Algae Biodiesel

By: Michael Bergamaschi

Overview

• History of algae• Current state of algae• Organizations• Pros/Cons• Project 1-Solix• Project 2-OriginOil• Conclusion

History

• First major research began in early 90’s• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)• Shutdown in 1996 • Restarted in 2006 with the renewed interest in

biofuels as a whole

Current State

• Algae biodiesel is underdevelopment by just over 100 startup companies according to DOE

• Cheapest price per barrel is $400 (Aquaflow)

• Largest producer is Algenol (ethanol)• Most funding from venture capital• Chevron corporation• No truly commercialized facilities

Organizations

• Algal Biomass Organization• Levels of membership• Boeing, Solazyme, FedEx• BIO• Advanced Biofuels Association

Pros• Estimates range from 3,000

to 15,000 gallons an acre per year

• Uses CO2 for growth• No undesirable byproducts • Easy integration

into current system• Could provide 1

billion tons of biomass per year

Cons

• Expensive to produce and fund research• CO2 paradox• Retrofit warranties• Location and logistics• Acceptance

Project 1:

• Algae biodiesel producer• Located in Southwestern Colorado• Demonstration plant taking up ¾ of an acre• Biology labs in Durango and Fort Collins• Performs the full refinement of algae into its

base byproducts

Coyote Gulch

• Lumian ASG4000 Technology

• Water from coal bed methane production

• CO2 from amine scrubbing plant

Supporters

• Land provided by Southern Ute Alternative Energy Fund

• Capital providers for Solix

Importance

• Gives an idea of ability to scale up operations• Gave ideas on what not to do• Provides final products for other sectors to

modify

: Single-Step ExtractionTM

• Los Angeles based company• Created specifically to commercialize algae to

oil process• Partnered with MBD Energy Limited• First site integration is located in Northern

Queensland Australia

Quantum FracturingTM

• Patented process used to separate oil, water and biomass

• Uses EM waves and pH modification to degrade cell walls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q5NeiUhlPs

Supporters

• OriginOil has many supporting companies and organizations

• Some have provided funding, others facilities and others have placed orders for products

Importance

• OriginOil’s process promises to be a cheap, quick and efficient way to extract oil

• Half the cost of current oil production is extraction

• Provides a complete recycling of algae that is grown

Conclusion• Algae based oil isn’t a new idea• Its completely renewable and

sustainable• Cost can be reduced with

proper funding• Solix and OriginOil examples

Call to Action

• Become informed• Buy a diesel engine powered car• Write your congress man/woman• Like algae companies on Facebook! That stuff works now

Sources• http://gigaom.com/cleantech/15-algae-startups-bringing-pond-scum-to-fuel-tanks/ • http://www.originoil.com/ • http://www.consumerenergyreport.com/2009/04/20/company-to-commercialize-breakthrough-process-extracting-oil-from-algeae/ • http://www.mbdenergy.com/ • http://www.solixbiosystems.com/ • http://www.oilgae.com/algae/oil/extract/che/che.html • http://www.algenolbiofuels.com/algvalueprop.htm • http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/in-brief-chevron-seeks-slime-atraverda-gets-215m-253/ • http://www.nrel.gov/ • http://patentdocs.typepad.com/patent_docs/2007/05/bios_reaction_t.html • http://advancedbiofuelssummit.com/blog/agenda/ • http://bioenergy.msu.edu/feedstocks/algae.shtml • http://veghunter.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/consumers-may-soon-have-a-new-frankenfood/ • http://www.oilgae.com/algae/oil/extract/mec/mec.html • http://www.aquaflowgroup.com/ • http://www.algalbiomass.org/ • http://www.bio.org/ • http://blogs.forbes.com/eco-nomics/2011/03/16/biofuel-from-algae-could-compete-with-oil-report-says/ • http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/11/22/idUS108599411820101122 • http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/blog/article/2011/04/making-history-in-algae • http://

www.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/18/44857912/Solix-Biofuels-Agreement-With-Los-Alamos-National-Laboratory-Develop-Algal-Oil-Extraction-Process

• http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/algae-biodiesel2.htm • http://www.ehow.co.uk/list_7713642_cons-algae-farming.html