AAFC-NRCan-NRC National Bioproducts ProgramAlgal Biofuels Initiative

AAFC-NRCan-NRC National Bioproducts ProgramAlgal Biofuels Initiative

2010 Nova Scotia Energy Research & Development Forum

Project Co-Leads: Stephen O’Leary and Ed HoganScientific Leader: Patrick McGinnProject Manager: Leah Knickle

The AAFC-NRCan-NRC National Bioproducts Program (NBP)

Objectives:

• Multiparty R&D Initiatives that address Canadian priorities in:– Sustainable energy– Environment– Rural revitalization

• Provide the means through which stakeholders from government, industry, and academia can be brought together to garner the critical mass required to tackle large projects requiring multiple areas of expertise

NBP Algal Biofuels InitiativeObjectives:

To develop and support Canadian industries focused on the production of renewable fuels from microalgae biomass for electricity generation, land transportation and aerospace applications.

• Cost effective and competitive

• Net positive impact on the environment and sustainable energy• Contribute to the economic well being of Canada’s energy sector

CO2

H2O

Light (400 – 700 nm)

RC CH2O

O2

Carbohydrates(sugars)

Proteins

Lipids(plant oils)

Oil production from microalgae

Average algal cell (50% carbon), 1 g of algae = 1.83 g CO2 fixed

The Whys: Why Biofuelsand Why Algae ?

Diminishing reserves of fossil fuels –increasingly expensive commodity

The Whys: Why Biofuelsand Why Algae ?

Biofuels should be carbon neutral and renewable – address environmental concerns regarding GHG emissions

The Whys: Why Biofuelsand Why Algae ?

Growth in seawater, wastewater and other non-potable sourcesNutrients for growth can be supplied from waste effluents

Mill Cove Water Treatment Facility, Photo Credit: HRM Website

The Whys: Why Biofuelsand Why Algae ?

High productivity and impressive oil content

Photo Credit: WWF

Botryococcus braunii

The Whys: Why Biofuelsand Why Algae ?

Potentially rich sources of high value, non-fuel co-products

How do we get from algae in a flask to algal fuel in your car (or plane, or house)?

?

Significant Barriers:Identification of most appropriate strains of algaeScale up of cultivation technologies (enormously!)Development of technologies for cost effective processing of algae at industrial scalesEnsuring compatibility for end-use applications

Optimal Strains

Marine focused / non-potable water

Robust with high growth rates

High lipid content at max growth rate

Favourable fatty acid profiles

Tolerance to NOx, SOx, volatile organics

Biological capacity for CO2 capture and wastewater remediation

Subproject 1 – Screening algae for biofuels applications

Library of strains sourced from both collections and local environments

Subproject 2 – Development of commercial algal photobioreactortechnologies for biofuel production

Requires Development

Menova Energy Inc. RFP-40

Solar Concentrating PBR:co-generation of algae,heat and power

FlocculationElectrocoagulationMicrobubble lifting

FlocculationElectrocoagulationMicrobubble lifting

PotentialFor R + D

PotentialFor R + D

Spray Drying“Wet” technologies

Spray Drying“Wet” technologies

Solvent-assisted millingSupercritical Fluids

Selective membranes

Solvent-assisted millingSupercritical Fluids

Selective membranes

HydrotreatmentEnzymatic Conversion

HydrotreatmentEnzymatic Conversion

CentrifugationCentrifugation

Current SolutionsCurrent

Solutions

LyophilizationLyophilization

Organic Solvent(Bligh and Dyer)

Organic Solvent(Bligh and Dyer)

TransesterificationTransesterification

HarvestingHarvesting

AlgalBiomassAlgal

Biomass

DewateringDewatering

OilExtraction

OilExtraction

Conversionto Fuel

Conversionto Fuel

Subproject 3 – Development and evaluation of processing and conversiontechnologies for the production of renewable energy from algae

A CollaborationThat builds upon NBP investments in algal biofuels research

&NRC Institute for Aerospace Research (NRC-IAR) investments in the

Gas Turbine Environmental Research Center (GTERC) &

Alternative Fuels for Research & Development (AFFORD) Facility

Subproject 4 – Evaluation of algae-derived fuels and lubricants for the aerospace industry

NRC – Institute for Aerospace Research, Ottawa

Integration of Subprojects – Algal Biofuels Workplan

Protein meal

FuelBiojetHydrotreating

BiodieselT-esterification

Anaerobic Digestion

Alcoholic Fermentation

Pyrolysis/Gasification

Ethanol

Methane

Syngas

Fuel

ProcessingAnimal FeedProtein

Carbohydrate

Harvesting/Extraction

CultivationBiomassFraction ApplicationConversion ProductProcessing

OilPBR

Screening andOptimization

Analysis

DistributionConsiderations

Wastewater Flue Gas CO2

NRC Institutes

Institute for Marine Biosciences (IMB)Plant Biotechnology Institute (PBI)Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI)Institute for Aerospace Research (IAR)Institute for Chemical Process and Environmental Technology (ICPET)Institute for National Measurement Standards (INMS)

Government of Canada Departments

NRCan CanmetENERGY, AAFC, EC, DFO, DND

Province of Nova ScotiaDepartments of Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy

Foreign Government

US-DOE Office of Biomass Programs, NREL, PNNL, Sandia National Labs

University Participants

St. Francis Xavier University, University of New Brunswick, University of Manitoba

Major Industrial Partners (partial list)

Carbon2Algae Solutions - cultivation technologiesMenova Energy Inc. - cultivation technologiesOcean Nutrition Canada - biomass production and processingPOS Pilot Plant Corp. - biomass processing

Collaborators

Phase I (Underway):(1) Collect and characterize algae strains native to Canada and the US that are

adapted to growth in northern latitudes and can utilize industrial CO2 emissions(2) Conduct robust Geographic Information System (GIS), Techno-Economic (TE),

and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) modelling of commercial algae biofuel production in North America using measured environmental parameters and empirical data

Canada / US joint project in algae biofuels

A collaboration under the Clean Energy Dialogue between NBP Algal Biofuels Initiative, US-DOE - National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

Phase II (Under Development):Deployment of a demonstration-scale algae cultivation system at an industrial CO2 emitter. Preference for deployment is NS, but require a CO2 partner

NRC – Institute for Marine BiosciencesHalifax, Nova Scotia

NRC – IMB Marine Research StationKetch Harbour, Nova Scotia

Current Activities Within the Algal Biofuels Project

NRC’s “Brite-Box” PBRs250, 500, 1000 L

Major infrastructure designed, acquired and commissioned

NRC project team includes:8 Research Officers2 Research Associates15 Technical Officers2 Students

Current Activities Within the Algal Biofuels Project

Current Activities Within the Algal Biofuels Project

Microalgae harvested by centrifugationin kilogram quantities for lipid profilingand related analyses

Biomass is provided to researchcollaborators

Bio-Fence PBR at NRC-IMB Marine Research Station

Using our systems to:

Determine yields and qualities of algae biomass and extracts

Evaluate potential for scalability of cultivation processes

Determine Carbon and Energy balances for biomass-to-fuel conversions

Generate empirical data needed to support the development of meaningful Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Techno-Economic (TE) assessments

Current Activities Within the Algal Biofuels Project

Modified from: Trends in Biotechnology 2008 Vol. 26(3)

Industrial CO2

Sun Light

NutraceuticalsTherapeutants

Bioactive compounds

Microalgae Biorefinery: Fuel Products and Non-fuel Co-products

Liquid Biofuels

Key Contacts:

Stephen O’Leary (stephen.oleary@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca)Co-Lead Project DirectorResearch Officer, NRC Institute for Marine Biosciences

Ed Hogan (ed.hogan@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca) Co-Lead Project DirectorBiomass Thermochemical Program Manager, CanmetENERGY, Natural Resources Canada

Patrick McGinn (patrick.mcginn@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca)Scientific LeaderResearch Officer, NRC Institute for Marine Biosciences

Leah Knickle (leah.knickle@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca)Project Manager, National Bioproducts Program

AAFC-NRCan-NRC National Bioproducts ProgramTheme 4: Establishing a Canadian capacity to produce biofuels from marine algae

NBPalgalbiofuels@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Thank you for your attention