webinar: june 11, noon pst could micro-algae fuel the world · venter: “algae fuel will not come...

Could micro-algae fuel the world ?

John R. BenemannMicroBio Engineering, Inc.

Walnut Creek, California, USAjbenemann@microbioengineering.com

T This 2013 BCSEA Webinars presented with the generoussupport of Vancity, Canada's largest Credit Union

Webinar: June 11, Noon PST

Abstract: Could micro-algae fuel the world ?Abstract: Could micro-algae fuel the world ?Could products made from micro-algae be a solution to the world’s energy, food, economic and climate challenges? Algae have the power to fuels our vehicles, recycle CO2, provide nutrition for animals and people and create millions of jobs.The interest around algae stems from the fact that they could produce between 2,000-5,000 gallons of fuel per acre, far more than any other renewable biofuel, can be grown on marginal and non-crop land using brackish, salty and polluted water, so they don’t compete with valuable agricultural land and water resources, and consume carbon dioxide, potentially reducing anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Around the world there are now about 10,000 researchers and engineers working to develop ways to grow algae for biodiesel, green gasoline, aviation fuel, and animal feeds, in addition to several thousands already employed by a small industry producing microalgae (~ 15,000 t/y) for human nutritional products.But can the industry live up to the hype? Will we one day see cars, planes, trucks powered by micro-algae, and animal feeds algae, or will it remain a source of phantom hope? And could micro-algae be grown here in B.C., or Canada? John Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

Two Types of Algae (non vascular plants): Microalgae and Macroalgae (seaweeds)

~98% of commercially produced algae are seaweed

Two Types of Algae (non vascular plants): Microalgae and Macroalgae (seaweeds)

~98% of commercially produced algae are seaweed

��

Today only discuss microalgae

>90% of algaeused for food

applications

John Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

For Macroalgae see:“Techno-Economic Feasibility Analysis of Offshore Seaweed Farming for Bioenergy and Biobased Products”Roesjadi, Coppinger, Huesemann, Forster and Benemann, March 2008, PNNL (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) (available on request)

Projected ~80,000 liters oil/hectare-year

“The year was 1975, and my professor in Berkeley asked me if I wanted to change the world, and I said, sure, lets grow algae, that started it…”

ExxonMobil 30 sec TV spot, 2010-11John Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

Botryococcus braunii

hydrocarbons �droplets

Botryococcus braunii cells

hydrocarbons �droplets

Botryococcus braunii cellsJohn Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

Venter: “Algae fuel will notcome from nature” (10/2011)Venter: “Algae fuel will notcome from nature” (10/2011)“…there’s nothing in the natural world to make the levels needed” of ~200,000 liters/ha-yr“creating fully synthetic cells is the way to go.”Natural algae only get 20,000 liters/ha-yr…”“we are at point of taking over evolution … All parts of humanity will be impacted. …”“Even 200,000 l/ha-yr may not be the limit if we go vertical…”NYT 30/5/2012 Venter: “A strain engineered to a lighter color could allow the organisms to grow more densely without obstructing essential light” Claim 3-X higher production John Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

Increasing productivity with PAL Mutant of Synechocystis: Productivities low vs. high light

Culture Productivities

(Relative units)

Light wild mutant

uE/m2/s type PAL

130 15 5

1300 20 40Note that mutant has higher productivity at higher light intensity but lower at lower light intensity than wild type

Weissman, Benemannet al. 2005

Biodiesel yields liters/ha-yr barrels/ha-yrSoybeans 400 2.5Sunflower 800 5Mustard 1,600 10Jathropha (est.) 2,000 13Palm Oil 6,000 38Microalgae 20,000*-50,000** 125* -300**

*Plausible near-term (<10 years) yield for algae oil production**maximum possible long-term yield. Requires strains designed for

maximal photosynthetic efficiency (small “antenna” size), most production into oil, control of grazers, weed algae, best location, etc.)

BUT: even the lower yields not yet achieved: no barrels of microalgae oil, over one hectare over one year, have yet been produced

Why the interest in Microalgae for Biofuels? Plausible Yield Projections : Algae vs. CropsWhy the interest in Microalgae for Biofuels? Plausible Yield Projections : Algae vs. Crops

SchizochytriumNannochloropsis

MICROALGAE:

11 Division, 29 classes vs. 2/12 vascular plants EEEEach species (>100,000?), each strain is different11 Division, 29 classes vs. 2/12 vascular plants

EEEEach species (>100,000?), each strain is differentIt’s all about the algae

…and their ecophysiologyJohn Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

Large “whitening” in the Atlantic Ocean (due to coccolithophorids like E. huxleyi]Large “whitening” in the Atlantic Ocean

(due to coccolithophorids like E. huxleyi]

Emiliania huxleyi

In seawater:Ca++ + 2HCO3

�CaCO3+ CO2

N2 fixing Anabaena cylindrica with heterocysts (the first alga I studied, almost forty years ago!)N2 fixing Anabaena cylindrica with heterocysts (the first alga I studied, almost forty years ago!)

Heterocyst��(N2��NH3 ��protein)

��Akinete (a spore)

��vegetative cells�� vegetative cells

N2-fixing cyanobacteria (also make H2)John Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

It’s all about the algaeSalt Evaporation Ponds, San Francisco Bay

(from my airplane window, June 2012)

… their ecophysiology these microalgae grow at different salinities in the salt evaporation ponds

Salt Evaporation Ponds, San Francisco Bay(Google picture of my airplane window view)

production of beta-carotene in hypersaline ponds Cognis/BASF 500 ha ponds in W. Australia

… and their commercialcultivation,

here in salt ponds in Australia

Dunaliella salina

Astaxanthin production in Israel, Algatechnologies

…there in photobioreactors

Haematococcus pluvialis

“pluvialis” latin rain A freshwater alga

… the ecophysiology ofHaematococcus pluvialis : birdbaths!

Spirulina production at Earthrise Nutritionals Southern Calfornia

…and everywhere microalgae are cultivated in raceway ponds

Spirulina

Bicarbonate Evaporation Pond Near Mexico CitySite of first Spirulina production facility (1975-1995)

… the ecophysiology of Spirulina: alkaline lakes … the ecophysiology of Spirulina: alkaline lakes Spirulina

Cyanotech (Hawaii) Bicarbonate @16 g/l selective medium;

Spirulina

now commercial microalgae productionmakes their own alkaline lakes

>90% raceway paddle wheel mixed ponds

now commercial microalgae productionmakes their own alkaline lakes

>90% raceway paddle wheel mixed ponds

… but we must keep them from getting eaten (from Amha Belay Must manage /control Earthrise Nutritionals) or “show stopper”

… but we must keep them from getting eaten (from Amha Belay Must manage /control Earthrise Nutritionals) or “show stopper”• Rotifers ��

• Cladopherans (e.g. Daphnia) ��

• Amoebae ��

• Cyclopoid copepods ��

• Ciliates ��

• Chironomid midges ��• Infections(fungi, virusesbacteria, etc.)John Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

Chaetoceros sp., diatom (Silicate cell wall) these spines deter grazers.

Victor Chepurnov John Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

Nannochloropsis oculata , a seawater Eustigmatophycaea, high omega-3-oil Somehow also resistant to grazers

Victor Chepurnov John Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

…hydrocarbons of Botryococcus braunii , freshwater green alga , also deter grazers…hydrocarbons of Botryococcus braunii ,

freshwater green alga , also deter grazers

…if we keep them from being eaten, we may be able grow algae cheaply, enough for commodities – fuels, feeds

... that beat the competition

1st batch of microalgae biodiesel produced1st batch of microalgae biodiesel producedRamin Yazdani (Davis, CA) made ~1 barrel B10 algae biodiesel in his backyard refinery from anDunaliella salinaextract I gave him (Dec. 2005)

…and get biofuels to marketJohn Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

Cyanotech Co. Hawaii, USA.raceway pondsRed ponds grow Haematococcus pluvialis biomass for astaxanthin (>$ 200,000/t) other ponds grow Spirulina biomass ( > $ 20,000/t)

…but today’s algae productsare high value

Spirulina

…and mainly sold as human food supplements -

nutraceuticals

…and mainly sold as human food supplements -

nutraceuticals

BioAstin® Natural Astaxanthin and Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica®

from Cyanotech

…but coming soon: tomorrow’s products40 hectare biofuels demonstration plant, , , , NM

But maybe before fuels will be commodity animal feeds - aquaculture feeds

Total industrial animal feed production 635 million mtons (2007)

Aquafeeds are larger fraction of total in value and growing rapidly.

… but how to get there from here ? GLOBAL ALGAL BIOMASS R,D,D&D

(Research, Development, Demonstration, Deployment).

… but how to get there from here ? GLOBAL ALGAL BIOMASS R,D,D&D

(Research, Development, Demonstration, Deployment).For commodities, low cost products- biofuels & feeds:

How much investment?: Global ~$1 billion/yearHow many companies? Start-ups/small: hundreds

medium to large: scoresCorporate projects: dozens

How may university teams, projects?: many hundredsconsortia?: scores

How many jobs? ~10,000 directly employed (est.)

How much algae biofuels being produced? None, yet

How much commodity animal feeds? None yet eitherJohn Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

“Exxon at Least 25 Years Away from Making Fuel from Algae” says ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson in Interview with Charlie Rose, PBS March 12 2013: “We’ve come to understand some limits of that technology, or limits as we understand it today, which doesn’t mean it’s limited forever”

Charlie Rose: “Exxon has been studying the potential for algae-based fuels since 2009 years in a joint venture with J. Craig Venter’s Synthetic Genomics Inc., at which time Exxon predicted it could produce fuels in 5 to 10 years”

…and how long will it take to get there? .

“The year was 1975, and my professor in Berkeley asked me if I wanted to change the world, and I said, sure, lets grow algae, that started it…”

ExxonMobil 30 sec TV spot, 2010-11

… OK, some of us have been at this for >25

yreas already

… OK, some of us have been at this for >25

yreas already John Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

Production of Microalgae for FuelsProduction of Microalgae for FuelsMicroalgae biodiesel production, Aquatic Species Program, DOE NREL 1987 Note Raceway and settling-harvesting ponds

Artist rendition, based on Benemann,

Weissman et al., 1982

…but the vision has not changed

J. Sheehan, P. Roessler, T. Dunahay, J. Weissman J. Benemann(Principal Investigator)

Paul Roessler prior Joe Weissmanat Synthetic Genomics now at ExxonMobilNow at Algenol in Florida

Paddle wheel mixed raceway ponds main focus of the US DOE Aquatic Species Program, 1980 -1996

Prof. W.J. Oswald, pioneer of “high rate ponds” (HRPs) for low-cost waste water treatment: shallow, raceway, slowly mixed ponds. In 1975 I joined him and introduced paddle wheel mixing

��Paddle wheel

Key Question: how large can we make them?

Design specs:25-35 cm deep20-30 cm/sec mixDilute 20-40%/d7.5-8.5 pH range

…and open ponds still the only way to low-cost algae commodities

Ponds, Christchurch NZ: 5 hectare, 4 ponds 2010: Largest algae for biofuels project in world. Dr. Rupert Craggs at NIWA

Sump for CO2 transfer ��

Paddle wheel ��

Lamellar settler ��for harvesting

…we can make ponds >1 hectare

Lundquist, Woertz, Quinn, Benemann et al. 2010:Techno-economic Analysis : Capital & operating

costs (based on agricultural engineering practices] Key assumption: 24,000 liters/ha-yr oil production

Lundquist, Woertz, Quinn, Benemann et al. 2010:Techno-economic Analysis : Capital & operating

costs (based on agricultural engineering practices] Key assumption: 24,000 liters/ha-yr oil production•Construction techniques based on prior experience• RS Means Construction Cost Data 2008• Recent S. California wastewater projects• Operating costs from wastewater plants

��Capital costs for 400 ha algae pond system alone $250,000/ha ��Algal oil production total cost ~$300/barrel (no waste credit)

For fuels/feeds MUST DECREASE COSTS – CAPITAL AND OPERATING

WT CM1

CM2 CM1-1

CM3 CM7

A…and increased productivity

Algae mass culture first studied over 60 years ago Carnegie Institute of Washington Algae for Food Project

Jack Myers Bessel Kok

Algae mass culture first studied over 60 years ago Carnegie Institute of Washington Algae for Food Project

Jack Myers Bessel Kok2006, Austin, Tx

Burlew (ed.) Algae Culture from Laboratory to Pilot Plant, 1953

1956, Stanford

First algae mass culture studies on MIT rooftop

…we are not the first, these are the giants on whose shoulders…

Roof of MIT Building~ 1950

Inoculum Tubes

Plastic bag-type photobioreactors

First algal mass culture project (for Chlorella)

…we are not the first…John Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

“We seem to have a few problems going from lab-scale to full-scale production “

…of course, there will be bumps and failures on the road there…

May 2013: Canada Govt. (NRC) invests $19 M to reduce GHG emissions from oil sands.

“Pond Biofuels industrial …installation operating at night. Algae is growing on raw smokestack emissions. (Use electricity & LED lights

to produce biofuel).

( From PR release John Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

THE POTENTIAL AND PROMISE OF MICROALGAE BIOMASScurrent USA feed crops vs. future algae feed/fuel cropTHE POTENTIAL AND PROMISE OF MICROALGAE BIOMASScurrent USA feed crops vs. future algae feed/fuel cropU.S. ANIMAL Avg. Yield Protein 1,000s ha Total ProteinFEED CROP mt/ha-yr mt/ha-yr Harvested 1,000 mt/yr

CORN GRAIN 8.6* 0.86 28,000 24,100 SOYBEAN 2.7* 0.95 30,000 28,500MICROALGAE 100** 50 1,000 50,000

*Actual Yields dry matter ** Projected future yield for microalgae; protein content typical. 1 million ha require ~250 million t CO2 for 100 million t biomass, 1 million ha of algae would rival current US animal feed production Or ~10% of world animal feed production Or ~1% global oil for (very) high oil algae (~40,000 L/ha-yr) John Benemann BC Sustainable Energy Webinar June 11 2013 Could Microalgae Fuel …

SchizochytriumNannochloropsis

It’s all about the algae

And their grazers and other biological problems - infections, invasion by other algae, etc. must control! or will be a show-stopper

Wastewater treatment R&D ponds San Luis Obispo, CA

Tryg Lundquist

…algae biomass: work in progress…algae biomass: work in progress

��Ian Woertz

webinar: june 11, noon pst could micro-algae fuel the world · venter: “algae fuel will not come...

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