ALGAE:SIMPLE

ORGANISM; INNOVATIVE

DESIGNS

INTRODUCTION

Ronald Orndorff BA in History from here in 2004

Back in NPRE for the fun of it! Graduating in like a week.

• I hope

Hoping to get a job in the nuclear field Experience as Reactor Operator

MBA after? Renewables? Farm sheep in New Zealand

My advisor is right here

PURPOSE

Biofuel production already discussed Arys’ presentation covered several topics

Utilization of wastewater Utilization of carbon dioxide Economic and environmental argument for algae

So what else is there to cover? Innovations in farming!

Algae mines Offshore development

Existing Algal Farm Schemes

Open Pond Major obstacle – Hardiness of species

Closed Loop system Ties to greenhouse gas emitters

This has benefits and consequences• Eats up CO2 at power plants• Other pollutants, limited in scope

Photobioreactors Can be built nearly anywhere Expensive option

ALGAE USE IN MINES

Land scarcity Algae fussy Other species invade

Coal mines often end up abandoned

Mix these concepts and get algae mines!

Algae growth in runoff

INNOVATION – ALGAE MINES

Eliminates infrastructure cost ~50% of cost for Open Pond Algae

Controls temperature Caves/mines maintain stable temperature year-round

Evaporation control No sun bearing down, reduces evaporation

Reduces needed water

Enhanced growth Use of LED instead of sunlight

Only uses a few light frequencies at pulsed intervals More efficient for photosynthesis

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS – ALGAE MINES

Environmental Benefits Isolates C.V., algae

cannot escape Other harmful species

cannot reach C.V. Algae can sequester

metals from mines Phytoremediation

• Manganese removal study Abandoned Mine, Dunbar VA

DRAWBACKS – ALGAE MINES

Cost LED lights are expensive

Electricity costs vs. free sunlight

Research Funding Limited EPA Low interest from venture capitalists

Seen as risky, untested

TAKEWAY POINTS – ALGAE MINES

Unorthodox Growing plants in the dark is always fun

Green-friendly “Recycles” unused mines

Limited Only possible in areas with abandoned mines

Low Interest Currently Little large-scale commercial appeal Seen more as PR investiture

OFFSHORE ALGAL FARMS

Offshore Wind/Algae Hybrid Farm Concept – Lolland, Denmark

OFFSHORE FARM STRUCTURE

Build shallow pools for algae offshore Top of pool: Tempered UV-resistant glass Bottom of pool: special membrane enclosure Each pool tethered to wind turbine

Pantograph arm• Isolates pool motion from sea motion• Limits degrees of freedom• Prevents “excess agitation” of algae

Each pool = self-contained mini-ecosystem Termed “Omega”

OFFSHORE TECH DEVELOPMENT

Tied to offshore wind turbine development Wind turbines provide power

Power drives pumps• Pumps churn water

This promotes algal growth Power lights LEDs

• Remember how LEDs helped in the mine?

Bottom membrane new NASA material forward-osmosis, desalinates incoming water ensures nutrients reach algae flushes excess fresh water back

OFFSHORE BENEFITS

Isolated ecosystem Freshwater Algae can’t leave

Won’t survive in open saltwater Other species can’t enter

Hostile species blocked by membrane

Effectively infinite “land” for use Lots of coast and sea for use Limited only by roughness of sea and

accessibility

OFFSHORE FUEL CHOICE

Innovation centers on biofuel productionHydrogen production making strides

2008 DoE Report 25% efficiency reported

• Truncate Chlorophyll antennae• Block oxygen production through copper

Already tying algae farms to wind turbines... Future of hydrogen production?

OFFSHORE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS Chemical remediation

Water-based analogue to coal mine phytoremediation Fertilizer runoff feed algae Potential Dead Zone solution

OFFSHORE CHALLENGES

Weather High sea states Severe weather systems

Collection/Transport Large swaths of algae may grow...

But how will the fuel be collected?

Regulation Monitoring farms

TAKEAWAYS – OFFSHORE FARMS

Self-sufficient Requires no external energy, water, or land

Green-Friendly Eats up harmful nutrients (P, NH3, N) Reduced risk of species-based invasions

Available Most needed technology exists

Hydrogen collection still optimized Meshing wind farm and algal farms piloted now

REFERENCES

http://www.rechargenews.com/business_area/innovation/article189992.ece (Offshore algae cultivation)

http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/progress08/ii_f_2_melis.pdf (DoE report on hydrogen production from algae)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/does-algae-plus-wind-power-equal-biofuel/ (Wind + Algae breakdown)

http://www.itrcweb.org/miningwaste-guidance/cs33b_tva_alabama.htm (TVA report on algae collecting Mn in abandoned coal mine)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/invasive-algae-leads-to-boom-bust-and-maybe-boom-again/ (Article detailing a problem with invasive algae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytoremediation (Description of Phytoremediation with examples)

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=underground-algae-growth-light-emitting-diodes (Detailed article on using algae in abandoned coal mines, the whys and hows)

QUESTIONS?