algal-based biofuels & biofeeds: economic development, a ... · the cost of this whole algae...

Algal-based Biofuels & Biofeeds:

Economic Development, A

Northeastern Perspective

Ira A. Levine, Ph.D.

Fulbright New Century Scholar

Burlington, VT

March 2010

Acknowledgements

Funding: U.S. State Department’s Fulbright Program

Natural & Applied Science, University of Southern Maine

Department of Botany, University Delhi

Slides/Photos: Philip Penkos, U.S. N.R.E. L.

Stefan Kraan, OceanFuel, Ltd.

Ami Ben Amotz, Seambiotic

Charlie Yarish, UCONN

Don Cheney, Northeastern U.

Elizabeth Willett, Mars Symbioscience

Why Algae?

(1) National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Algae is the most promising biodiesel feedstock

Rapid Growth RatesQuickest time to harvest

compared to other biofuel

feedstock

Highest YieldTypical yield for algae biomass

should be approximately 5,000

gallons per acre

No Competition with FoodDoesn’t require arable land;

SAB model calls for using non-

farm land adjacent to utilities

CO2 Capture and UseAlgae consume CO2 as they

grow; potential to capture power

plant exhaust

Environmental BenefitsNon-toxic, highly biodegradable,

clean-burning, safe fuel for

general use

•Health Creams

•Lotion Additives

•Toothpaste

•Shampoo & Conditioners

•Facial Masques

•Clarifiers and Toners

•Cosmetics

COSMETICS & BEAUTY PRODUCTS

•Anti-coagulants

•Coagulants

•Agar Petrie Dishes

•Sterilizing Agents

• Iodine

•Laxatives

•Emollients

PHARMA & MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

•Protein Supplements

•Vitamin Supplements

•Blood Thinners

•DHA & EPA

•Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty acids

NEUTRICEUTICALS & DIETARY

SUPPLEMENTS

•Bioplastics & Biopaper

•Paper Stabilizers

•Marbling Techniques

•Decorative Papers and Wall Papers

•Paper adhesives & Temporary Glue

•Textile fibers and additives

PACKAGING & BIOPLASTICS

•Wastewater treatment

•Phosphorus and nitrogen removal

•Soil amendment as fibrous material

•Manure Processing and Soil Reclamations

SOIL & WATER TREATMENT/

RECLAMATION

•Bio-oil

•JP8 (Jet Fuel)

•Kerosene

•Ethanol

•Biodiesel

•Green Diesel

•Biomethane

•Biogasoline

BIOFUELS

•Domestic Animal Food supplement

•Protein Additive

•Livestock Pure Food

•Fish Food and Vitamin Supplement

•Flea and Tick Control

PET FOOD & FERTILIZERS

•Cooking Oils

•Protein Bars & Supplements

•Algal Flours & “Grains”

•Baby Formula

•Thickeners & Coagulants

•Gelling Agents

FOOD & SNACKS

The Algae Commercial Process

Algae Strain

Optimized for

Biodiesel

Carbon Dioxide –

Waste Heat and

Cooling

Bioreactor Dewatering

Drying

Delipidation

Algae Strain

Optimized for

Animal Feed

Pelletized

High-Value Cattle Feed

($0.75-1.50/lb)

Mash Animal Feed

($0.14/lb)

Biodiesel

($2.00/gallon)

Green Diesel

($2.10/gallon)

Strategic Relationships with Power Generation & Ranching

Cogeneration

120MW gas-fired power plant

ideal site for 1 acre module facility

Fossil Fueled Power plant CO2 ideal for algae

cultivation

Double Benefit

– Food for algae

– Reduction of CO2

Opportunity to benefit from carbon credits if

cap-and-trade system

Cattle Ranch/Farms

Ideal platform to demonstrate positive impact of

algae as an animal feed on healthy fat marbling in

cattle (DHA OMEGA 3)

Proprietary, genetically optimized herd resulting

from 9 generation breeding program saves money

in feedout to put into algae purchase

Commercial demonstration of feeding special algae to cattle increases the ratio of

healthy to unhealthy fat in the marbling in cost effective manner

Market for algae-based animal feed supplements is large

Five hundred 250 acre facilities, optimized for algae production as high value cattle feed,

supplies supplement feed for US cattle population (10,000,000) continually in feed lots

The cost of this whole algae animal feed supplement is expected to be far below the

current price of conventional algae food supplements used for pigs, chickens, dairy

Current price of similar algae is $19,000 per ton,

Projected cost, based on pilot plant yields, will be $1,500-$3,000 per ton or less.

Animal Feed Supplement Market Overview

10,000,000 cattle in US

feedlots

Each consume 25 lbs of

feed daily

If 10% were replaced by

algae…

…4.5mm tons of algae

supplements would be

needed annually

Marbling: Fatty Acid composition

Fatty acid composition of intramuscular (IM) fat:

~ 50% Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA)

~ 35-45% Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA)

~ 5% Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA)

New breedline of cattle

50%

45%

5%

SFA

MUFA

PUFA

Genetics

Nutrition:

Corn based diet => typical saturated/unsaturated ratio

Grass-based diet => increased MUFA, omega-3 and CLA

Algal supplementation => better than grass alone.

Ongoing PUFA feed trials

Demonstrate commercial value and sales of algae for cattle feed as higher value than biofuels

Algae may increase cost of commercial cow $100

Manipulating fatty acid composition

Agricultural Byproducts

Fossil Fuel

Processing

Waste Disposal

Biomass Burning

Residential/Commercial

Annual Methane Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Smith Algae Biofuels, Inc.

405-235-0900

DHA laden Algae & Green House Gas Reduction

22% of world methane GHG release due to cattle eructation & exhalation (98%), and flatus (2%). Producing 91 kg methane/head/year

Algae high in DHA fed to ruminants reduced methane up to 80%

Acetate + propionate + Butyrate + H2 + CO2

Methanobrevibacter ruminantium

Methanosarcina barkeri

Methane

Northeastern Algae Co

Why Northeastern Algae?

Northeastern Algae represents a significant market opportunity in a fast growing sector

2nd Gen PlayerBenefit from millions invested by

1st gen partner

Large End Market

Animal feed market supports 500

algae projects in US

Strategic RelationshipsPower Generation & Cattle

Ranch

Scientific & OperationalKnow-How

Resources to select optimal algae

species, photobiological formula,

bioreactor & process

University Southern Maine

Algal-based Biofuel/Biofeed

Cultivar Enhancement

Program

•Marine vs. Sweet Water cultivars

•Higher Lipid content

•Higher Growth Rates

•Greater Temperature Flexibility

•Specialty Chemicals and Natural

Products

Algal culture, Delhi University

Cultivar Inoculum

Scale Up Reactors

1st Generation Systems

Open pond

cultivation in

India

Parry Nutraceuticals

Simplicity Spirulina Farm

Seambiotic

Ashkelon, Israel

¼ mile long “V” troughs utilizing < 1 hp/acre of motor force

Adjacent to dairy farm

First Generation Roller Bag

Bioreactor

Colorado State University

& Solix Biofuels

Plans to revive design by A2B2

18 month effort

East India

Algae - Power Plant

3000L

Algenol’s direct production of Ethanol

Dewatering: 4-14%

2-10% operating expense

Harvest – Dewatering and Drying

Challenges

Cell Size 5-25 µm

Cell Density ~1

Cell Concentration 0.5-4 g/l

Centrifugation Energy Efficiencies

Direct Centrifugation*

0.4 g/l cultures = 260% energy cost Open Pond

4.0 g/l cultures = 26% energy cost Closed Photobioreactors

50 g/l cultures = 2% energy cost Pretreatment

concentration

* = 100 hp centrifuge, 160 gpm = 5.2 kcal input energy/kcal

algal energy

Separation & Filtration Systems

Differential filtration &

Dewatering System

AlgaeVenture

System

Separates, dewaters,

& dries

Algae conversion to Brine Shrimp (50% metabolic conversion)

Harvested Brine Shrimp (20% oil)

Bioconversion: inexpensive harvesting (1.8% energy content)

Thank You

algal-based biofuels & biofeeds: economic development, a ... · the cost of this whole algae...

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