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.”
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.
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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.
PetroSun won’t be making fuel immediately, but plans on either building or acquiring ethanol and biodiesel production plants. They’ve conveniently located themselves in an area accessible by barge, which should make fuel distribution a snap.
An aerial view (Google maps) of the algae farms can be seen here.
This is NOT an April Fool’s joke! See the press release here.
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Power to the bio fuel. This is the way of the future. This is very exciting.
The biology of algal growth, chemistry, and genetics have been known for years. More important, the growth is a CO2 sink, like all green plants and trees, and offers a jump start in reducing this polluting atmospheric gas in huge amounts as the “farms” (ponds)go into operation. If the corn, soy, and palm oil industries can be preventeed from blocking this Godsend, we can increse production in geometric fashion within the next several years.
I have an article researching algae as a biofuel available here:
http://apoptotic.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/whats-the-deal-with-biofuels/
I am a little confused by the statement at the end of the article. “PetroSun won’t be making fuel immediately, but plans on either building or acquiring ethanol and biodiesel production plants.” Is PetroSun going to produce fuel or not? Why are they building or acquiring biodiesel production plants if they are not going be making fuel?
PetroSun Withdraws From Algae-to-JP8 Program
Tuesday August 5, 12:37 pm ET
http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/080805/0422133.html
SCOTTSDALE, AZ–(MARKET WIRE)–Aug 5, 2008 — PetroSun, Inc. (Other OTC:PSUD.PK - News) announced today that the company has notified Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) that it is withdrawing as a team member as it relates to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) BAA08-07 Biofuels-Cellulosic and Algae Feedstocks program.
Although it was an honor to be selected as a team member with such an elite group of companies, PetroSun has chosen to go down a separate path in order to expedite the potential of algae being processed into a commercial jet fuel,” stated Gordon LeBlanc, Jr., CEO of PetroSun, Inc. “The DARPA program has been stalled due to a protest that was filed on May 29th by a firm that was excluded from the DARPA decision. Our withdrawal was prompted by the uncertainty of the award process, combined with an opportunity to initiate a project with a renewable fuel refiner and a commercial jet fuel end-user. PetroSun’s corporate position acknowledges a true sense of urgency to prove that algae-to-biofuels can become an immediate part of the solution for our nation’s energy independence.”
About PetroSun
PetroSun’s operations include oil and gas exploration, development, production, oilfield tubular sales and algae-to-algal oil alternative biofuel production. The oil and gas division is focused on the exploration of the Holbrook Basin of Arizona, the San Juan Basin of New Mexico, Australian based prospects and the development of oil and gas reserves in Louisiana. PetroSun Oilfield, a wholly owned subsidiary, is engaged in the importing of tubing and casing from China for marketing and distribution within the US market. The alternative fuels division has entered the commercial stage of its algae-to-biofuels production technology. The Company plans to establish algae farms and algal oil extraction plants in Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, Mexico and Central America during 2008. The algal oil product will be marketed as feedstock to existing biodiesel refiners and planned company owned refineries. PetroSun is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona with field offices in Shreveport, Louisiana and Rio Hondo, Texas. For more information about PetroSun visit the company’s website at http://www.petrosuninc.com.
Except historical matter contained herein, matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties, which may affect the Company’s business and prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements
Quizguy you r a idiot!!! The article says first algae to biodiesel producing plant. Currently there are a number of feedstocks being used. Although algae is being researched this is the first plant to actually bring the concept to large scale production. And as far as the Mississippi algae collection question there are only certian kinds of algae that can be used and since there are thousands of species it has taken some time to figure out which ones are able to be used. However i am sure that eventually there will be some people who collect algae to try and make fuel but this will be on a small scale level. For large scale production a consistant source will be needed.
I also wouldn’t worry too much about salinizing inland soils there are several companies to date that are currently experimenting with this technology and most are green house based and to my knowledge the ones that are using ponds are taking steps to prevent such things.Im not sure that people realize how big the algae potential is this could drastically change our fuel cost and supply freeing us from addiction to petrolium based oil.However although there are many companies investing untold millions on this technology we have yet to see any significant results though Im confidant that we see them soon.
Hi,
i am interested about the bio diesel from algae.In my Department my theses subject is “bio diesel from algae”. this may be 1st for Bangladesh.Please any one can help me to find more about this.(Any useful links)
Thanks.
In pratice is the project viable ? then the quantity of oil from these microorganisms also an important factor. I know these macroalgal forms can be used for extraction of methane gas but howfar these algalforms able to generate oil
This is a great news. Can we also produce the biodiesel from algae in India. Please send the full detailed project report.
This s just another(10 to 20 years away) thing I have been reading and hearing about for the last 50 years.