by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... It seems a long time ago now that, out of Dr. Steve Mayfield’s lab at Scripps and later at the University of California at San Diego, a series of discoveries made it possible, for the
algae cultivation
Back TO HOMEAgricultural Alchemy: Manure + Brewery Waste Could Yield Biofuel
by John Herrick (VTDigger.org) Waste from dairy farms and beer breweries could provide the necessary ingredients to grow algae-based biofuels, leaders of a project designed to research this technology said on Tuesday. Matt Cota, executive director of the Vermont Fuel Dealers
October 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Algae Biomass Summit Opens with Focus on Meeting Customer Demand
(Algae Industry Magazine) ... Speaking to a packed conference hall, executives from Algenol, Sapphire Energy, Cellana, BioProcess Algae, Heliae, Algix and Aurora Algae all emphasized scaling up production as the industry’s next major priority as it begins to provide algae-derived fuels
October 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Heliae Starts Up Next-Generation Commercial Algae Facility
(Algae Industry Magazine) Heliae, a leader in the development of advanced algae production technologies, today announced that it has begun operations at its first commercial facility in Gilbert, Arizona. Utilizing the company’s flexible VolarisTMplatform, the commercial facility will initially produce
October 01, 2013 Read Full Article
ABO Encourages CCR and CCS
(Algae Industry Magazine) The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) has just encouraged the EPA to include the carbon capture and reuse (CCR) as an approved strategy for compliance under its New Source Performance Standard, a draft version of which was released
September 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Brazil’s Big Six in Advanced Biofuels & Chemicals: Who’s Doing What Now?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) After taking a leading role in the global first generation wave of ethanol production, here come the Brazilians — with some hot North American technologies in tow — to take on next-generation biofuels and chemicals.
September 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Seeking Delta: Biofuels, Algae, Natgas, CO2 and the Finding of True Value
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... “What you really are in the business of,” Aemetis CEO Eric McAfee reflects, “is capturing the arbitrage between the commodity price of your most expensive feedstock — and the price of your finished molecule plus
September 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Algae Cultivation System Developed at NAA Test Center
(Algae Industry Magazine) The National Algae Association (NAA) has announced that a new commercial algae production cultivation system has been developed at the NAA Test Center in The Woodlands, Texas. The new Algae Growth Cell (G-Cell)™ was developed by AlgaeEquip,
August 27, 2013 Read Full Article
New Frontiers: Now It’s Crude Oil from Algae that Is Being Tested
by Herman Wang (Platts/The Barrel) It’s hard to get excited over a producer making a scant 2 barrels/day of crude. But in the case of Sapphire Energy, those barrels represent the beginnings of a potential revolution that it says could upend how
August 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Shenandoah Firm Grows Algae with a Byproduct of Ethanol Plant
by Perry Beeman (Des Moines Register) ...BioProcess Algae claims to be the nation’s only algae-production facility located next to an ethanol plant, in this case Green Plains Renewable Energy in Shenandoah. That’s part of the reason the U.S. Department of Energy
August 20, 2013 Read Full Article
Aurora Algae to Evaluate Potential of Mid West Australia for Commercial Microalgae Production
(BusinessWire/Aurora Algae) In collaboration with Durack Institute of Technology, Aurora Algae has completed construction of a new algae cultivation test site in Geraldton, Western Australia, to evaluate the potential of the Mid West region for the production of microalgae. Aurora Algae
August 19, 2013 Read Full Article
Biofuels on the Verge
by Herman K. Trabish (GreenTechMedia) A photo tour of the biofuels industry The Environmental Protection Agency just announced it expects only 6 million gallons of cellulosic biofuels to contribute to the 16.55 billion gallons of renewable fuels mandated by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in
August 15, 2013 Read Full Article
European All-Gas Project Produces First Algae Crops for Bioenergy
(FCC Aqualia/Biodiesel Magazine) The EU-backed All-gas project, the world’s largest project to convert algae into clean energy using wastewater, has successfully grown its first crop of algae biomass at its site in Chiclana, Southern Spain. This is a major breakthrough
August 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Wei Yu raises $1.6 million for biofuel startup based on research from Chih-Ming Ho’s Micro System Laboratories
(UCLA Engineering) In April 2013, UCLA MAE Ph.D. student Wei Yu raised $1.6M series A venture capital for Lyxia Corporation, a biofuel startup based on research from UCLA MAE Professor Chih-Ming Ho’s Micro System Laboratories. Preceeding this, in July 2012,
August 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Growing Greenhouse Algae under a New Solar Panel Design
(Algae Industry Magazine) GianCarlo Onorati writes in SantaCruz.com that a team of scientists from the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) are exploring the cultivation of algae in a self-sustaining greenhouse system using a new generation of solar panels
August 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Secretary Moniz Announces New Biofuels Projects to Drive Cost Reductions, Technological Breakthroughs
(U.S. Department of Energy) During remarks at the Energy Department’s Biomass 2013 annual conference, Secretary Moniz today highlighted the important role biofuels play in the Administration’s Climate Action Plan to increase our energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation
August 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Fast Swimmers: 10 Algae Technologies, Where Are They in the Race for the Summit?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The Summer of Algae has passed, but dozens of companies have remained hot in pursuit of a solution for fuels, feed, nutraceuticals, fragrances, flavorings and tailored renewable oils. Their technologies? Closed systems, open-systems, hybrid systems. Hosts
July 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Africa: Algae Biofuels Deemed Unsuitable for Developing Nations
by Joel Winston (AllAfrica) Significant uncertainties about the development of algae biofuels and a lack of research and development capabilities make this potential energy source an unsuitable option for developing countries, according to researchers from the UN University in Japan. The
July 22, 2013 Read Full Article
A.I.M. Interview: NAABB’s José Olivares
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) José Olivares is a busy man. Not only the founder and kingpin of the NAABB 3-year DOE-backed consortium to ring out the potential of algal biofuel production, he also recently served as conference co-chair,
July 22, 2013 Read Full Article
BASF, National Prawn Co. Cooperate on Algae Technology
by Ron Kortrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Saudi Arabia-based National Prawn Co. and the German chemical giant BASF have signed an agreement to work together in developing algae technology. NPC is experienced in designing, building and operating large manmade lakes for its
July 17, 2013 Read Full Article
Clear PVC Aimed at Biofuels Development
by Michael Lauzon (Plastics News) Teknor Apex Co. has developed a clear, rigid PVC compound with UV resistance aimed primarily at outdoor tubing. The Pawtucket, R.I., firm claims the new resin is well-suited to emerging technologies in algae farming and biofuel production. Apex
July 09, 2013 Read Full Article
Feds Launch Project to Convert Oilsands Emissions to Biofuels
by Heather Loney (Global News) The federal government is teaming up with two Canadian companies in a pilot project that would use algae to convert greenhouse gas emissions from the oilsands into biofuels. The National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canadian
May 13, 2013 Read Full Article
Johns Hopkins Algae Students Test Wastewater Capabilities
(Algae Industry Magazine) A Johns Hopkins University student team is working with a starter grant of $15,000 from the EPA to see if algae can consume nutrients from wastewater and produce clean bio-fuels and fish food. The team is showcasing their
May 08, 2013 Read Full Article
National Algae Association Presents New Initiatives at Workshop
(Algae Industry Magazine) The National Algae Association’s (NAA) Algae Farming Workshop, held in the Houston, Texas, area on April 11-12, focused on NAA’s battle cry of getting algae production out of research and development and into commercial production. Moving off
May 08, 2013 Read Full Article
World's First Algae House Produces Green Energy at IBA Hamburg
(Hamburg Business Development Corp./Biodiesel Magazine) The first house in the world to supply its own energy with unique “bioskin” through the cultivation of micro-algae is being presented at the International Building Exhibition IBA Hamburg in Germany. As a part of the
May 08, 2013 Read Full Article
Japanese Sewage Plant Extracting Algal Oil for Fuel
(Algae Industry Magazine) The Japan News reports that in Miyagino Ward, Sendai, a project has started at a sewage treatment facility to extract a biofuel ingredient from wastewater using algae. This first of its kind project in Japan is part
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Crazy 8s: Algae’s 8 Crazy-Fast Cores of Innovation
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who’s behind the 8-ball, the algae optimists or pessimists? It all comes down to the pace of innovation in 8 cores. ... In a recent survey of its members, the Algae Biomass Organization found that more than 95
May 06, 2013 Read Full Article
DF Cast: Researchers, Advocates Clash on Algae Biodiesel Feasibility
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) Some researchers say that, at current production levels, algae biodiesel is not a commercially viable product. But some algae advocates believe researchers might have some ulterior motives for coming to that conclusion. One of the study’s authors, Dr.
April 29, 2013 Read Full Article
Researchers Examining Fertilizers for Algae Biofuels
(Algae Industry Magazine) One of the major roadblocks to mass-producing algae for biofuels, observes researchers at the University of Michigan College of Engineering, is the need for fertilizer. Although algae have trouble reusing the nitrogen and phosphorus left in the
April 29, 2013 Read Full Article
Zero Mix Thirty: Heliae Debuts Volaris, for Algae at Scale
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Heliae emerges from stealth with Volaris — its next-gen algae platform — “This technology will unlock the industry,” the company says. ...Volaris is the result of five years of targeted innovation, investment and commitment to delivering
April 24, 2013 Read Full Article
Cobalt, Mercurius, BioProcess Algae, Frontline Land $17.7M in Military Biofuels Grants
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Pilot-scale biorefineries for drop-in military diesel, jet fuel the focus of the DOE’s latest grant round. In Washington, the US Department of Energy announced up to $17.7 million in grants to four pilot-scale biorefinery projects aimed
April 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Monitoring, Diagnostics Tackle Algae Biofuel Pond Crash Problem
(Sandia National Laboratories/Biodiesel Magazine) Sandia National Laboratories is developing a suite of complementary technologies to help the emerging algae industry detect and quickly recover from algal pond crashes, an obstacle to large-scale algae cultivation for future biofuels. The research, which focuses
April 18, 2013 Read Full Article
Algae Biofuels and the Prisoner’s Dilemma
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...As can be seen in the research by Perrine, Negi, and Sayre — a more optimal light distribution strategy is available to algae but they don’t take it, because they find themselves in the Prisoner’s
March 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Algae.Tec Using Shipping Containers to Grow Algae
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) ...And some, such as the folks at Algae.Tec, are looking to green shipping containers to grow a literal green feedstock. “What we wanted was a significant bulk outcome, in other words fuels and possibly food, producing the algae
March 27, 2013 Read Full Article
Are Algae Biofuels a Realistic Alternative to Petroleum?
by Ian Branam (Scientific American) Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have found that nearly 14 percent of land in the continental United States, or roughly the combined area of Texas and New Mexico, could be used for converting
March 20, 2013 Read Full Article
Sapphire Energy Enters Into A Commercial Agreement With Tesoro For Purchase Of Green Crude Oil
(Tucson News/Sapphire Energy) Sapphire Achieves Major Milestone with Continuous Green Crude Oil Production Sapphire Energy, Inc., a leader in algae-based Green Crude oil production, today announced it has entered into a commercial agreement with Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company, LLC, a
March 20, 2013 Read Full Article
Teenager Wins Science Talent Search for Algae Biofuel
(Algae Industry Magazine) Sara Volz, a 17-year old high school senior from Colorado Springs, CO, won the top award of $100,000 from the Intel Foundation for her research of algae biofuels. Honoring high school seniors with exceptional promise in math
March 14, 2013 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Algae: Research Suggests Starvation Diets Damage Health
(University of Sheffield/Biodiesel Magazine) It may be better to tolerate lower oil content in algae grown for biodiesel to boost growth and overall productivity, according to research from the University of Sheffield. The research shows that the commonly accepted method
March 13, 2013 Read Full Article
Masdar Institute Presents Experts Details on UAE's Biofuel-from-Algae Potential
(AMEInfo.com) Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies announced it presented details on the UAE's growth and export potential in the biofuels-from-algae sector to a delegation of industry and
March 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Algae to Biofuel
(Vermont Bioenergy) Vermont researchers and entrepreneurs demonstrate their innovations in algae to biofuel R&D in the Northeast WATCH VIDEO
March 12, 2013 Read Full Article
Michigan State University, PHYCO2 Collaborate on Algae Growth Demonstration Project
(PHYCO2/Biodiesel Magazine) ...The partnership will demonstrate the patent-pending PHYCO2-developed technology to sequester CO2, reclaim water and continuously grow multiple types of algae at an accelerated rate without sunlight. The goal of the demonstration project is to meet the growing demand
March 06, 2013 Read Full Article
Bill Russell vs Wilt Chamberlain, the Algae Biofuels Angle
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Nature hasn’t (so far) selected algae for long life. Generally, the little one-celled growth factories survive by blooming slightly faster than they get eaten. Making a world that’s safe for algae is like breeding ice
February 22, 2013 Read Full Article
Neste Oil Ups Algae Research for Biodiesel
(Algae Industry Magazine) Neste Oil, ranked the world’s fourth most sustainable company on The Global 100 list at the World Economic Forum in Davos, has been investigating the suitability of algae for its renewable fuels production for some years; its
February 02, 2013 Read Full Article
Sahara Forest Project Aims to Use Algae, Renewable Technologies to Bloom Deserts
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The metrics? A commercial scale project of 4,000 hectares would supply enough power for the project and export 325GWh a year in addition to 7,500 tonnes of algae oil, and hundreds of thousands of tonnes of food
January 28, 2013 Read Full Article
Touchstone Testing New Algae Technologies in Ohio
(Algae Industry Magazine) West Virginia-based Touchstone Research Laboratory, is experimenting with three new technologies at their raceway farm testing center built around four 30-by-200-foot ponds in Wooster, Ohio. Funded by close to $7 million in grants from the U.S. Department
January 27, 2013 Read Full Article
The 8 Upsides of the New Ethanol
by Jim Lane (BioInvest Digest) The technologies out there are five in number. They are all in commercial deployment now, though some are at the capacity-construction stage. Some of them vary the feedstock, some vary the products produced. What they
January 23, 2013 Read Full Article
DOE Announces $10M in Funding for “Advancements in Algal Biomass Yield” Project
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DOE sets goal of 2,500 gallon per acre algae biomass demonstration by 2018. In Washington, the US Department of Energy announced a “Advancements in Algal Biomass Yield” Funding Opportunity of up to $10 million to help
January 18, 2013 Read Full Article
4 Reasons Why Canada Is Becoming a Biofuels Hotspot
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Strong biofuels flight results, advances in algae, new commitments in venture capital and revived interest from the Canadian Navy. Biofuels are off to a fast start in 2013 in Canada. Canada’s been known for years
January 15, 2013 Read Full Article
7 Bleeding-Edge Technologies Unlocking Mighty Value in the First-Gen Ethanol Fleet
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...The most popular technologies that are targeting the corn ethanol fleet? 1. Feedstock switching. Sorghum as the new corn? ... 2. Advanced extraction and yield technologies. ... 3. Advanced enzymes. ... 4. Enzymes in corn. ... “These enzymes accumulate in
January 11, 2013 Read Full Article
Sustainable Development of Algal Biofuels in the United States
by Bradley Frieze (Advanced Biofuels USA) Dr. Jennie Hunter-Cevera and Dr. Mark Jones of the National Academy of Science Division on Earth and Life Studies gave a public webinar on November 27th, 2012 about the sustainable development of algal biofuels
January 04, 2013 Read Full Article
Growing Algae with Concentrated Desalination
(Algae Industry Magazine) Researchers from Federal University of Santa Catarina, in Brazil, are investigating how well microalgae can grow using concentrated desalination from inland desalination of brackish water. Dr. Ernani Sebastião Sant’Anna and research assistant Ângelo Paggi Matos are growing a
December 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Iowa State University Researchers Growing Algae in Poultry Houses
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) A research project conducted by several Iowa State University (ISU) researchers is studying the feasibility of growing algae in poultry houses. Poultry manure generates ammonia, a health and safety concern for both animals and workers. Ammonia can burn
December 20, 2012 Read Full Article
CO2 Emissions Could Feed Algae Biofuel Bonanza
by Max Paris (CBC News) U.S. Steel Canada announces pilot project that will test Pond Biofuels technology U.S. Steel Canada announced Tuesday it will partner with Union Gas and Pond Biofuels to test an innovative system that pulls carbon dioxide directly
December 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Ennesys Launches “Green Building” Demo in France
(Algae Industry Magazine) French biotech startup Ennesys will today launch its first demonstrator system for “truly green” buildings – in the Nanterre district of La Defense near Paris. It’s a simple idea: to turn buildings into energy production units by
November 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Active and Passive: Competing Voices in Biofuels Design
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...Generally, renewables compete in the short term against fossil fuel prices – but in the long-term, against fossil fuel extraction costs. Even if a new process produces a renewable at less then, say, the equivalent of
November 28, 2012 Read Full Article
Another Path to Biofuels
by Matthew Wald (New York Times) The company, SEE Algae Technology of Austria, is building a 2.5-acre factory on a sugar plantation near Recife, Brazil, that will use genetically modified algae that can eat carbon dioxide from the sugar. Adding urea and
November 27, 2012 Read Full Article
NASA-Rooted Biofuel Project Aims for Shores of Mobile Bay
by Marc D. Anderson (AL.com) A company using NASA-licensed technology is looking at a small patch of bayfront property to launch what one day could be a revolutionary wastewater-treating and biofuel-creating endeavor. Since 2009, Algae Systems LLC of Carson City, Nev.,
November 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Aurora Algae’s Matt Caspari On Growing Algae in Australia
(Algae Industry Magazine) Recently Aurora Algae announced the successful completion of requirements for a two million dollar (AUD) Low Emissions Energy Development (LEED) grant, which has been used to advance the Company’s algae-based biomass production at its demonstration facility in Karratha, Western
October 30, 2012 Read Full Article
A.I.M. Interview: ASU’s Dr. Milton Sommerfeld
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) Big algae news in the state of Arizona is the $15 million award by the Department of Energy to Arizona State University to establish a national algae science and technology testbed, dubbed the Algae
October 29, 2012 Read Full Article
A.I.M. Interview: Sapphire Energy’s CJ Warner and Tim Zenk
by David Schwartz (Algae Industry Magazine) ... So now that Green Crude Farm is in operation, what’s the current activity there? CJ: We are about to do the next big thing with the Farm, which is the strain transition. We’re demonstrating
October 24, 2012 Read Full Article
Will Algae Ever Power Our Cars?
by Marc Gunther (The Guardian) Scores of companies across the world are racing to unlock algae's energy potential and create a 'green crude oil' Tiny Columbus, New Mexico (population, 1,678) is hot, flat and uncrowded — an ideal place to launch
October 16, 2012 Read Full Article
Change the World: Sapphire Energy’s Green Crude Farm, Illustrated
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Growing crude oil as a crop – Sapphire Energy and its Green Crude Farm – can it be the sunlight in your universe and change the world? What does it look like? How does it work?
October 02, 2012 Read Full Article
Grow Your Own Energy: A NASA-Backed Experiment Harvests Algae for Oil, Releases Fresh Water
by Jonathan Trent (Slate) ...Algae are single-celled organisms that thrive globally in aqueous environments and convert CO2 into carbohydrates, protein, and natural oils. For some species, as much as 70 percent of their dry weight is made up of natural oils.
September 19, 2012 Read Full Article
Aquadudes: 15 Saltwater-Based Energy Technologies Here to Save the Day
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Take the conflict over drilling for oil on federal lands in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. If you drilled the provable oil reserve in the entire federal ANWR and flooded the world market with
September 11, 2012 Read Full Article
In Race to Algae Fuel, Sapphire Scores Point for Open Ponds
Martin Lamonica (MIT Technology Review) Sapphire Energy has started operation of its demonstration-scale algae farm, a project which perhaps brings more clarity to an industry debate over the best way to grow algae. The San Diego-based company last week said that
September 07, 2012 Read Full Article
Tulare Plant Exploring Algae for Jet Fuel
by Ben Keller (The Business Journal Now) The wastewater from Tulare County dairy operations may soon be used to power jets zooming overhead thanks to a brand new facility converting moist algae into biofuel. Recently, the City of Tulare leased four
August 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Israel’s Univerve Working to Commercialize Algae
(Algae Industry Magazine) new company from Tel Aviv, Israel, called Univerve is working to turn algae into a clean third-generation renewable fuel. Ohad Zuckerman, the CEO and co-founder of Univerve in 2009, is devising a systems process to commercialize his company. With 20
August 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Sapphire Energy's Commercial Demonstration Algae-to-Energy Facility Now Operational
(PR NewsWire/Sapphire Energy) Initial Phase of World's First Green Crude Farm Completed On Time and On Budget Sapphire Energy, Inc., one of the world leaders in algae-based green crude oil production, today announced the first phase of its Green Crude Farm,
August 27, 2012 Read Full Article
NAA Announces Breakthrough in New Algae Production Growing System
(Algae News/National Algae Association) National Algae Association is pleased to announce a new commercial production growing system has been developed at its test center. The new growing system will eliminate contamination and low production issues found with raceway ponds, while
August 26, 2012 Read Full Article
The Summer of Algae, Part II
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Launching today – and stretching into early Fall – the Algae Biomass Organization is coordinating a series of events billed as “The “Summer of Algae II” to raise awareness about the promise of the algae
August 20, 2012 Read Full Article
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
July 31, 2012 Read Full Article
Brazil Builds Algae-Based Biofuel Plant
(Herald Sun) The world's first industrial plant producing biofuels from seaweed will be built in the northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco in late 2013, the official in charge of the project says. The factory to be set up by Austrian firm
July 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Old Frog, New Tricks: The Rise of Magnetic Biofuels
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Can the harnessing of the powers of magnetism overcome cost challenges in algal biofuels? Researchers across the globe pursue the answers. ...For the fossil molecule, its time within a living system is complete and its development
July 18, 2012 Read Full Article
Kansas University Researcher Fuels New Use of Wastewater
(Associated Press/FuelFix) A University of Kansas researcher wants wastewater to be less so by using it to manufacture biofuel. The Topeka Capital-Journal reported that assistant professor Belinda Sturm grows algae in nitrogen- and phosphorus-laden Lawrence wastewater that ordinarily is discharged into
July 18, 2012 Read Full Article
New Mexico Town Grows Algae for Biofuels
(Sustainable Business Oregon) ...On a small, razed patch of dirt about a mile outside town, water slowly circulates in four oval-shaped ponds. A bright emerald green sparkles in the water, reflecting thick strains of algae that line the raceways built
June 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Green Fuel Is Possible with Artificial Ecosystems
(PhysOrg) For algae to power our cars and planes, production needs to be low carbon and cost effective, which means working with natural processes, not against them, say scientists. Algae could become an important source of sustainable biofuel, as production doesn't
June 06, 2012 Read Full Article
UK Report Gives Guidance for Developing Algal Industry
(Algae Industry Magazine) new “Strategy Research Agenda” report from the UK-based Algal Bioenergy Special Interest Group (AB-SIG) highlights the benefits of cultivating and using both macro and microalgae in a wide range of products. It also identifies some of the
June 06, 2012 Read Full Article
San Diego’s Carbon Capture Pulls Out as Synthetic Genomics Moves In
by Bruce V. Bigelow (Xconomy) Synthetic Genomics, the San Diego startup developing microorganisms to synthesize biofuels and other products, said it has acquired an 81-acre site in Calipatria, CA, to expand beyond its laboratory tests of algae. Synthetic Genomics’s expansion appears
June 05, 2012 Read Full Article
UniVerve Chooses Microalgae For Award-Winning Biofuel Business
by Shifra Mincer (Green Prophet) ...UniVerve has gained international recognition for its microalgae technology, including at an apperance this March at the World Biofuels Markets, which can succesfully produce bio-oil from third generation biomass. If any waste biomass is left from the refining
May 07, 2012 Read Full Article
OriginOil and Algasol Renewables to Develop an Integrated Algae Growth and Harvesting System
(Origin Oil) Algasol, collaborating with NASA and Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, will bundle its offering with OriginOil’s Algae Appliance™ OriginOil, Inc., developer of breakthrough technology to convert algae into renewable crude oil, and Algasol Renewables, a technology company with a unique patented
May 04, 2012 Read Full Article
INTERVIEW-U.S.-Israeli Firm to Launch Algae Biodiesel in India
by Tova Cohen (Reuters) Algae-based biodiesel producer World Health Energy Holdings (WHEN) plans to begin two commercial projects in India this year and is targeting over $200 million in sales in 2013. The first project, with Prime Inc of India, will grow
May 02, 2012 Read Full Article
A.I.M. Interview: Bioprocess Algae CEO Tim Burns
(Algae Industry Magazine) Many eyes are closely watching the development arc at Bioprocess Algae, in Shenandoah, Iowa, for signs that this might be the model for future farming. ...Tim Burns was also President, CEO and a co-founder of Bioprocess H2O, one
April 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Whatever Happened to Algae and Biofuels?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...A couple of voices expressed caution, prominent among them, algae’s Doctor No, John Benemann of Benemann Associates, who wanted at the time, “if algae looks good [for fuel], we’re all in trouble.” LiveFuels CEO Lissa
April 23, 2012 Read Full Article
Solutions4CO2 Inc. Announces Joint Venture with BARD Holding, Inc.
(Solutions4CO2) Solutions4CO2 Inc. (“S4CO2”), is pleased to announce a joint venture with BARD Holding, Inc. (www.bardholding.com ) (the “S4CO2 – BARD Joint Venture”) to co-develop waste gas/water to co-products facilities in Canada. The initial phase of the joint venture will
April 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Algae Competition Announces Finalists
Algae Competition assembled distinguished jurors from diverse backgrounds to evaluate entries in three tracks of the competition: landscape design, production systems and food development. From the many competitive and deserving entries, these entries were selected by our panel of jurors
March 08, 2012 Read Full Article
Facility's Expansion Puts AZ at Top of Algae Research
by Connor Radnovich (Cronkite News Service/Tucson Sentinel) State's sunshine aids in growth of biofuel source A five–fold expansion of the algae lab at Arizona State University’s Polytechnic campus will help move Arizona to the forefront of algae–based research and production, Gov. Jan
February 29, 2012 Read Full Article
Alganomics Upgrades Power Sources with Solar and Wind
(Algae Industry Magazine) Alganomics, LLC, the Southport, North Carolina-based producer of algae for biomass, has installed a photovoltaic solar system to offset energy used during the process of culturing algae for biofuel. With the aim to add new alternative energy
February 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Obama Touts Algal Biofuels; $14M in New R&D Funding; $2.28 per Gallon Algal Biofuels in Sight?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ...In Washington, the Obama Administration outlined a new $14 million round of R&D grants for algal biofuels, as the US President highlighted algal biofuels in a speech at the University of Miami which focused on energy policy. In
February 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Why Algal Biofuels May Never Hold the Key to the Future
by Professor Chris Rhodes (OilPrice.com) The depletion of world rock phosphate reserves will restrict the amount of food that can be grown, a situation that can only be compounded by the production of biofuels, including the potential large-scale generation
February 22, 2012 Read Full Article
St. Anthony Falls Laboratory Makes Algae Cell Swimming Discovery
by Luke Geiver (Biodiesel Magazine) The St. Anthony Falls Laboratory on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis originally formed to study hydroelectric energy, but today the research team at St. Anthony is working on projects that range
November 29, 2011 Read Full Article
Witt Targets Algae Nutrient Gas Market
(Algae Industry Magazine) Witt-gas, the German-based company specializing in gas control systems has announced their increased focus on adapting their suite of products and services to the algae cultivation market, with a focus on blending and delivering nutrient gas streams. ...Since
November 29, 2011 Read Full Article
Algae Experiment May Be 'Game Changer'
by Erin Loury (The Monterey County Herald) Scientists aim to create biofuel Tiny green algae grown in floating plastic bags may one day wean us from our voracious fossil fuel consumption. Such is the vision of Jonathan Trent, a scientist at NASA's
November 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Iowa State University Scientists Genetically Increase Algae Biomass by More Than 50 Percent
(Iowa State University) Research at Iowa State University has led to discovery of a genetic method that can increase biomass in algae by 50 to 80 percent. The breakthrough comes from expressing certain genes in algae that increase the amount of
November 28, 2011 Read Full Article
OriginOil’s New Harvest Pretreatment Boosts Algae Growth Rates
(OriginOil) Researchers have shown improved growth for both fresh and saltwater algae strains OriginOil, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough technology to extract oil from algae and an emerging leader in the global algae oil services industry, today announced that its recent
November 01, 2011 Read Full Article
38 Reasons Algae Will Never Replace Oil
(EnergySkeptic.com) ... This is a quick summary of the problems with making fuel from algae: Is more energy used to make algae biofuel than is created? (EROEI) 1) Keep water in ponds or plastic tubing within a narrow range of optimal temperature
October 30, 2011 Read Full Article
Algae Scale-Up Equipment Speeds Time-to-Commercialization for Researchers and Biomass Producers
(PR NewsWire/BioVantage Resources, Inc.) Biomass Production Made Easy, From Milligrams to Kilograms to Commercial Scale BioVantage Resources, Inc. has announced the availability of algae scale-up bioreactors to reduce time-to-commercialization, facilitating small-to-large volume production of phototrophic cultures. Products come in three form-factors: 8-30
September 23, 2011 Read Full Article
Moving Algae Biofuels from "Potential" to "Practice": Commercial Application of Microalgae
by Greg Schwartz (Kent BioEnergy Corporation) Greg Schwartz, Ph.D., Director of Systems Engineering, explained that Kent BioEnergy (KBE) is active in Aquatic research and development in several fields, such as aquaculture system design, water treatment research, molecular biology research and
September 20, 2011 Read Full Article
Neste Oil Launches Joint Algae Research Program
by Bryan Sims (Biodiesel Magazine) Finnish renewable diesel producer Neste Oil has launched a joint algae research program with the Marine Research Centre at the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) in an effort to further expand its feedstock portfolio by potentially
September 14, 2011 Read Full Article
Austin-Based Company Hopes New Technology Can Spawn Boom in Algae Production
by Barry Harrell (Statesman.com/PluggedIn) ...AlgEternal Technologies LLC is near completion of a commercial facility at UT's J.J. Pickle Research Campus. The facility, which had its ribbon-cutting last week, is a collaboration among AlgEternal, UT's Center for Electromechanics and the university's
September 13, 2011 Read Full Article
European Partnership to Unlock the Potential of Algal Bioenergy
by Dr Matthew Aylott (National Non-Food Crops Centre) A major new €14 million (£12.3 million) initiative - bringing together experts from across North West Europe to develop the potential of algae as a source of sustainable energy - has been
September 07, 2011 Read Full Article
NAA Announces Completion of Commercial-Scale Pilot PBR
(Algae Industry Magazine) National Algae Association Executive Director Barry Cohen has announced the completion of additional commercial-scale pilot closed-loop photobioreactors (PBR’s) at the Biotech Institute at Lone Star College, The Woodlands, Texas. “Thanks to contributions of equipment from Solar Components Corporation,
September 06, 2011 Read Full Article
Choosing the Right Microalgal Photobioreactor Design
by Fadhil M. Salih (ClearValue Companies/Biofuels Digest) ... (A) number of photobioreactor designs have been put into work under different environmental conditions. So far none of the existing designs has fulfilled the dream of the interested parties due to inherent problems
September 02, 2011 Read Full Article
Glycos Biotechnologies and Solix BioSystems Achieve Positive Results for the Suitability of Solix’s Algal Oils for the Production of Bio-derived Sustainable Chemicals
(Solix) Algal Oils Proven as Next Generation Feedstock for Industrial Bacterial Fermentation Glycos Biotechnologies, Inc. (GlycosBio), an international biochemical company commercializing high-value bio-chemicals, and Solix BioSystems, Inc. (Solix), a leading provider of integrated solutions and services that enable large scale cultivation
August 24, 2011 Read Full Article
Video tour: Pond Biofuels Turns Cement Plant Emissions into Algae
by Tyler Hamilton (Clean Break) I had the opportunity this week to visit a St. Marys Cement plant in the small and scenic town of St. Marys, Ontario. A subsidiary of Brazilian cement giant Votorantim Cimentos, the company is working with Toronto-based Pond