Representative Brian Bilbray (R-CA) and a bipartisan group of representatives introduced HR 3460, an amendment to the Clean Air Act to include algae as an eligible feedstock in the Renewable Fuel Standard (as amended by the Energy Independence and Security
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Back TO HOMERed Algae to Ethanol Project in the Philippines
by Natalia Real (FIS) Korean scientists have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bohol governor to test the waters of Bohol for growing red algae for ethanol production. READ MORE
September 29, 2009 Read Full Article
See-O-Two Seeing Potential from Algal Biomass Tech
(Cleantech) Austrian startup says it can grow algae at three to six times higher productivity and at about 80 percent of the cost of competing systems. Vienna, Austria-based See-O-Two has developed what it says is an industrial scale system to
September 29, 2009 Read Full Article
Algae as Fuel of the Future Faces Great Expectations -- and Obstacles
by Anne C. Mulkern (New York Times/Greenwire) ... It is a big bet with high stakes. Venture capitalists, including Bill Gates' financing arm, infused Sapphire Energy with a combined $100 million. Exxon Mobil Corp. this summer invested $600 million in a
September 18, 2009 Read Full Article
Interest in Algae's Oil Prospects is Growing
by Tiffany Hsu (Los Angeles Times) Firms and scientists are racing to figure out how best to separate the oil produced in algae organisms for biofuel. The San Diego area has become a hotbed for these efforts that are drawing investors. To
September 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Solazyme Signs U.S. Department of Defense Contract to Develop Navy Fuels from Algae
Solazyme, Inc., the renewable oil production company and leader in algal synthetic biology, has been selected by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to research, develop, and demonstrate commercial scale production of algae-derived advanced biofuel that meets the United States
September 09, 2009 Read Full Article
Algae Biofuels Economic Viability: A Project-Based Perspective
by Jeff H. Hassannia (Diversified Energy Corporation) ... Instead of forecasting the likely costs for capital and O&M for a given architecture and its reported yield, let’s assess what a project would require in order to make it commercially viable. That
August 30, 2009 Read Full Article
The Rise of Biofuels from Algae
(ClearSkies.com) Clean Skies News Dipka Bhambhani reports on the rise of biofuels from algae as part of the nation's energy portfolio. WATCH VIDEO
August 30, 2009 Read Full Article
USU Research: Algae May Fix Logan's Sewage Mess
by Brian Maffly (Salt Lake Tribune) For the past several years, detergents and agricultural runoff have turned Logan's five wastewater lagoons into a phosphate-filled soup, posing a menace to sensitive wildlife habitat downstream and racking up costly clean-up bills. But nature
August 28, 2009 Read Full Article
Life-Cycle Assessment of Biodiesel
by Laurent Lardon, Arnaud Helias, Bruno Sialve, Jean-Philippe Steyer and Olivier Bernard (Environmental Science and Technology) This paper provides an analysis of the potential environmental impacts of biodiesel production from microalgae. High production yields of microalgae have called forth interest of
August 28, 2009 Read Full Article
Missouri Cooperatives Partner with Universities on Carbon Capture Research
... Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI) and Central Electric Power Cooperative (CEPC) are partnering with Lincoln University and Missouri University of Science and Technology to grow algae using the carbon produced by a coal-burning power plant. Researchers have been eyeing algae,
August 27, 2009 Read Full Article
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology 'Algae Platform' Develops Efficient Photoreactors and Novel Cell Decomposition Methods
... (C)ultivation of microalgae may contribute decisively to tomorrow's energy supply. For energy production from microalgae, KIT scientists are developing closed photo-bioreactors and novel cell disruption methods. ... Professor Clemens Posten, directs this research activity at the KIT Institute of
August 26, 2009 Read Full Article
Scripps Photobiology Group Presentations on Algae
The Scripps Photobiology Group has been hosting a series on the commercialization of algae, with a focus on the possible production of biofuels from algae. The purpose of this forum is to exchange information and spur collaborative conversation about the
August 24, 2009 Read Full Article
Semi-Serious Quiz: How to Rate An Algae Company
by Michael Kanellos (Greentech Media) Five years ago it was easy to divide up companies trying to make fuel out of algae. There were only a handful in the market and all were in and around the "science experiment" phase.
August 21, 2009 Read Full Article
Aurora Biofuels Breakthrough Doubles CO2 Uptake and Fuel Production
Through a series of biotechnology achievements, Aurora has succeeded in optimizing its base algae strains to more than double CO2 consumption and fuel production, and has proven these results in an outdoor open system over the last several months. Using tools
August 19, 2009 Read Full Article
Greener Dawn Research Releases 90-Page Algae Biofuels Report
A report by Greener Dawn Investment Group's research arm "aims to provide an in-depth and unbiased review of the algae industry’s market potential, current technologies and processes, from the point of view of a financial investor. Considering the fate of
August 17, 2009 Read Full Article
Embracing Pond Scum: Algae Farms Taking Root in High Desert
by Brooke Edwards and Natasha Lindstrom (Victor Valley Daily Press) That green, slimy scum that makes swimmers and pool owners cringe may soon grow the High Desert into a hotbed for algae-based biofuel production. The algae technology can be used to
August 17, 2009 Read Full Article
BP and Martek Biosciences Enter a Joint Development Agreement to Deliver Advanced Biodiesels
BP and Martek Biosciences Corporation announced the signing of a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to work on the production of microbial oils for biofuels applications. The partnership combines a broad technology platform and operational capabilities to advance the development of
August 14, 2009 Read Full Article
Picking Biofuel Starters: Government Tops Off the Tank
by Simon Grose (tcetoday news) Algae, wood and sugarcane shared the honours in the bidding for funding through the Australian government’s Second generation Biofuels research and development program. Announcing matching grants totaling A$14.4m ($12.1m) across seven projects, resource minister Martin Ferguson
August 14, 2009 Read Full Article
Start-Up Goes Fishing for Biofuels
by Candace Lombardi (Green Tech) LiveFuels, an algae biofuel start-up, announced a pilot project to grow and harvest algae biofuels in open waters with the help of naturally occurring activities in the ecosystem. The approach is different than other attempts
August 14, 2009 Read Full Article
Solazyme Awarded California Energy Commission Grant to Develop Clean Fuel from Local Cellulosic Feedstocks
Solazyme, Inc., a renewable oil production company and algal biotechnology company, was awarded a $789,697 Biosynthetic Transportation Fuel Production grant from the California Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. ... The PIER Program Opportunity Notice (PON) announced that
August 11, 2009 Read Full Article
Biofuels Innovator Forms Division in Charleston to Capture Carbon
by Andy Owens (Charleston Regional Business Journal) Opposition to coal-fired power plants in the South has spurred a producer of microalgae-based renewable energy and industrial products to create a division based in Charleston. Barry Toyonaga, chief business officer for San Diego-based
August 11, 2009 Read Full Article
EERC Awarded Subcontract by SAIC to Help Produce Military Renewable Jet Fuel from Algae
(GreenAirOnline.com) The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota has been awarded a subcontract by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to help produce military JP-8 jet fuel from algae. Funding for the work is coming
August 11, 2009 Read Full Article
W2 Energy Completes Algae Bioreactor
(Energy Current) W2 Energy Inc., has successfully completed a commercial scale algae bioreactor. The Sunfilter bioreactor will be used to sequester any CO2 byproducts from the W2 Energy waste-to-energy processes. The product can also be sold separately. Customers such as
August 11, 2009 Read Full Article
Algae Oil Lipid Trigger Breakthrough Sustainable Green Technologies Inc. Announces Innovative Way to Increase Algae Oil Production
Sustainable Green Technologies (SGT) a start-up company in Escondido, California announced today that it has discovered a highly effective and low cost way to massively increase algal oil production. Metabolic engineering research conducted at SGT over the past two years
August 05, 2009 Read Full Article
Biggie Smalls: Microcrops Go Mainstream and Head for the Big Time
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) All microalgae are microcrops, but not all microcrops are microalgae: a larger family of diatoms, cyanobacteria, and tiny aquatic flowering plants such as the lemna family are increasingly in the mix for biofuels commercialization. As
August 05, 2009 Read Full Article
Algae ‘Milking’ Promises New Efficiencies as Part of a Combined Production Cycle
Origin Oil announced that it has succeeded in extracting algae oil on a continuous basis without cell sacrifice. This new ‘milking’ process will join the company’s Cascading Production™ technique to create a combined cycle promising new efficiencies. Live Extraction™, or
July 31, 2009 Read Full Article
US Dept of Energy Sets $85 Million for Development of Algal Based and Advanced Cellulosic Biofuels
DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), through the Office of the Biomass Program (OBP), announces the availability of funding for establishing Consortia for two primary topic areas - Development of Algal Based Biofuels, and Development of Advanced
July 21, 2009 Read Full Article
Bio-feedback Process Controller Optimizes Algae Growth And Daily Harvesting Rates
OriginOil, Inc., announced a breakthrough technology, the Dynamic Control System, which is designed to respond continuously to algae’s behavior. This invention improves energy efficiency and growth rates by ensuring the right types and amounts of light are used at all
July 17, 2009 Read Full Article
ExxonMobil to Launch Biofuels Program
ExxonMobile announced its alliance with leading biotech company, Synthetic Genomics Inc., to research and develop next generation biofuels from photosynthetic algae. ... ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company has entered into a research and development alliance with SGI, a privately held company
July 17, 2009 Read Full Article
For Greening Aviation, Are Biofuels the Right Stuff?
byDavid Biello (Yale Environment 360) Biofuels – made from algae and non-food plants – are emerging as a potentially viable alternative to conventional jet fuels. Although big challenges remain, the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could be major. .... While homes, cars,
July 10, 2009 Read Full Article
NASA Explores Algae for Aviation Fuel
Seambiotic, a global leader in the development and production of marine microalgae for the nutraceutical and biofuel industries, has announced that its U.S. subsidiary, Seambiotic USA, has entered into an agreement with NASA Glenn Research Center to develop an on-going
July 07, 2009 Read Full Article
Louisiana’s Aquatic Energy Moving from Pilot to Demo with Algae-to-Energy without External CO2
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Aquatic Energy unveiled significant progress in its pilot algae-to-energy project in the Lake Charles-Lafayette corridor of Louisiana. The company is now preparing to expand from a “couple of acre” pilot in Lake Charles, to an 30-acre
July 07, 2009 Read Full Article
US Biofuels Plans 8-Acre Greenhouses for Algae Production
US Biofuels, Inc, a CA based company is setting to launch major green fuel production with recent gains of twelve greenhouses expanding over eight acres in size. Each greenhouse will be used for the purpose of growing algae in a
July 07, 2009 Read Full Article
Algae Biofuels Project in New Mexico Advances
by Tom Schneider (Carlsbad Current-Argus) ... With the snipping of a ribbon, the Center of Excellence for Hazardous Materials Management moved its Algae Biofuels Project from pilot scale to the commercial demonstration level. Located on the grounds of the
July 06, 2009 Read Full Article
Ag-Oil Plans Oilseed Biodiesel Production with Univ of Florida, Agronne National Lab, Univ of Southern Illinois
Ag-Oil Announces Plan to Build and Operate a Pilot-Scale Non-Food Oilseed Biodiesel Production Facility and Algae-based Integrated Biorefinery Ag-Oil, has announced its plan to work with United Environment and Energy (UEE), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), University of Florida (UF), and
July 02, 2009 Read Full Article
St. Louis Researchers Launch Algae Research
by Susanne Retka Schill (CheckBiotech) Researchers at two centers in St. Louis are gearing up to launch five-year research programs on algae, backed by U.S. DOE grants. The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center received $15 million and Washington University $20 million
July 01, 2009 Read Full Article
China Recruits Algae to Combat Climate Change
by Jonathan Watts (The Guardian) Chinese firm behind ambitious plan to breed microalgae in greenhouse with the potential to absorb carbon emissions ...Developed by a groundbreaking Chinese firm, ENN, the greenhouse is a bioreactor that breeds microalgae, one of the fastest
June 30, 2009 Read Full Article
US Dept. of Energy Requests Information for Algal Biofuels Roadmap
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is issuing this RFI to solicit feedback on the Draft “National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap” Document. This Draft Roadmap was prepared by a working group commissioned by DOE. Feedback will be incorporated into the
June 23, 2009 Read Full Article
Commercialization of Algae Studied
Emerging Markets has released Algae 2020 a 460-page study on algae biofuels markets, strategies and the commercialization outlook. The Algae 2020 study observes algal biomass can produce multiple fuels from a single feedstock, including biodiesel ethanol, biocrude, renewable diesel, renewable
June 23, 2009 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Publishes Special Algae Biofuels Report
Biofuels Digest published a special report on algae biofuels and CO2 sources, including an analysis of power plant fuel gas. "In the world of biofuels, algae is under the spotlight" writes Biofuels Digest special correspondent Sam Rushing in a report on
June 23, 2009 Read Full Article
Prospects for Chilean Coastal Algae as Energy Feedstock under Review
Biofuels Digest summarizes conversations from its LinkedIn Group about development of Chilean coastal algae and biodiesel developments in other South American countries. READ MORE
June 18, 2009 Read Full Article
Renewed World Energies Takes Algae to Another Level of Green
by Susan Wilson. Algae has been cultivated primarily as a source of biofuel, but Renewed World Energies (RWE) is taking it one step further. The company wants to clean up power plant and industrial plant emissions using algae and then
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
European Body Sees Algae Fuel Industry in 10-15 Years
Industrial-scale production of bioenergy from algae, or seaweeds, can be expected in 10 to 15 years, helping Europe to reach its green energy targets, the top official at a newly created bioenergy body said on Wednesday. ... Research into algae-made
June 16, 2009 Read Full Article
NYT Reports Plant-Derived Fuels Could Be Certified for Fights within a Year, Says Boeing Exec
Katie Howell: Jet fuels derived from algae, camelina and jatropha -- plants that pack an energy punch, are not eaten as food and do not displace food crops -- could be approved and replacing petroleum fuels in commercial flights as
June 02, 2009 Read Full Article
National Algae Association Forms Buying Consortium
The National Algae Association is building a buying consortium to help its members build algae farms and production plants more cost efficiently. NAA staff are meeting with various equipment and service providers to negotiate the best prices and terms for NAA members to help drive down their
June 02, 2009 Read Full Article
Biofuels Digest Publishes Special Online Report on Aviation Biofuels
Biofuels Digest presents a special report on biofuels aviation, including coverage of feedstocks, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, engine makers and policy. READ MORE
May 25, 2009 Read Full Article
PetroAlgae Debuts New Drop-In Fuel Process for Green Diesel from Algae
According to Biofuels Digest, in Florida, PetroAlgae said that it believes it is now the closest company to commercialization of micro crops as a biofuel will complete its microcrop demonstration farm in Florida this year and will commence booking revenues
May 22, 2009 Read Full Article
Honeywell To Test Biofuel in APUs, Engines this Summer
Honeywell Aerospace is gearing up for biofuel tests on its APUs and engines this summer in a bid to stay ahead of the alternative fuel push. ... That project is now entering a second phase with biofuel tests, and Honeywell
May 22, 2009 Read Full Article
Algae Front-runner GreenFuel Shuts Down
GreenFuel Technologies, one of the first companies to enter the algae biofuels business, is shutting down after running out of money. Investor Duncan McIntyre of Polaris Venture Partners on Wednesday confirmed GreenFuel Technologies' demise, saying that the company is a
May 22, 2009 Read Full Article
A New Use for Algae: Natural Gas
Genifuel has teamed up with Pacific Northwest National Labs to make natural gas out of algae. Why? It's cheaper and easier than producing liquid fuel. Why crush algae when you can incinerate it? That's one way to describe a shift
May 08, 2009 Read Full Article
University of Texas at Austin Biologists and Engineers In DARPA Project to Develop Jet Fuel from Algal Oil
...At The University of Texas at Austin, the scope of the project includes identifying the best strains of algae for producing oil from sites in Texas and from the university's algal culture collection, harvesting the algal strains, breaking the algal
May 08, 2009 Read Full Article
U.K. Algae Biofuel Co. BioMara Launches
Researchers funded by a consortium of European governments and institutions to investigate algae strains most optimal for remote rural biofuel production. BioMara, a Scottish-Irish research project, has secured €6 million ($8.1m) to produce biofuel from algae. Research is to be led
April 30, 2009 Read Full Article
Commercial-Scale Production of Algae Biodiesel: Using Existing Resources to Spawn a New Era in Renewable Energy
by Drew Casey (Biofuels and Bio-Based Carbon Mitigation) Recently, we have experienced increasing uncertainty about the threat of climate changes due to increased carbon emissions as well as volatility of global oil prices. Fossil fuels have been such a major part
March 30, 2009 Read Full Article
$2.00/gal Bio Diesel Fuel Ready for Production
Several thousand gallons of bio diesel fuel that meets ASTM specification D-975 have been produced, road tested in diesel vehicles and declared ready for volume production, according to Harrison Dillon, President and Chief Technology Officer, Solazyme, Inc. South San Francisco,