Growing Algae in Raceways

Growing algae is easy, right? Just let your swimming pool or pond sit for a couple of days with enough sunlight and some algae will start appearing. You will probably even get a decent amount of biomass out (more than what you want if you need to clean it out).

However, maintaining a healthy algal culture at its maximum productivity is not as straightforward as one initially expects. From a biochemical standpoint you actually do need a long list of chemicals (nutrients) to be optimized to keep your culture ‘happy’.

Besides having enough light and optimal temperature and pH, growing algae require carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and a long list of trace amounts of minerals in the water.

The three main nutrients for growing algae are essentially carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorous (P).  For the most part there are enough of the other minerals present in the water that there is not much need for supplementation when the culture is started.

However once the culture is growing healthy and ‘blooming’ these other mineral metals need to be closely monitored and optimized as well.

Growing Algae:  Less Input = Lower Cost

We generally have a gross idea of how much of the nutrients are required for growing algae, however if you ask most people in the field if they optimized their media for cost input versus biomass output you will find that most of them have not put forward the time and investment to fully analyze this.

Nevertheless this is a very important factor and can save a significant amount on fertilizer inputs on a large scale. Most people have analyzed the cost of their carbon input (e.g. from CO₂), but there is for example an optimal N to P ratio that is species dependent which is often not considered.

Growing Algae: Recycle N and P: Necessity, not a Choice

When growing algae for oil production there is one important factor about nutrients to consider. The carbon is really what ends up in your product. The lipids are essentially composed of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen atoms.

The N and P are used in the synthesis of the machinery (proteins and DNA) that allows the algae to grow and synthesize the lipids, but they end up as part of the “left-over” biomass after extracting the lipids. Basically N and P can be seen as catalysts that can be recovered from the lipid extracted algae (LEA).

Theoretical calculations show that there is simply not enough fertilizer to grow algae (or other biofuel crops) as a fossil oil replacement if one doesn’t recycle the N and P. The recycling or reuse of the N and P has been promoted as a ‘natural’ part of the process of large scale algal cultivation by several groups, however it is often overlooked, underestimated or unknown that this will come with a certain cost.

Depending on your extraction process it is important to understand what chemical form your N and P end up in, and if this is a form that can be directly reused by the algae, or is there need for a ‘conversion’ step.

Wastewater is a good source of free nutrients for algae cultivation that can significantly reduce the operation cost of growing algae systems.  One caution with wastewater is the presence of organic substrates which could lead to higher risk of contamination of the algae by heterotrophic bacteria.

As we posted before, depending on the wastewater source, there may also be a need for an alternative primary cleanup step, which will need to feed into the overall life cycle analysis.

Growing Algae: Lessons from Nature

Nutrient recycling is not a new concept. In natural ecosystems all nutrients are essentially recycled in what is known as a biogeochemical cycle. The chemicals are recycled, although in some cycles there may be places (called reservoirs) where they may reside for years before they are reused. Often this is the time it takes for a natural conversion to a usable chemical form.

The key factor in these processes is time. The algae biofuels industry needs to come up with clever, green, sustainable ways speed up this recycling process.

One way, is to use Aquafuelsponics systems to apply what we’ve learned from nature and optimize the nutrient recycling process in an intelligent design that makes it biochemically feasible to reuse the N and P directly in the algae cultivation systems.

AquaFuelsPonics = Aquaculture + Biofuels + Hydroponics

Systems AquaFuelsPonics or just FuelsPonics allows you grow healthy food and biofuels feedstock. It is the synergetic integration of the production of fish (normally tilapia), bio-fertilizer, hydroponic plants (vegetables and other produce), biogas and algae for biofuels (large-scale systems) in a controlled environment where the water is continuously recycled and re-circulated.

This is an approach that could help algae for biofuels growers look at the overall picture and think outside the box for a sustainable solution.  However, some refining and test pilot work needs to be done before utilizing these and other current approaches on a massive scale.

Source: http://algaeforbiofuels.com/growing-algae-nutrient-optimization/

Related Links:

• Genetic Engineering: The Potential of Green Algae
• Genetic Engineering: A Brief Overview
• Algae GMO’s: The Next Big Challenge in Algae for Biofuels?
• Engenharia Genética Revolucionado o Mundo que Vivemos

Genetic Engineering in Action

Genetic Engineering - Depending on whom you ask the definition of genetic engineering (GE) can vary quite a bit. Some define it as changing an organism’s DNA to make it incorporate certain traits, however in a broader sense, genetic engineering has been going on for a very long time in the form of selective breeding.

Most current articles on the topic you’ll find actually define GE as going into a cell and changing its genome by inserting or removing DNA, which is a very new technology.

Genetic Engineering – The safety of GE Crops for Human Consumption

Modern genetic engineering began in 1973 when Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen used enzymes to cut a bacteria plasmid and insert another strand of DNA in the gap.

Since those experiments the concept of genetic engineering has been revolutionized around the globe.

The debate about the safety of genetic engineered crops for human consumption is still a heated one and although in 1992 the FDA already declared that genetically engineered foods are “not inherently dangerous” and do not require special regulation, many other countries in the world are taking a more skeptical approach.

In 1986, the first field tests of genetically engineered plants (tobacco) were conducted in Belgium, but it wasn’t until 1994 that the European Union’s first genetically engineered crop, tobacco, was approved in France.

Monsanto BT corn is another prime example of how GE provided farmers with higher yields by reducing loss from insect damage; improving grain quality by reducing contamination from mycotoxins; and supplying farmers with an efficient, easy-to-implement pest management option.

Although in public opinion, the motivations for its use are still controversial, recent studies show that Bt corn has saved Midwest farmers in the US billions of dollars.

The public controversy of using GE appears to be limited to food crops or large scale outdoor cultivation. However, using GE for research and development of novel therapeutics or industrial production of chemicals is generally seen as innovative and better accepted by the public.

For example, we have been able to make bacteria that produce human insulin for diabetics (which previously had to be isolated from livestock). In 1982, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first genetically engineered drug, Genentech’s Humulin, a form of human insulin produced by bacteria. This was the first consumer product developed through modern bioengineering.

However when the concept is taken one step further one can imagine the concept of human genetic engineering, which is the alteration of an individual’s genotype to select the phenotype (=characteristic trait) of a newborn or changing the existing phenotype of a child or adult.

Although this technology is still very premature and generally considered science fiction, the concept is very promising to cure diseases with a genetic origin. Needless to say that there are numerous ethical issues that come up with this concept.

Genetic Engineering – The Use of GE for Enhanced Biofuel Production from Biomass

Less futuristic and more relevant to AEC-L is the use of GE for enhanced biofuel production from biomass. Current research by groups active in this field is focused on using the power of GE to improve the biofuel yield of a specific crops (e.g. algae or jatropha) or incorporating the ability to produce biofuels to high level in easy to grow target species (e.g. bacteria or yeast that produce and tolerate high levels of EtOH butanol, or lipids).

This is done by manipulating genes in specific pathways and/or incorporating specific DNA fragments into target species. In a lot of cases we are still at the point of developing the tools to manipulate the target species, but recent breakthroughs are showing a lot of promise on a lab to pilot scale.

For example E. coli has been manipulated to tolerate higher levels of alcohols and produce simple alkanes (lipids). Algae have been engineered to excrete the lipids or EtOH they produce to allow for easier extraction.

However, in pretty much all of these cases we still have to overcome challenges with economic scalability and further optimization through GE is necessary and expected. In addition, even when for example a ‘superalgae’ can be engineered, we have already cautioned for the public perceptions and potential hazards that could arise when using these on a large scale (Algae GMO’s: The Next Big Challenge in Algae for Biofuels?)

As usual we believe at AEC-Laboratories that innovation is the key to pushing the renewable energy solutions forward. The power of GE will play a crucial role in developing solutions that are truly economically and environmentally sustainable.

Source:   Genetic Engineering: A Brief Overview

Related Links:

• Algae GMO’s: The Next Big Challenge in Algae for Biofuels?
• Engenharia Genética Revolucionado o Mundo que Vivemos

Green Algae for Biofuels and Genetic Engineering

Green algae for biofuels – Green algae possess several unique features that are important for biofuel production. For example the ability to accumulate large amounts of TAGs (triacylglycerol lipids) for biodiesel production or hydrocarbons for biojetfuel. Other species are able to produce ample storage starch that can be used for bioethanol production.

The problem we are facing is that the algal species that are growing very fast and produce a lot of biomass are not the species that produce most the lipids or starch. Species from all over the world are being screened to find high oil or sugar production. It is however very unlikely that one algal species will have all the characteristics required for biofuel production.

One approach is to increase a certain species ability to produce more lipids or sugars by using genetic engineering (GE) for green algae for biofuels.

In simple terms, GE is the introduction of DNA from one organism into another organism to enhance certain features of the host organism.

For example, in theory we are able to take genes from algal species that produce a lot of lipids and engineer them into a fast growing algal species and get ‘the best of both worlds’.

Green Algae for Biofuels and GE- Challenges We are Facing

Two challenges that researchers face are 1) finding which genes that need to be transferred, and 2) developing the tools to modify a certain algal species.

As the interest in the green algae for biofuels topic has grown exponentially in the last couple of years, significant progress is being made to overcome these challenges. Many improvements have been realized, includingincreased lipid and carbohydrate production, improved H₂ yields,and the diversion of metabolic intermediates into fungiblebiofuels.

However, genetically modified algae (or GMO algae) are still confined to a handful private sector labs and a few academic institutions and a widely distributed superior GMO algae is likely to be a while away.

On a research and development scale, genetic for green algae for biofuels approaches can aid in understanding the regulation of algal lipid metabolism and carbon partitioning under different growth conditions. Lessons learn from that will aid in modifying the accumulation of lipids, alcohols,hydrocarbons, sugars, and other energy storage compounds, which in the end will be crucial to render the green algae for biofuel concept economically viable.

Even when a species is created that has increased biofuel features there are potential drawbacks on genetic engineering of green algae for biofuels. It is expected to weaken its ecological fitness. When used in scaled up systems it is critical that the GE organism is kept healthy and dominant.

By clever engineering we can design species that only have the advantage under a controlled system. This approach is a similar to the use of E. coli, which is a natural human intestinal bacterium that is now widely used for research and commercial industrial applications.

This is the reason why in our research we try to focus on non-GMO technologies for manipulating algae and at the same time design attenuated algae that cannot grow outside a cultivated environment.

As mentioned in our blog earlier there are definitely challenges beyond the technical hurdles (Algae GMO’s: The Next Big Challenge in Algae for Biofuels?) . In the long run, a lot of regulatory and political challenges will arise with the use of GMO of green algae for biofuels  on a larger commercial scale.

It is therefore important to use the genetic tools described above to engineer the selected algae in such a manner that the competitive advantage of the new species is maintained under controlled conditions.

Every day we and other researchers are getting closer to unraveling the details of these algal for green algae for biofuels systems and are developing engineering strategies. In the end, a combination of innovative genetic engineering and non-GMO technologies will be necessary to take algae for biofuels to the next level.

Source: http://algaeforbiofuels.com/genetic-engineering-green-algae/

Related Links:

• Genetic Engineering: A Brief Overview
• Genetic Engineering: The Potential of Green Algae
• Algae GMO’s: The Next Big Challenge in Algae for Biofuels?
• Engenharia Genética Revolucionado o Mundo que Vivemos

Biokerosene: Long before biofuels had the visibility and acceptance they have today, we have written, promoted and disseminated in our training courses, lectures, seminars, books and papers what we call ‘biofuel revolution’.

Biokerosene Jet

A few years ago we wrote an article on this subject that generated repercussions in the industry with opinions both favorable and not so positive. Some even said this would never be a reality.

We remember clearly when, at the beginning of the last decade, we said that biofuels could be made from waste processing tilapia, very few believed it. However, we never give up a good idea, even if it implies overcoming some challenges.

We develop general and specific sites (mybelojardim.com, algaeforbiofuels.com, biofuelsrevolution.com) aimed at disseminating information and promoting the sustainable production of biofuels at all possible levels.

We affirm and reaffirm that if done correctly, the peaceful revolution of Biofuels has the potential to completely transform and change the primary sector and positively impact the entire global economy.

Today we see that slowly but surely, this new highly active and important sector is gradually taking shape, with the prospective to transform and boost agricultural and aquaculture industries globally.

One of the fast growing potentials we observed it is the capability of supplying biokerosene to the airline industry.  A market worth around $ 100 billion per year that is now open to renewable fuels.

What we have observed is that after years of ups and downs producing more thunder than lightning, the commercial production of Biokerosene for civil aviation industry worldwide is slowly becoming a fact, starting with production on several continents.

Candidates of Raw Materials for Production of Aviation Biokerosene

The leading candidates of raw materials for biokerosene aviation are jatropha, camelina, algae and greasy residues. Each of these sources has its ardent supporters.

Recently a Mexican airline company made the first flight in Latin America biokerosene using the base oil of Jatropha curcas flying from Mexico City to the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez in the southern state of Chiapas.

In this technological stage none of these candidates of raw materials can produce at a price approaching that of fossil fuel aviation Jet A-1.

However, it is only a matter of time that with additional research and large investments prices will become competitive in the market.

When we look at the emerging picture of biofuels and biokerosene, it is increasingly clear that, although the United States and Brazil are major producers of renewable energy currently in the form of ethanol, many other countries are entering this race.

In March this year a European consortium Airbus, the Romanian state airline Tarom, UOP Honeywell and CCE (Camelina Company) announced plans to establish a center for the production of biokerosene in Romania for the production of bio-jet fuels for civil aviation, using camelina as raw material.

Recently, China National Petroleum Corp. announced that it delivered 15 tonnes of jatropha oil to help Air China to make biofuel-powered flight tests, scheduled for later this year. And just last year Boeing announced a collaboration with the Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) to establish a joint laboratory to accelerate microalgae-based aviation biofuels research.

This week, the Mozambique information agency announced that a local company headquartered in the UK, exported to the German airline Lufthansa, the first batch of 30 tonnes of jatropha oil produced in the Mozambican province of Manica.

In Brazil, the aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Embraer announced plans to jointly finance a sensitivity analysis to investigate the possibility of producing renewable fuel by air from the Brazilian sugar cane.

The study will also be financed by the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB), and will evaluate the environmental effects of fuel produced by an international company from sugar cane in Brazil.

However, as shown on our website, history and greater stimulus to accelerate the development of biofuels for aviation occurred in July this year, when the ASTM International announced the approval of its standard fuel Bio-SPK, allowing the use of hydro - treated renewable jet (HRJ) Jet A-1 fuel in commercial aviation.

This has established the feasibility of bio-jet fuels to be mixed at a ratio of 50-50 with Jet A-1 fuel derived from traditional fossil fuels.

Acceptance Challenges For A Large-Scale Bio-Kerosene Aviation

Currently, the biggest challenge for acceptance in a wide range of aviation biofuel is its high cost. Biokerosene delivered last year for the U.S. military to assess the absurd cost of over U.S. $ 70 per gallon.

Of course, these prices have no way to be competitive with fuel derived from traditional sources of hydrocarbons.

However, we all know that processing costs will decrease in direct proportion to the achievement of volume production on a large scale.

As is well known worldwide, both Brazil and the United States have supported the production of biofuel at market values, ??practiced in the form of ethanol. In the case of Brazil derived from sugar cane, in the United States produced from corn.

Even though the production is for ground transportation, the two countries are capable of being leaders in biojetfuels also.

This shows that the technology is in place, the product has been certified and at the end of the day, the Brazilian and American groups are talking about an agricultural product which ideally, depending on where it is planted, can produce one or even two crops per year. Or in the case of algae, double its biomass every day.

With these two and other countries and producers such as Boeing, Airbus and Embraer entered in full speed in the promotion of biojetfuels production, we have plenty of opportunities to see prices fall and the biofuels revolution actually happening in the civil aviation industry and military.

In practice we have a huge, multibillion dollar market for jet fuel open to farmers in both agriculture and aquaculture areas. Opportunities like that cannot be wasted.

By: Dr. Aecio D’Silva, CEO Moura Technologies and Dr. John Kyndt ( Head Scientist of the Renewable Energy Program at Advanced Energy Creations Lab)

Source: http://algaeforbiofuels.com/biokerosene-revolution-aviation/

As we have promoted before, algae are a valuable producer of oil and therefore an emerging resource for alternative fuel production. However a major opportunity lies in the use of algae as a protein source for food production.

Of particular interest is the use of algae as feed for farm animals, where the algae are referred to as ‘algae meal’.

An estimated 30% of current algal production is sold for animal feed application, with poultry and fish as the main targets.

Dried algae cake is a source of nutrients for both humans and animals because it has a high protein content, sometimes up to 60% of the dry matter.

In essence, algae are composed of three main components: lipids (oil), carbohydrates (sugars) and proteins. In addition, algae meal is also a rich source of carotene, vitamin C and K, and B-vitamins.

Current technologies that are under development are focusing on extracting the lipids from the algal biomass while leaving the carbohydrates and proteins available for other uses. When extracting the lipids for fuel production, one is left with so called LEA (lipid extracted algae).

The exact composition of LEA depends on the algae species as well as the growth conditions and the lipid extraction methods used.

A number of nutritional and toxicological evaluations have demonstrated the suitability of algae biomass as a valuable feed supplement or substitute for conventional protein sources (e.g. soybean meal, fish meal, rice bran, etc.). A few factors need to be taken into consideration when proposing algae as animal feed:

-          PER (protein efficiency ratio) = weight gain per unit of protein consumed by the test animal

-          Digestibility = the cellulosic cell wall of the algae causes digestion problems in non-ruminants like humans, but shouldn’t be an issue for cattle. Pretreatment of the algae (e.g. during lipid extraction) is also expected to increase the utilization of the proteins in the algal meal.

-          Palatability = often the algal biomass has a slight fish odor, which might turn off human consumers, but prelimary studies with fish, rabbits and cattle seems to indicate that this is not an issue with those animals.

Overall it appears that there is a huge market potential arising for the use of lipid extracted algae (LEA) in the cattle feed industry. In the US, the regulatory pathway is still being paved for using algae meal on a commercial scale for cattle that is intended for human consumption; however as the algae production for other products like fuel is growing these pathways will undoubtedly be more rapidly developed.

Production costs of microalgae just as a protein source is still too high to compete with conventional protein sources. Algae for human consumption are currently only sold as a specialty product in health food stores.

However, if the protein and lipids can be produced and extracted as co-products it drives down the economics for both products. In addition, if animal feed is a target product, the wastewater from the cattle farm can in theory be used to grow the algae, which can then be used as food supplement for the cattle.

Therefore co-location of algae production farms with cattle farms and biorefineries seems like a valuable option to generate an integrated food-fuel system.

Source: http://algaeforbiofuels.com/algae-animal-feed/

Not a bad concept, since this is a cheap and plentiful source of carbon for the algae and helps to bring down the cost of algae-derived fuels.

Several proposals have been submitted to co-locate algae farms with e.g. coal power plants so that the flue gas doesn’t have to be transported over long distances. This sounds like a great idea, but is it really feasible on a large scale?

As more research has been performed on small scales, it has become clear that the use of flue gas does have some challenges that need to be overcome to use it for large scale algae production.  One of the concerns is that flue gas contains a certain percentage of pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx). The contaminants are dependent on the material that has been burned.

A critical issue is the tolerance of algae to SOx and NOx. These gases are toxic to the algae growth when present in elevated concentrations. Research has shown that algae are most sensitive to the SO2 with a significant effect on the growth above 50-60 ppm (parts per million).

The toxicity levels are strain dependent and maintaining the pH with a buffer appears to help them grow under higher toxicity levels. NO can generally be tolerated up to 100 ppm, but depending on the strain, higher seems to work as well. The algae cell density matters as well, so if a continuous culture can be kept at high enough density one might get away with the higher limits.

Since the Clean Air Act Amendment in 1990, there are strict regulations in place in the US as to the levels of SO2 that can be present in industrial exhausts. This has forced industries to clean up their flue gas with a series of chemical processes and scrubbers, which remove pollutants.

In general, modern flue gas desulfurizing units (FGD’s) bring down the SOx to about 70 ppm. Some of the more tolerant strains might be ok in that, but it is still not low enough for general use in algae cultivation. Currently, the desulfurization is being further expanded to also remove toxic metals like mercury from the flue gas.

By employing state-of-the-art biotechnology and bioengineering we are currently working on adapting algal species to tolerate these higher concentrations of flue gas levels. This will shortcut the need for additional cleanup of the flue gas which is an expensive process and would make the use of flue gas for algae cultivation cost prohibitive.

Algae growth on flue gas is no longer solely being suggested for fuel production alone, but current research is now focusing on using it as a method for carbon sequestration (long term capture and storage or CO2).

In an attempt to mitigate and control “global warming”, there has been a great deal of interest and investment in efficient methods for carbon sequestration.  Algae (and other plants) take up CO2 as part of their normal metabolism and generate oxygen in the process. 

If algae can be adapted to tolerate the higher concentrations of flue gas, and greenhouse gasses are captured while useful biomass is generated, we will have created one more viable solution for a greener future.

Source: http://algaeforbiofuels.com/flue-gas-algae-cultivation-curse-blessing/

We tend to focus our blogs on the conversion of solar energy into liquid transportation fuels, but the alternative of solar for electricity has recently been in the news with a couple of impressive large scale operations.

On December 21, DOE announced it has finalized a $1.45 billion loan guarantee for Abengoa Solar Inc.’s solar project near Gila Bend, Arizona. This impressive Arizona project is called Solana and will have a 250-megawatt (MW) capacity.

It is believed to be the world’s largest parabolic trough concentrating solar plant. In a solar trough, synthetic heat transfer oil is heated up as it passes the trough. Energy in the oil is used to generate superheated, high pressure steam that is delivered to a steam turbine. This turbine powers an electrical generator, creating electricity.

The Arizona solar project is the first large-scale U.S. Solar Concentrated Power plant capable of also storing the energy it generates. Solana will produce enough energy to serve 70,000 households and will avoid the emissions of 475,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year compared to a natural gas burning power plant.

Solana will be constructed like its smaller 50 MW sister plant Solnova1 (located in Sevilla, Spain) with the addition of storage capacity. More than 900,000 mirrors will be manufactured in a facility close to Phoenix. Electricity from the project will be sold through a long-term power purchase agreement with Arizona Public Service Company.

In addition, news was also released in December that the solar plant developer SolarReserve is going ahead with the purchasing of materials and equipment for two large solar projects in California and Nevada. This involves a 110 MW Crescent Dunes Energy Project in Nye County, Nevada and a 150 MW Rice Solar Energy project located in Riverside County, California

Both projects have secured 25-year power purchase agreements, one with Nevada Utility NV Energy and the other with Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). Currently SolarReserve is aiming to secure a loan guarantee from the US Department of Energy to support the two projects.

SolarReserve technology is somewhat different from the Arizona Solana project in that it uses a so called “power tower”. It involves use of fields of mirrors, known as heliostats, which collect sunlight and focus it on a receiver located in a central tower.

In the tower, it heats a molten salt to more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, for use producing steam to drive a power-generating turbine. Both projects are projected to break ground in 2011 once permitting and anticipated DOE financing is completed.

Also in early December last year the switch was flipped on America’s largest photovoltaic solar power plant, which is also located in Nevada (Boulder City). This 48-MW Copper Mountain Solar facility is now generating enough renewable energy to power approximately 14,000 homes.

Sempra Generation (a subdivision of Sempra Energy) constructed the plant beginning January 2010 on 380 acres of desert 40 miles southeast of Las Vegas. On December 1, Sempra Generation officials announced that construction was complete and that emission-free electricity was being generated. The power has already been sold to PG&E under two separate 20-year contracts.

Sempra Generation already has plans to begin its next PV plant construction projects, including a major 600-MW plant in Arizona.

Arizona has positioned itself to become the “Mecca of Solar Energy”, which seems a smart investment and the idea goes around that the state puts itself in that position to become an exporter of its most abundant resource: solar energy.

Other emerging solar based technologies, such as algae for biofuel, are expected to contribute to this image. The recent announcement of the state funded Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation (AzCATI) is a promising step in that direction.

Placing bets on multiple alternative energy solutions makes sense in times where none of them have provided an ultimate resolution. For example, solar makes sense in the Southwest US, but other places are better off using e.g. wind energy.

The true solution to energy independence will need to come from a combination of technologies and potential hybrid technologies, combined with continuous innovations that increase their efficiency and scalability.

Source: Solar Giants on the Rise in the Southwest US

Inarguably, we need a “Super Algae”

Without a doubt, Algae are the perfect biofuels feedstock. However, despite this truth, in my opinion it really depends also on the progress of Algae genomics to make algae biofuels a commercial reality in the near future. Unless we have winning “super-algae”, the rest of the process, i.e., efficient farming, low-cost nutrient sources, cost-effective harvesting methods, economic oil extraction and profitable processing techniques is only of secondary importance.

In recent years, our research team has been focusing on developing cost-effective, fast-growing, high lipid and/or carbohydrate content algae. The lack of these selected traits is the major stumbling block keeping algae from being a major contender in the biofuels world.

 Just as geneticists did with corn, sugar-cane and soybean, we must develop algae strains with these desired traits and they need to be made available to the biofuels industry soon.

World-wide is estimated that there are more than 65,000 wild type algal species of which about 25,000 are freshwater. Currently, only part of these species is known. Barely about a dozen algae genomes have been sequenced.

Practically speaking, we find ourselves at the same point in the domestication-selection processes of algae today as we were with corn some hundreds years ago. And while there are huge opportunities for new discoveries within the naturally existing strains, it is unlikely that we will find one strain that has everything we want that will grow everywhere we need it to.

 This means that we need to genetically modify the best strains to produce high levels of desired molecules that will fit harvest and fuel recovery requirements. And as I mentioned before, this must happen rather quickly. In reality, we will need to pack hundreds of years of select breeding or intelligent design into a few short years or less.

While some may feel uncomfortable at the thought of genetic modification, it is important to remember that no commercial system uses wild type organisms. In the agricultural world, all large scale production depends on species that are genetically modified, whether naturally and artificially.

As a feedstock, the crude oil harvested from fast growing algae can be converted into biojet fuel, gasoline, biodiesel, heating oil and refined chemicals (i.e bio-plastic and solvents). The yields of refined fuels obtained by catalytic cracking of algal hydrocarbons are comparable to yields obtained from petroleum.

After extracting oil, Algae biomass by its turn can be converted into ethanol, methanol, biobutanol, hydrogen, other alcohol based fuel, pharmaceutical, nutriceuticals, and cosmetics products. The list goes on. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that in addition to biofuels, Algae also functions as a strong bio-remediation tool.

Inarguably, we need a “super algae”—Algae that grow quickly, contain high lipids and/or high carbohydrates, and are resistant to different environmental conditions, including light intensity, temperature, pH, salinity, etc.

In response to this need, our team has been growing enhanced algae strains (indoors and outdoors) using as media sewage-treated water effluent with very positive results and high productivity. We must provide asap a much-needed algae genomics solution to the Biofuels Industry.

(Comments Published at WSJ Blogs by Prof. Aecio D’Silva about the article: Airbus and Algae: Why Biofuels Won’t Cut It)

Source: http://algaeforbiofuels.com/we-need-a-super-algae/

Member of American Aquabiotech, Biofuels Revolution, Algae for Biofuels, Moura Enterprises and MyBeloJardim (ver. Portuguese) Prof. Aecio D’Silva’s Group