Touchstone Steps up Algae Fuel Project in Ohio
(Algae Industry Magazine) Touchstone Research Laboratory, of Triadelphia, WV is scaling up its Department of Energy (DOE)-funded project to produce fuels and other high-value, bio-based products from algae. The laboratory is working with DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory to bring the project to fruition at the host site of Cedar Lane Farms (CLF), a commercial greenhouse and nursery with two production facilities on a 13-acre parcel in Wooster, OH.
Other project partners include Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research Development Center (OARDC) of Wooster, OH; GZA GeoEnvironmental of Cincinnati, OH; and OpenAlgae, LLC of Austin, TX.
Touchstone won an initial award from DOE in 2009 when the agency funded projects from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to determine the feasibility of capturing carbon dioxidefrom industrial sources (CLF uses a 2.8 megawatt coal-fired combustor at one of its production plants) for storage or beneficial use, such as conversion to chemicals, plastics, fuels, and building materials. Based upon satisfactory performance in Phase 1, in 2010 Touchstone received a follow-on Phase 2 award to further demonstrate conversion of carbon dioxide emissions into useful products while also reducing emissions and mitigating climate change. Touchstone’s DOE grant is comprised of nearly $6.8 million of ARRA funds and is matched by outside funding of almost $1.7 million.
Touchstone has completed the design, engineering, and construction of the pilot-scale system, which includes four, 30,000-gallon raceway ponds.
…During Phase 2, Touchstone will – over a two-year period – operate a half-acre open pond pilot system using phase change material (PCM) technology and emissions from the existing, adjacent, coal-fired source; and will gather data (PCM performance, CO2 injection rates, water quality, algae growth, etc.) to substantiate future commercialization efforts. CFL will provide operational labor to Touchstone for the new system. READ MORE and MORE (US Department of Energy)
