National Algae Association is pleased to announce that construction has been completed on a commercial-scale photobioreactor (PBR) demo located at Lone Star College in The Woodlands, Texas. “Thanks to donations of materials, time and effort by Ed Baker, Harvel Plastics, Yokogowa Corp. of America, Fluid Imaging Technologies, and Dr. Dan Kainer, Director of Lone Star’s Biotechnology Institute and some of his students, this dream has become a reality”, says Barry Cohen. Executive Director of NAA. Plans are already in place to add a commercial-scale harvester and extraction system, which will make this the first completed turn-key commercial-scale demo system in the US.
Cohen went on to say, “It’s time to move algae research out of the lab and into full commercial-scale algae production. Unless we test and benchmark commercial-scale closed-loop PBRs, harvesting and extraction equipment, none of the technologies and IP will ever have any true value. There is a tremendous difference between desktop algae lab equipment and commercial algae production units, and there’s a steep learning curve. This will allow us to work through major scale-up issues.”
NAA’s Mid-South Chapter is hosting a workshop focusing on mining wastewater for nutrients, feel and fuel, and the next Houston conference will be following the inaugural Algae Production Certification Program in April. Visit www.nationalalgaeassociation.com for details and registration information.
National Algae Association
4747 Research Forest Drive #180-175
The Woodlands, TX 77381
936-321-1125
info@nationalalgaeassociation.com
THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(MARKET WIRE)-- National Algae Association is pleased to announce that, in addition to the prototype commercial scale vertical closed-loop photobioreactor, a prototype commercial-scale horizontal closed-loop prototype commercial scale photobioreactor will be available for viewing at its conference for commercialization of "Algae: The New Oil," which will be held on April 30 - May 1, 2009, at the Sheraton North Houston.
Algae researchers, algae oil production and equipment companies and algaepreneurs will present leading-edge technologies. In addition to collaborative breakout sessions, the agenda also includes presentations from Fluid Imaging Technologies, AlgaeLink, Guava Technologies, B&P Processors, Femtobeam, BioCentrics, MOR Technology, Aquatic Energy, Aquatic Eco-Systems, Maria Stockenreiter of the University of Munich, Dr. Louis Landesman of Virginia State University and legislative insight from Steve Traver. Charles Bensinger, NAA Education Committee, will discuss the proposed Algae Curriculum and Training Program for college students, and Dr. Peter Kipp, who heads the NAA Science and Technology group, will discuss algae strains.
In making this announcement, NAA Founder and Executive Director Barry Cohen said, "Having vertical and horizontal photobioreactors available for viewing, in addition to Origin Oil´s new extraction system, B& P Processor´s wide range of equipment, legislative input and research updates, and some exciting announcements, all as part of a day and a half of back-to-back presentations focusing exclusively on algae as an alternative fuel, supports NAA's mission to fast-track the commercialization of the algae industry and significantly enhances our efforts."
Registration information is available at NAA’s website. www.nationalalgaeassociation.com
Contacts
National Algae Association
B. Cohen, 936-321-1125
Info@nationalalgaeassociation.com
THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(MARKET WIRE)-- Origin Oil will be providing process details of its innovative single-step process to extract oil from algae., BioCentrics will be unveiling its algae pro closed loop photobioreactor, and a prototype commercial-scale vertical closed-loop photobioreactor will be available for viewing at National Algae Association´s fifth quarterly conference for commercialization of "Algae: The New Oil," which will be held on April 30 - May 1, 2009, at the Sheraton North Houston.
Algae researchers, algae oil production and equipment companies and algaepreneurs will present leading-edge technologies. In addition to collaborative breakout sessions, the agenda also includes presentations from Fluid Imaging Technologies, AlgaeLink, Guava Technologies, BMP Processors, Femtobeam, BioCentrics, MOR Technology, Aquatic Energy, Aquatic Eco-Systems, Maria Stockenreiter of the University of Munich, Dr. Louis Landesman of Virginia State University and legislative insight from Steve Traver. Charles Bensinger, NAA Education Committee, will discuss the proposed Algae Curriculum and Training Program for college students, and Dr. Peter Kipp, who heads the NAA Science and Technology group, will discuss algae strains.
In making this announcement, NAA Founder and Executive Director Barry Cohen said, "In addition to viewing the photobioreactor, NAA's mission to fast-track the commercialization of the algae industry will be greatly enhanced by some exciting announcements to be made at the conference."
A preliminary agenda for the conference will be available on the Association's website, www.nationalalgaeassociation.com along with registration information.
Contacts
National Algae Association
B. Cohen, 936-321-1125
THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Algae Association is pleased to announce that its fifth quarterly conference for commercialization of "Algae: The New Oil" will be held on April 30 - May 1, 2009, at the Sheraton North Houston. Algae researchers, algae oil production and equipment companies and algaepreneurs will present leading-edge technologies. In addition to our informative breakout sessions, the preliminary agenda includes presentations from Fluid Imaging Technologies, AlgaeLink, Origin Oil, Guava Technologies, BMP Processors, Femtobeam, BioCentrics, MOR Technology, Aquatic Energy, Cellana, Maria Stockenreiter of the University of Munich, Dr. Louis Landesman of Virginia State University and legislative insight from Steve Traver. Charles Bensinger, NAA Education Committee will discuss the proposed Algae Curriculum and Training Program for college students, and Dr. Peter Kipp, NAA Science and Technology Committee, will discuss algae strains.
Some exciting announcements specifically relating to algae commercialization will be made at this conference. Early registration pricing expires on April 23, 2009. The Sheraton North Houston has again offered reduced room rates for NAA conference attendees through April 23, 2009.
In announcing this conference, NAA Founder and Executive Director Barry Cohen said, "Our fifth and first anniversary conference will be 54 weeks after our first one, and I am pleased to say that the quality and quantity of presentations received in response to our Call for Speakers and Presentations was beyond all expectations. As the first association dedicated to fast-tracking the commercialization of algae as a biofuel and a renewable energy source, I am anxious to share the progress that has been made in the last year. NAA's mission will be greatly enhanced by special announcements to be made at the conference."
A preliminary agenda for the conference will be available on the Association's website, www.nationalalgaeassociation.com along with registration information.
Contacts
National Algae Association
B. Cohen, 936-321-1125
Melissa Phillip Chronicle
Barry Cohen, director of the National Algae Association, says it´s time to get moving on turning algae into fuel. "My mantra is: What are we waiting for?
TALKING ALGAE
Details on the National Algae Association´s upcoming conference.
• What: Algae: The New Oil.
• Where: Sheraton North Houston.
• When: April 30-May 1.
Source: National Algae Association
Barry Cohen takes the concept of going green to a whole new level.
As director of the National Algae Association, he is a leading advocate of curbing U.S. dependence on oil by harnessing the power of tiny, green waterborne plants known to most as pond scum.
Though it may sound far-fetched, the idea has gained momentum in recent years.
After decades of research, algae now is viewed as one of the most promising inputs for alternative fuels like biodiesel, as well as a potential way to capture carbon emissions from polluting factories.
"No one has really looked at algae as a business opportunity until recently," said Cohen, who runs the association from a home office in The Woodlands.
Now, he finds that his group´s quarterly conferences include not just researchers and what he calls "algaepreneurs" but representatives from oil companies, airlines, the U.S. military and investment firms. The group´s next meeting will take place April 30-May 1 in Houston.
But the recession and low oil prices could be a setback to companies hoping to get into the algae business in coming years.
Production costs also remain high, analysts said.
Yet Cohen argues that the case for investing in algae remains solid, given the inevitability that crude oil costs will rise again, the need for the U.S. to wean itself from foreign oil and the Obama administration´s desire to create new "green´ jobs.
"My mantra is: What are we waiting for?" Cohen said.
Research on algae as a possible energy source is not new. The U.S. government studied it for nearly 20 years beginning in the late 1970s before cutting funding for the program.
But there has been renewed interest in recent years as oil prices climbed, algae production technology improved and concern widened about the sustainability of producing biofuels from corn, soybean and other food crops.
Indeed, proponents believe oil extracted from algae may be the ideal feedstock for many alternative fuels. Unlike crops that are seasonally harvested and require large swaths of arable land to grow, algae can double their numbers in a single day and prosper in a variety of climates.
Algae yield projections are estimated to range from 2,000-5,000 gallons per acre versus 61 gallons per acre for soybeans, the leading feedstock for biodiesel in the U.S. today, according to the National Biodiesel Board.
Because it feeds on carbon dioxide, algae also could help clear the air of polluting emissions. That´s why some have proposed building algae factories next to coal-fired power plants and other industrial polluters.
Production still costly
"We have land being thrown at us, not for sale, not for lease, but for free," Cohen said. "Land is a non-issue for this industry."
Currently, however, algae oil production costs $20 a gallon, more than double the cost of other leading biofuel crops, said Divya Reddy, an energy analyst for the Eurasia Group in Washington. That´s why she estimates it could be up to 10 years before algae-based fuels are widely available.
Cohen, who also runs Biofuel Capital Partners, a biofuel financier, disagrees. He said he is already receiving business plans suggesting production costs as low as $1.50 a gallon.
In 2007, Chevron Corp. formed an alliance to explore algae fuels with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, part of the U.S. Department of Energy.
Sapphire Energy, a San Diego-based firm backed partly by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and others are also moving forward with algae-based fuel projects that could lower costs.
Taking flight
In January, Houston-based Continental Airlines became the first air carrier to fly a U.S. commercial jet on a mix of conventional jet fuel and biofuels, some of which were derived from algae. Similar test flights have taken place in other countries. In the U.S., there are some 20 small algae producers, and the number is growing, Cohen said.
Russell Industries, a Nevada holding company run from Houston, may join the group soon. This year, the firm plans to open an algae plant at a still-undecided Houston location, CEO Rick Berman said.
It will produce algae oil to be sold to biodiesel refineries and also market its biomass waste to cosmetic, pharmaceutical and bioplastics industries, he said.
Berman likes the idea of having the first such facility in Houston, but is also confident it will make money. "We´re not doing this because we have nothing better to do," he said.
Contacts:
National Algae Association
www.nationalalgaeassociation.com
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For more than 20 years, Algae biofuels projects have been primarily focused on biodiesel production. "In recent years, the algae industry has evolved in size, scope, technologies and applications to produce several different types of fuels for transport and power generation," notes Will Thurmond, Chairman of Research and Development for the National Algae Association and author of the 685 page Biodiesel 2020 study. "There are dozens of new algae projects and applications emerging to produce biodiesel, ethanol, commercial jet fuel, renewable diesel, biogasoline, biomass for power generation and hydrogen fuels," said Thurmond.
Algae are the fastest-growing plants in the world. Compared to 1st generation feedstocks, algae holds enormous potential to provide a high-yield, non-arable land use, non-food, non-rainforest source of fuels. Like other plants, Algae use photo-synthesis to harness sunlight and carbon dioxide in order to capture energy stored inside the cell as lipids (the source for oil) and starches/carbohydrates.
"Many of the National Algae Association´s members are now starting to create ethanol from starch-rich algae strains. Other NAA members are utilizing waste streams from municipal water authorities to grow algae. In addition there is a great deal of interest to capture carbon from the smokestacks of a power plant, and use the carbon to produce algae for low-emissions biofuels for transport - a double benefit for environmental pollution," said Thurmond. "The petroleum, defense, and aviation industries are increasingly investing in converting algae into bio-oil (also called bio-crude, or syncrude) that can either be sold directly to petrol refineries, or to aviation companies to be processed into JP8 jet fuels."
Barry Cohen, founder of the National Algae Association, notes, "the US commercial aviation industry spends upwards of $1.6 billion a month on jet fuel. Due to these rising demands and concerns, the NAA is witnessing an increasing number of members and projects from petroleum, defense, and aviation industries to reduce commercial aviation fuel costs and to support of US government and defense efforts for energy independence," said Cohen.
The National Algae Association will host its third event from October 23-24 near Houston to showcase many of its members´ projects, including algae to: biodiesel, ethanol, aviation fuel, renewable diesel, biocrude, hydrogen, and bio-gasoline from algae. Several companies, including Sapphire Energy, Origin Oil, and representatives from the biofuels, aviation and petroleum industries will present their leading-edge algae technologies and projects at the NAA´s next event.
For more information on this event, or to become a member of the NAA visit: www.nationalalgaeassociation.com