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