Latest Updates: algae biofuel RSS

• Algae Biofuel Doubles its Demand
  Srikant Rajan 05:11:12 am on October 26, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: algae biofuel, Algal Biomass Organization, biofuel, byrne company, cleantech, vinod khosla

  The Algal Biomass Summit, in Seattle would see twice last years participation .The event will feature 50 presentations and 30 odd presentations and would act as a knowledge sharing platform for discussing viability off algae as a fuel source. Clean-tech investor Vinod Khosla will also be participating in this conference. Khosla has invested quite some billions in a variety of clean tech startups such as solar, carbon capture.

  Tom Byrne, president of The Byrne Company and secretary of the (Algal Biomass Organization ), ABO Steering Committee adds , “ That more than 600 people from around the world have registered, reflects the intense global interest in algae as one of the most promising renewable energy sources. But it’s also clear that people are coming to learn from the best and the brightest scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, government leaders and venture capitalists who are speaking and presenting posters at the event “

   

• Boeing to Fly on Biofuel
  Srikant Rajan 05:51:50 am on July 4, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: algae biofuel, Algal Biofuel Organization, biofuel, boeing, japanese airlines

  Japan Airlines(JAL) plans to test a biofuel based alternative for powering its flights as early as 2009.JAl plans to use a mixture of conventional jet fuel and second generation biofuel to power one of the 4 engines in a Boeing with the rest being powered by conventional fuel. Additionally the fuel used will be specifically processed from non edible food products thus avoiding any potential adverse impact on food grains consumption.

  Rising fuel prices have hit airlines operating cost, forcing them to look for alternative fuel sources. In February, Virgin Atlantic successfully conducted the world’s first flight of a commercial aircraft powered partially with biofuel — a mixture of coconut and babassu oil in one of its four main fuel tanks. German based Lufthansa also plans a 25% reduction in GHG emissions and biofuel use in its aircrafts by 2010. Finally the Algal Biomass Organization (ABO), in which Boeing plays a leading role, also plans to employ algae for producing a biofuel alternative to jet fuel.

   

• Coal Plant To Produce Biofuels
  Srikant Rajan 08:45:20 am on June 26, 2008 | 4 | # |
  Tags: algae, algae biofuel, algae growth, biofuel, carbon dioxide, Inventure Chemicals, israel, Seambiotic Limited

  Inventure Chemicals has entered into a joint venture with Israel based Seambiotic Limited to construct a pilot commercial biofuel plant.The biofuel plant will use algae as a feedstock that will be produced using the emissions from a power plant.The algae thus grown would be harvested to produce biofuels such as ethanol , biodiseal and other commercial chemicals.

  This joint venture will help in gauging the feasibility of carbon dioxide to algae to biofuel model.Additionally this conversion technology also provides an attractive option to reduce the carbon emissions of a coal plant ,a major environmental polluter.Furthermore, the biofuel obtained by algae processing can also act as a substitute power source in the coal plant,making it a win-win proposition all the way.

   

• Global Warming ??? Suck Up The Carbon !
  Srikant Rajan 01:59:11 pm on June 25, 2008 | 1 | # |
  Tags: algae, algae biofuel, algae growth, Algal Biomass Organization, biofuel, boeing, carbon dioxide, global warming, petroalgae

  Algae based biofuel provides a lot of advantages.This process of algae growth ,like a crop and further harvesting it to obtain biofuel leaves a very low carbon impact on the environment.The biggest advantage of algaaculture is that it can act as a source for removing carbon dioxide from air.Research has proven that algae growth in  CO2-enriched air can yield oil that can be converted into high grade biodiseal.Additionally the byproducts left behind after processing algae can be used as animal feed.PetroAlgae,is one of the organizations actively pursuing this endeavor.Fred Tennant, VP,PetroAlgae is overseeing the development of a process in which algae is harvested from fresh-water ponds , converted to oil and refined to biodiseal. The byproducts ,can be further used as a protein rich animal feed.

  The recently formed  Algal Biomass Organization for promoting renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae,is being promoted by Boeing Commercial Airplanes.Thus it seems that algae has enormous potential for developing as a sustainable energy source.

   

• Let There be Light !
  Srikant Rajan 05:35:55 pm on June 4, 2008 | 2 | # |
  Tags: algae biofuel, algae growth, biofuel, helix bioreactor, originoil

  Cultivating algae for subsequent oil extraction is a tricky process.Light ,is one of the major inputs desired to ensure continuous algae growth.Conventional methods of algae cultivation such as open ponds are unable to channel continuous  light to ensure rapid algae growth.Nicholas Eckelberry, Director of Development ,OriginOil believes that having multiple growth layers may provide an alternative to this challenge.Eckelberry,is  the inventor of the patent pending Helix bioreactor. This bioreactor features  a rotating vertical shaft with  low energy lights arranged in a  spiral pattern.This arrangement allows for algae cultivation in multiple layers.Furthermore each light source is specifically engineered to produce light waves at frequencies which allow optimal algae growth in the corresponding layer.

  Research shows that this reactor allows for rapid algae growth in a economical manner as compared to open ponds.Additionally,since this process involves cultivation of algae in a closed environment ,chances of external contamination are also eliminated.