First Algae Biodiesel Plant Goes Online: April 1, 2008
PetroSun has announced it will begin operation of its commercial algae-to-biofuels facility on April 1st, 2008.
The facility, located in Rio Hondo Texas, will produce an estimated 4.4 million gallons of algal oil and 110 million lbs. of biomass per year off a series of saltwater ponds spanning 1,100 acres. Twenty of those acres will be reserved for the experimental production of a renewable JP8 jet-fuel.
Gordon LeBlanc, Jr., CEO of PetroSun, had this to say:
“Our business model has been focused on proving the commercial feasibility of the firms’ algae-to-biofuels technology during the past eighteen months. Whether we have arrived at this point in time by a superior technological approach, sheer luck or a redneck can-do attitude, the fact remains that microalgae can outperform the current feedstocks utilized for conversion to biodiesel and ethanol, yet do not impact the consumable food markets or fresh water resources.”
- » See also: OriginOil Announces Algae Processing Breakthrough
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Microalgae have garnered considerable attention, since acre-by-acre microalgae can produce 30-100 times the oil yield of soybeans on marginal land and in brackish water. The biomass left-over from oil-pressing can either be fed to cattle as a protein supplement, or fermented into ethanol.
The big problem has been figuring out how to collect and press the algae, and in the case of open ponds, to prevent contamination by invasive species. PetroSun seems to have figured it out, and this may be the first algae biofuel plant to get off the ground.
[...] microreactor produces and how they would be collected and used. But without being able to write off algae biodiesel or other majorly productive feedstocks as potential solutions, and based on the inherent coolness [...]
This is awesome news! Algae for oil can be so great in so many ways. Now we just need to turbo diesel everything and have some performance vehicles that run off almost carbon-neutral fuel.
First Algae Biodiesel Plant Goes Online April 1, 2008 | Deliggit.com…
\r\nPetroSun has announced it will begin operation of its commercial algae-to-biofuels facil…
How could this be the first biodiesel plant? I heard the other day there was this new gas station downtown that sold biodiesel.
Why doesn’t a company just figure out a way to filter and collect the algae that is overabundant at the mouth of the Mississippi, rather than further salinizing inland soils with seawater ponds?
So how about some details?
What is its capacity…how much per gallon?
Details we need details!
Really? On APRIL FOOLS DAY? Where can I buy stock???
“Seems to have firured it out? More like “Claims to have figured it out.” I have found no evidence that they have developed any technology for the purpose.
Algae biofuels look to be a promising technology for the future.
Petro Sun? Well…. My point is that instead of having another oil co. who is is in partnership with the government. We should all learn to make our own small batch biodiesel and save the 3-4 dollars a gallon they will charge us for a product that maybe .. what .25$ to .50$ a gallon! lets have a real revolution!