energy from algae: opportunities and barriers to uptake
DESCRIPTION
This presentation was given at an official Committee of the Regions side event title 'From biomass to bioenergy, materials and products: boosting the EU’s bio-based economy through cross-border collaborationon' on the 10th Oct in Brussels, BelgiumTRANSCRIPT
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
The Bioeconomy Vision
http://bridge2020.eu/
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
The Land Debate
Bioeconomy outputs will ultimately be constrained by land availability.
Need to maximise land productivity through waste reduction and efficient integration of biomass processing.
Algae offer the potential of efficient carbon capture and conversion of solar energy to bio-based products including transport fuel largely disconnected from land issues.
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Global algae projects
National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts
San Diego Centre for Algal Biotechnology
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
AlgaePARC – Wageningen University
Algal Fuel Consortium
Algae Cluster
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
How far can down the value chain can algae go?
Source: A UK roadmap for algal technologies
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Commercial Potential?
Images Courtesy of Algenol & Sapphire Energy
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Algae: Fundamental Questions?
Which fuel should be the target?What production system?Can fuels be produced cost competitively?Can fuels deliver the required GHG savings?Can fuels be produced sustainably?
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Algae in NWE: Fundamental Questions?
Is algae a reasonable energy technology pathway for North West Europe?What energy targets make sense?Is the market support sufficient?
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
19 partners14 observers7 EU member states
How?• Transnational
network• Share knowledge
develop best practice.
What?• Environmental
impact• Technical and
economic feasibility
• Opportunities and barriers analysis
Why?• Climate change• Environmental
benefits• Energy security• Economic
development
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
The Project
WP1Cultivation
• Data collection• Best practice sharing• Outreach
WP2Analysis
• Economic Modelling• Life Cycle Analysis• Regulation and Policy
WP3Dissemination
• Smart information and data tools
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Cultivation of macroalgae in NWE
Aiming to improve on each phase of the seaweed cultivation process by sharing knowledge between partners:
Communicate: workshops, on-site demonstration, technical manuals,
Produce seedlings in purpose-built hatcheriesGrow biomass at sea and monitor environmental parameters at the same time
In a standard manner to compare and improve reliability of data
etc.
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Mass cultivation of microalgae in NW Europe
6 pilot-scale facilities for the cultivation and downstream processing of microalgae: – Photobioreactors to 32,000 litres– Open ponds, mobile MaB-floc reactor– Controlled environment labs for characterising biomass– Harvesting / disruption / conversion technologies
Focus on mass cultivation using liquid and gaseous waste streams.
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Summary
The EnAlgae project has brought together a significant network of Algae experts.
The level of information exchange could only be achieved through transnational collaboration.
Stand alone energy production is economically challenging – consider integration options or higher value outputs.
Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Thank you for listening