Comments on: Algae Biofuel: Hype, Hope, and Promise http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/03/algae-biofuel-hype-hope-and-promise/ Business, Better. Since 2005 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:41:18 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Barry Witt http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/03/algae-biofuel-hype-hope-and-promise/comment-page-1/#comment-16465 Barry Witt Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:02:15 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2009/03/algae-biofuel-hype-hope-and-promise/#comment-16465 I have followed the evolution of algae production by a number of companies for the last couple of years and I believe that algae producers have the wrong perspective on how to mass produce algae. All of the ones I have looked at seem to either approach it as a form of agriculture/farming or as an exercise in unique growing methods (bags, vats, etc.). I would suggest that there is an industry, horticulture, that already has the production techniques and equipment best suited for the mass production of algae. The last several decades have seen steady improvements in growing technologies that allow wholesale, horticultural growers to maximize the two aspects of plant production that do the most to increase profits, crop turnover and uniformity. While I would agree that both algae variety selection and processing of the finished materials are critical, if you can't increase the algae yields per acre per year, then it may never become competitive. Horticulture is already a multi-billion dollar industry with many of the largest, most profitable Growers using state-of-the-art growing technologies over hundreds of acres in each facility. Many of these technologies are directly applicable to the growing of algae. I believe, from my experience using them, that they can lead to production levels an order of magnitude greater than any of methods that I have seen from any of the companies or researchers currently working on algae production. I have followed the evolution of algae production by a number of companies for the last couple of years and I believe that algae producers have the wrong perspective on how to mass produce algae. All of the ones I have looked at seem to either approach it as a form of agriculture/farming or as an exercise in unique growing methods (bags, vats, etc.). I would suggest that there is an industry, horticulture, that already has the production techniques and equipment best suited for the mass production of algae. The last several decades have seen steady improvements in growing technologies that allow wholesale, horticultural growers to maximize the two aspects of plant production that do the most to increase profits, crop turnover and uniformity. While I would agree that both algae variety selection and processing of the finished materials are critical, if you can’t increase the algae yields per acre per year, then it may never become competitive. Horticulture is already a multi-billion dollar industry with many of the largest, most profitable Growers using state-of-the-art growing technologies over hundreds of acres in each facility. Many of these technologies are directly applicable to the growing of algae. I believe, from my experience using them, that they can lead to production levels an order of magnitude greater than any of methods that I have seen from any of the companies or researchers currently working on algae production.

]]> By: Mike http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/03/algae-biofuel-hype-hope-and-promise/comment-page-1/#comment-14793 Mike Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:20:04 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2009/03/algae-biofuel-hype-hope-and-promise/#comment-14793 Its funny how people say that new and emerging harvesting/dewatering technologies (think anything membrane based) reduce costs by 99% against current conventional technology for harvesting/dewatering and thereby the efficacy of algae as a renewable platform for either fuels or chemicals improves. However, these same people are using centrifuge costs as the base for improvement (which is equivalent to saying that semiconductors costs in 1970 have gone down to semiconductor costs in 1975). Point being: I would argue that current or new membrane technology is actually too costly. Furthermore, the real hangups with algae have nothing to do with capital related costs, but are actually rooted in the costs of operating the farming/growing, harvesting/dewatering, and conversion pieces of the chain....things like electricity, water, fertilizers/nutrients, land etc. My point: a lot more things need to happen for algae to be a viable source of fuel...though probably less things need to happen for algae to be a source for some high end chemicals. Its funny how people say that new and emerging harvesting/dewatering technologies (think anything membrane based) reduce costs by 99% against current conventional technology for harvesting/dewatering and thereby the efficacy of algae as a renewable platform for either fuels or chemicals improves. However, these same people are using centrifuge costs as the base for improvement (which is equivalent to saying that semiconductors costs in 1970 have gone down to semiconductor costs in 1975). Point being: I would argue that current or new membrane technology is actually too costly. Furthermore, the real hangups with algae have nothing to do with capital related costs, but are actually rooted in the costs of operating the farming/growing, harvesting/dewatering, and conversion pieces of the chain….things like electricity, water, fertilizers/nutrients, land etc.

My point: a lot more things need to happen for algae to be a viable source of fuel…though probably less things need to happen for algae to be a source for some high end chemicals.

]]> By: roger vaughan http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/03/algae-biofuel-hype-hope-and-promise/comment-page-1/#comment-8966 roger vaughan Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:31:45 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2009/03/algae-biofuel-hype-hope-and-promise/#comment-8966 Nice summary. But, all the real action must have been away from the conference. See below. March 2009 may be looked back on as the moment when algae moved from hope to reality. Press Release #1: Breakthrough Development in Algal Harvesting, Dewatering and Drying Cost of Key Processing Step Slashed by Over 99% Washington, DC - March 16, 2009 - Univenture, Inc. and AlgaeVenture Systems, a wholly owned LLC, announced they have filed patent documents for a disruptive technology for removing algae out of water and into the fuel tank. For nearly 40 years it was widely accepted that if algae could be removed from water at less than $50 per ton, it could lead to economic fuel from algae. Today, in Washington DC, AlgaeVenture Systems claims that a prototype-dewatering machine will reduced the cost from $875 per ton to a dramatic low cost of $1.92 per ton. The US Department of Energy studied algae after the oil embargo of 1970's,discovering that algae offered significant capability to produce biofuel. However, it was determined to be costly and the program was ended in 1996. The interest in algae bloomed again as oil reached record prices in 2008. Several private companies have raised hundreds of millions of dollars to pursue the technologies with varying strategies. Univenture, Inc. created AlgaeVenture Systems to grow algae in industrial and agricultural areas of the country that have opportunities to use pollutants as algae nutrients. This is a strategy of locating the algae farms near waste sources to produce a variety of products including fuels while cleaning up the air and water. The focus of the AlgaeVenture Systems is to manufacture and install simplified greenhouse ponds in proximity to power plants, waste water plants, farm waste facilities, food processors or other locations in which the geography supports algal growth year round at energy costs that are reduced by the collocation. Univenture's CEO Ross Youngs points out at "algae farming could never be considered a competitor of the food supply because you really have an option as an algae farmer to grow food, feed or fuel and you can chose the crop at any time and change the crop to be ready for daily harvests in under 20 days. Algae can protect our fuel supplies because it can be grown virtually anywhere in the U.S. and that is a benefit to national security by decentralizing the supply and reducing dependence on foreign oil". AlgaeVenture Systems' technology drops the energy cost of harvesting, dewatering and drying a metric ton of microalgal biomass from $875.00 (pre-concentration then centrifugation) to a cost of $1.92 using the new highly efficient technology. Youngs stated, "We are very proud of this advancement in technology which was modeled by studying nature at its best". Youngs continues to put the technology into perspective by saying "a human body on average uses about 96 watts to perform all bodily functions in a 24-hour period including moving and filtering 6,000 liters of viscous blood". AlgaeVenture Systems' small-scale prototype can process 6,000 liters of 3 grams per liter of chlorella microalgae from solution to dry flake on 480 watts in 12 hours. Of course, this is inefficient when compared to a human body but incredibly efficient when compared to all existing algal harvesting methods. The technology utilizes nature's methods of moving water including capillary effect, cohesion, adhesion, absorption and transpirational pull. Transpirational pull is how a tree or any plant moves water from the roots to the highest leaf, potentially 379 feet straight up from the roots. Youngs describes the technology as counterintuitive saying "there is so much water and so little algae it is natural to want to move the algae, but moving the water is very efficient. Algae are 33,000 times larger than a water molecule, and there are circumstances where you would add water to improve separation and drying. Accelerated sedimentation (centrifuging) moves everything including the water and the algae in order to separate and has no real equal in nature". This technology is scalable, portable and will be custom made to the customer-required application in the early stages. Though the technology was designed for microalgae, the AlgaeVenture Systems describes the invention as disruptive to several other separating, dewatering applications and associated equipment. Additional details about the technology can be obtained at www.algaeVS.com. About Univenture: Univenture firmly believes in the conservation of both ecological and economic resources. The company is, and has been since its inception, environmentally conscious, bringing to market a variety of patented and award-winning molded and converted plastic products that are environmentally friendly. Univenture started AlgaeVenture Systems to develop technology and systems for algal production of lipids and biomass, which can be used for fuels, plastics, advanced materials, feeds, foods, and other valuable resources. Univenture has been designing and manufacturing converted and molded plastic products including bio-based plastics and was founded in 1988. The company was listed 5 times on the Inc. 500 fastest growing privately held companies in the 90's and the founder; Ross O. Youngs was named National Business Person of the Year for the SBA in 1997. The dedicated focus of the Univenture team has resulted in numerous industry awards and accolades for its innovation, commitment to customers and sales growth. Univenture has corporate offices and operations in Marysville, Ohio; with offices in Reno, Nevada; Dublin, Ireland and Shenzhen, China. For more information on Univenture, visit www.univenture.com or call Univenture's corporate headquarters at 800-992-8262. Corporate Contact: Amy Bucklin or Ross Youngs AVS Project Manager (937) 645-4604 abucklin@algaevs.com Press release #2 Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 202-872-6042 American Chemical Society 'First economical process' for making biodiesel fuel from algae SALT LAKE CITY, March 25, 2009 - Chemists reported development of what they termed the first economical, eco-friendly process to convert algae oil into biodiesel fuel - a discovery they predict could one day lead to U.S. independence from petroleum as a fuel. One of the problems with current methods for producing biodiesel from algae oil is the processing cost, and the New York researchers say their innovative process is at least 40 percent cheaper than that of others now being used. Supply will not be a problem: There is a limitless amount of algae growing in oceans, lakes, and rivers, throughout the world. Another benefit from the "continuously flowing fixed-bed" method to create algae biodiesel, they add, is that there is no wastewater produced to cause pollution. "This is the first economical way to produce biodiesel from algae oil," according to lead researcher Ben Wen, Ph.D., vice president of United Environment and Energy LLC, Horseheads, N.Y. "It costs much less than conventional processes because you would need a much smaller factory, there are no water disposal costs, and the process is considerably faster." A key advantage of this new process, he says, is that it uses a proprietary solid catalyst developed at his company instead of liquid catalysts used by other scientists today. First, the solid catalyst can be used over and over. Second, it allows the continuously flowing production of biodiesel, compared to the method using a liquid catalyst. That process is slower because workers need to take at least a half hour after producing each batch to create more biodiesel. They need to purify the biodiesel by neutralizing the base catalyst by adding acid. No such action is needed to treat the solid catalyst, Wen explains. He estimates algae has an "oil-per-acre production rate 100-300 times the amount of soybeans, and offers the highest yield feedstock for biodiesel and the most promising source for mass biodiesel production to replace transportation fuel in the United States." He says that his firm is now conducting a pilot program for the process with a production capacity of nearly 1 million gallons of algae biodiesel per year. Depending on the size of the machinery and the plant, he said it is possible that a company could produce up to 50 million gallons of algae biodiesel annually. Wen also says that the solid catalyst continuous flow method can be adapted to mobile units so that smaller companies wouldn't have to construct plants and the military could use the process in the field. Nice summary. But, all the real action must have been away from the conference. See below. March 2009 may be looked back on as the moment when algae moved from hope to reality.
Press Release #1:
Breakthrough Development in Algal Harvesting, Dewatering and Drying
Cost of Key Processing Step Slashed by Over 99%
Washington, DC – March 16, 2009 – Univenture, Inc. and AlgaeVenture Systems, a wholly owned LLC, announced they have filed patent documents for a disruptive technology for removing algae out of water and into the fuel tank. For nearly 40
years it was widely accepted that if algae could be removed from water at less than $50 per ton, it could lead to economic fuel from algae. Today, in Washington DC, AlgaeVenture Systems claims that a prototype-dewatering machine will reduced the cost from $875 per ton to a dramatic low cost of $1.92 per ton.
The US Department of Energy studied algae after the oil embargo of 1970’s,discovering that algae offered significant capability to produce biofuel.
However, it was determined to be costly and the program was ended in 1996. The interest in algae bloomed again as oil reached record prices in 2008. Several private companies have raised hundreds of millions of dollars to pursue the
technologies with varying strategies.
Univenture, Inc. created AlgaeVenture Systems to grow algae in industrial and agricultural areas of the country that have opportunities to use pollutants as algae nutrients. This is a strategy of locating the algae farms near waste sources to produce a variety of products including fuels while cleaning up the air and water. The focus of the AlgaeVenture Systems is to manufacture and
install simplified greenhouse ponds in proximity to power plants, waste water plants, farm waste facilities, food processors or other locations in which the geography supports algal growth year round at energy costs that are reduced by the collocation.
Univenture’s CEO Ross Youngs points out at “algae farming could never be considered a competitor of the food supply because you really have an option as an algae farmer to grow food, feed or fuel and you can chose the crop at any time and change the crop to be ready for daily harvests in under 20 days. Algae can protect our fuel supplies because it can be grown virtually anywhere in the U.S. and that is a benefit to national security by decentralizing the supply and reducing dependence on foreign oil”.
AlgaeVenture Systems’ technology drops the energy cost of harvesting, dewatering and drying a metric ton of microalgal biomass from $875.00 (pre-concentration then centrifugation) to a cost of $1.92 using the new highly efficient technology. Youngs stated, “We are very proud of this advancement in technology which was modeled by studying nature at its best”. Youngs continues to put the technology into perspective by saying “a human body on average uses about 96
watts to perform all bodily functions in a 24-hour period including moving and filtering 6,000 liters of viscous blood”. AlgaeVenture Systems’ small-scale prototype can process 6,000 liters of 3 grams per liter of chlorella microalgae from solution to dry flake on 480 watts in 12 hours. Of course, this is inefficient when compared to a human body but incredibly efficient when compared
to all existing algal harvesting methods.
The technology utilizes nature’s methods of moving water including capillary effect, cohesion, adhesion, absorption and transpirational pull. Transpirational
pull is how a tree or any plant moves water from the roots to the highest leaf, potentially 379 feet straight up from the roots. Youngs describes the technology as counterintuitive saying “there is so much water and so little algae it is
natural to want to move the algae, but moving the water is very efficient. Algae are 33,000 times larger than a water molecule, and there are circumstances where you would add water to improve separation and drying. Accelerated sedimentation (centrifuging) moves everything including the water and the algae in order to
separate and has no real equal in nature”.
This technology is scalable, portable and will be custom made to the customer-required application in the early stages. Though the technology was
designed for microalgae, the AlgaeVenture Systems describes the invention as disruptive to several other separating, dewatering applications and associated equipment. Additional details about the technology can be obtained at http://www.algaeVS.com.
About Univenture:
Univenture firmly believes in the conservation of both ecological and economic resources. The company is, and has been since its inception, environmentally conscious, bringing to market a variety of patented and award-winning molded and
converted plastic products that are environmentally friendly. Univenture started
AlgaeVenture Systems to develop technology and systems for algal production of lipids and biomass, which can be used for fuels, plastics, advanced materials, feeds, foods, and other valuable resources.
Univenture has been designing and manufacturing converted and molded plastic products including bio-based plastics and was founded in 1988. The company was listed 5 times on the Inc. 500 fastest growing privately held companies in the
90’s and the founder; Ross O. Youngs was named National Business Person of the Year for the SBA in 1997. The dedicated focus of the Univenture team has resulted in numerous industry awards and accolades for its innovation, commitment to customers and sales growth.
Univenture has corporate offices and operations in Marysville, Ohio; with offices in Reno, Nevada; Dublin, Ireland and Shenzhen, China. For more information on Univenture, visit http://www.univenture.com or call Univenture’s
corporate headquarters at 800-992-8262.
Corporate Contact:
Amy Bucklin or
Ross Youngs
AVS Project Manager
(937) 645-4604
abucklin@algaevs.com
Press release #2
Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
202-872-6042
American Chemical Society
‘First economical process’ for making biodiesel fuel from algae
SALT LAKE CITY, March 25, 2009 – Chemists reported development of what they termed the first economical, eco-friendly process to convert algae oil into biodiesel fuel – a discovery they predict could one day lead to U.S. independence from petroleum as a fuel.
One of the problems with current methods for producing biodiesel from algae oil is the processing cost, and the New York researchers say their innovative process is at least 40 percent cheaper than that of others now being used. Supply will not be a problem: There is a limitless amount of algae growing in oceans, lakes, and rivers, throughout the world.
Another benefit from the “continuously flowing fixed-bed” method to create algae biodiesel, they add, is that there is no wastewater produced to cause pollution.
“This is the first economical way to produce biodiesel from algae oil,” according to lead researcher Ben Wen, Ph.D., vice president of United Environment and Energy LLC, Horseheads, N.Y. “It costs much less than conventional processes because you would need a much smaller factory, there are no water disposal costs, and the process is considerably faster.”
A key advantage of this new process, he says, is that it uses a proprietary solid catalyst developed at his company instead of liquid catalysts used by other scientists today. First, the solid catalyst can be used over and over. Second, it allows the continuously flowing production of biodiesel, compared to the method using a liquid catalyst. That process is slower because workers need to take at least a half hour after producing each batch to create more biodiesel. They need to purify the biodiesel by neutralizing the base catalyst by adding acid. No such action is needed to treat the solid catalyst, Wen explains.
He estimates algae has an “oil-per-acre production rate 100-300 times the amount of soybeans, and offers the highest yield feedstock for biodiesel and the most promising source for mass biodiesel production to replace transportation fuel in the United States.” He says that his firm is now conducting a pilot program for the process with a production capacity of nearly 1 million gallons of algae biodiesel per year. Depending on the size of the machinery and the plant, he said it is possible that a company could produce up to 50 million gallons of algae biodiesel annually.
Wen also says that the solid catalyst continuous flow method can be adapted to mobile units so that smaller companies wouldn’t have to construct plants and the military could use the process in the field.

]]> By: Gregory O'Reilly http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/03/algae-biofuel-hype-hope-and-promise/comment-page-1/#comment-8965 Gregory O'Reilly Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:42:41 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2009/03/algae-biofuel-hype-hope-and-promise/#comment-8965 Sam, thanks for "keeping it real." GEO-Consult, Emerald Crude‚Ñ¢ Sam, thanks for “keeping it real.”
GEO-Consult,
Emerald Crude‚Ñ¢

]]> By: Tom http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/03/algae-biofuel-hype-hope-and-promise/comment-page-1/#comment-8964 Tom Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:52:48 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2009/03/algae-biofuel-hype-hope-and-promise/#comment-8964 Sam - thanks for the comment. The day sure was full of information of the sort not generally discussed in the media about algae biofuel (at least from what I've seen). I do have more notes from the day, and unfortunately due to unforeseen events this week, I wasn't able to get to the remainder of the conference. Stay tuned though - in May I'll be going to Atlanta to cover a one day "BioEnergy" summit hosted by Emerson Process Management. This is another industry event geared toward the best path to scaling up biofuels (not just algae, but all second generation biofuel), so it should be interesting and informative. I'll go through my notes on Monday and see if I can get another post out. As I said, just the one-day survey of the industry was very enlightening. Sam – thanks for the comment. The day sure was full of information of the sort not generally discussed in the media about algae biofuel (at least from what I’ve seen). I do have more notes from the day, and unfortunately due to unforeseen events this week, I wasn’t able to get to the remainder of the conference.
Stay tuned though – in May I’ll be going to Atlanta to cover a one day “BioEnergy” summit hosted by Emerson Process Management. This is another industry event geared toward the best path to scaling up biofuels (not just algae, but all second generation biofuel), so it should be interesting and informative.
I’ll go through my notes on Monday and see if I can get another post out. As I said, just the one-day survey of the industry was very enlightening.

]]> By: Sam http://www.triplepundit.com/2009/03/algae-biofuel-hype-hope-and-promise/comment-page-1/#comment-8963 Sam Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:36:18 +0000 http://www.triplepundit.com/wordpress/2009/03/algae-biofuel-hype-hope-and-promise/#comment-8963 Very interesting brief loaded with lots of information. What are your comments on Mar 24-25th proceedings of the algae biofuel world conference? Very interesting brief loaded with lots of information. What are your comments on Mar 24-25th proceedings of the algae biofuel world conference?

]]>