crop-based biofuels. The company hopes that their green crude will ultimately be injected into normal crude pipelines.

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But first, a digression.

Part 1: When an egg was just an egg

I remember a time when an egg was just an egg. Nobody argued about that. It was a blissful time. Yet, for all its strengths, it was a fragile time held together by unsupported conclusions and limited knowledge.

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Recognizing the potential for algae as an energy crop, a Hawaiian conglomerate has come together to pursue the joint development of a commercial-scale microalgae facility on Maui to produce lipid oil for conversion to biodiesel and other products, such as animal feed.

While a number of factors still need to be put in place before the first phase of the program can begin, the anticipated start date could be as early as 2011.

“This innovative partnership can help move Hawaii one step closer to securing energy independence and achieving our goal of having 70 percent of Hawaii’s energy come from clean sources by 2030,” said Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle.

Hoping for very high levels of oil production per acre from algae, Maui, which currently fuels about 85 percent of its combustion generation with petroleum diesel, could meet the biodiesel feedstock need with the Ma’alaea algae facility when combined with other locally grown vegetable-oil crops, such as jatropha or palm.

This innovative step is being spearheaded by HR BioPetroleum, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALEX), Hawaiian Electric Company and Maui Electric Company, subsidiaries of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HE).

“As we move toward siting an algae facility next to Maui Electric’s power plant, we will meet more of our energy needs at home and also reduce our carbon footprint,” said Dr. Karl Stahlkopf, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president for energy solutions and chief technology officer. “This project entails some uncertainly. Stepping forward to be a first implementer of a new idea always does.”

“However, it unites the best of the new Hawaii high-tech industry with two long-established Hawaii infrastructure companies in a unique partnership. We have good reason to be confident it will be a step toward energy self sufficiency, not only for Hawaii but for the nation and the world,” Stahlkopf said.

Called Soladiesel(RD)™, it is the world’s first 100% algal diesel blend to meet these standards.

The company has road-tested Soladiesel(RD)™ in a factory standard 2005 diesel Jeep Liberty with results that indicate identical usability and engine wear to that of petroleum diesel.

Soladiesel(RD)™ has lower particulate emissions than petroleum-based diesel and also meets the ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) standards.

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On the heels of a breakthrough which the company claims will make algae oil farming a true competitor to petroleum, OriginOil has filed two patents that may make the production of fuel products from algae incredibly cheap and easy in the near future.

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If you think the energy/food potential for hemp is underutilized, wait’ll you get a gander at algae. This little microorganism really packs a punch.

According to The Book of General Ignorance: Everything You Think You Know is Wrong (2006, Harmony Books) (I highly recommend it, by the way — it’s packed with fascinating information and weird insights), algae breathes out more oxygen than all the world’s land-based plants and trees combined. Certain types of algae also deliver a whopping amount of protein and nutrients per farmed acre (20 times more than soy beans, in the case of spirulina).

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Biofuels are increasingly lumped into a single category of environmentally apocalyptic dead-end solutions. As the food vs. fuel debate rages on, it’s no wonder that the general public believes this.

But not all biofuels are created equal, as the chart above illustrates (click the image to see full size). It’s one of the best depictions I’ve seen of how each biofuel feedstock has completely different impacts on overall greenhouse gas emissions, water and pesticide use, and the energy required to produce the fuel. (Click on the chart for the full image)

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Those cute little creatures shown in the video are represent what may be the future of carbon sequestration.

CARS is the acronym for Carbon Algae Recycling System, it’s a system under development in Canada to clean up tailing ponds and greenhouse gas emissions left by the Alberta Tar Sands project.

As the video shows, exhaust CO2 is pumped into algae-rich tailing ponds where it’s digested. The plumped-out algae, full of hydrocarbons and heavy metals, are harvested and turned into biofuels.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2008/04/25/could-we-grow-100000-gallons-of-oil-per-acre-yes-says-vertigro-algae-biofuel-video/feed/ http://gas2.org/2008/04/17/first-heavy-duty-diesel-powered-by-algae-biodiesel-solazymes-soladiesel/ http://gas2.org/2008/04/17/first-heavy-duty-diesel-powered-by-algae-biodiesel-solazymes-soladiesel/#comments Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:07:54 +0000 Clayton B. Cornell http://gas2.org/2008/04/17/first-heavy-duty-diesel-powered-by-algae-biodiesel-solazymes-soladiesel/ It looks like Solazyme will be making algal biodiesel for the US military, after a test-drive demonstrated the fuel’s superior cold-weather properties when compared to commercially-available biodiesel.

Former Director of Central Intelligence and Under-Secretary of the Navy R. James Woolsey tested the fuel himself by driving to the Worldwide Energy Conference & Trade Show in an unmodified 2008 Ford F450 fueled by 100% algal biodiesel.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2008/04/17/first-heavy-duty-diesel-powered-by-algae-biodiesel-solazymes-soladiesel/feed/ http://gas2.org/2008/04/09/ethanol-from-cheese/ http://gas2.org/2008/04/09/ethanol-from-cheese/#comments Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:23:30 +0000 Max Lindberg http://gas2.org/2008/04/09/ethanol-from-cheese/

There’s always a better whey.

A Wisconsin cheese producer, Joe Van Groll of Stratford, Wisconsin, has a way with whey.

For nearly a decade, Van Groll experimented using the waste product of cheese manufacturing, whey permeate, to manufacture ethanol. During the past four years, he’s been doing just that, and believes his process can produce ethanol for less than $1 a gallon.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2008/04/09/ethanol-from-cheese/feed/ http://gas2.org/2008/04/08/smokestacks-make-biofuels/ http://gas2.org/2008/04/08/smokestacks-make-biofuels/#comments Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:35:40 +0000 Max Lindberg http://gas2.org/2008/04/08/smokestacks-make-biofuels/ Would I put you on? It’s true, algae-based biofuels are being produced from CO2 emitted from smokstacks.

It’s happening through a company called GreenFuel, headquartered in Cambridge, Mass.

GreenFuel has been partnering with Arizona Public Service Company to create biofuels from algae grown using carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from a power plant. The companies successfully grew algae at APS’ Redhawk natural gas power plant in Arizona, and is moving their tests to a coal-fired power plant at Farmington, NM.

According to a release from APS, algae at Redhawk grew at levels 37 times higher than corn and 140 times higher than soybeans, which are now used to create biofuels.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2008/04/08/smokestacks-make-biofuels/feed/ http://gas2.org/2008/04/01/algae-could-be-major-hydrogen-fuel-source/ http://gas2.org/2008/04/01/algae-could-be-major-hydrogen-fuel-source/#comments Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:57:08 +0000 Clayton B. Cornell http://gas2.org/2008/04/01/algae-could-be-major-hydrogen-fuel-source/

While the first algae-to-biofuels facility went online today, scientists at Argonne National Labs are manipulating the photosynthetic super-organism for another use: creating hydrogen.

Algae grows prolifically in adverse conditions, and can store large amounts of oils or starches useful for making biodiesel or ethanol. But some strains also use an enzyme called hydrogenase to produce small amounts of hydrogen gas. Scientists think this is the organism’s way of getting rid of excess energy under high-light conditions.

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