Biodiesel produced from saltwater-based Algae could be cost competitive with petroleum diesel, according to some reports.
Aurora Biofuels, located in Alameda, CA has reported their 18 month pilot project produced 1,000 gallons of ATSM quality biodiesel in Florida open ponds of just 1/8th of an acre. The company estimates they could grow 6,000 gallons per acre in full production mode.
A company spokesperson stated, “In the near-term we expect to demonstrate that the economics of this process can produce biodiesel that is price-competitive with fossil fuels.” A 50 acre pond is scheduled for completion in 2010.
In a similar vein, Australian researchers just released a report stating that they have found that biodiesel production for saltwater algae can be competitive with the production of petroleum diesel. However, they also state that due to the cost of transporting biodiesel from an algal farm, the best scenario may be to locate an electricity generating plant in the same vicinity and simply convert the chemical energy into electricity. Creating such a powerplant would also make new jobs for local workers. (The analysis used an assumption of about 1,000 acres of ponds.)
And to highlight one last piece of news, researchers in New York this week reported the development of a new technique which they say can reduce the production cost of algal biodiesel by 40%. Their process is called a ‘continuously flowing fixed-bed’ and uses a solid rather than liquid catalyst, which allows the flow of biodiesel to stay constant. With liquid catalysts each batch is made and then there is a down time of about 30 minutes to start another flow. The researcher, Ben Wen stated,”This is the first economical way to produce biodiesel from algae oil”.
Image Credit: Eugene Zelenko under a GNU Free Documentation License
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“could be cost competitive”
So long as you ignore all the costs and the gov gives you the ocean plot for free.
This idea, like all the rest, will die within 2 years unless oil prices go back up again.
“could be cost competitive”
So long as you ignore all the costs and the gov gives you the ocean plot for free.
This idea, like all the rest, will die within 2 years unless oil prices go back up again.
Or unless we start paying the full price of oil.
Or unless we start paying the full price of oil.
Or unless we start paying the full price of oil.
The article states that transporting biodiesel is expensive. Are these companies pulling raw product out of these ponds requiring further processing… or is the stuff ready for fuel tanks? How could it possibly be more expensive than shipping oil from, say, the middle east.
Seems to me the article contradicts itself if it says algae can be cost competitive with petroleum but too expensive to transport to market. Cost of transport is a cost too.
The article states that transporting biodiesel is expensive. Are these companies pulling raw product out of these ponds requiring further processing… or is the stuff ready for fuel tanks? How could it possibly be more expensive than shipping oil from, say, the middle east.
Seems to me the article contradicts itself if it says algae can be cost competitive with petroleum but too expensive to transport to market. Cost of transport is a cost too.
The article is not contradictory. The Aussies noted that algal biodiesel could be cost competitive with petrol diesel, but the MOST efficient use would be generating electricity in a powerplant.
The article is not contradictory. The Aussies noted that algal biodiesel could be cost competitive with petrol diesel, but the MOST efficient use would be generating electricity in a powerplant.
The article is not contradictory. The Aussies noted that algal biodiesel could be cost competitive with petrol diesel, but the MOST efficient use would be generating electricity in a powerplant.
40% reduction in bio diesel production cost is amazing. Is it possible to have small scle refining units for extracting bio-diesel from algae? I would be happy to take lead to promote this technology in India. Kindly keep me up dated. Ravi Soparkar, Pune, India renewableenergy at in dot com
40% reduction in bio diesel production cost is amazing. Is it possible to have small scle refining units for extracting bio-diesel from algae? I would be happy to take lead to promote this technology in India. Kindly keep me up dated. Ravi Soparkar, Pune, India renewableenergy at in dot com
40% reduction in bio diesel production cost is amazing. Is it possible to have small scle refining units for extracting bio-diesel from algae? I would be happy to take lead to promote this technology in India. Kindly keep me up dated. Ravi Soparkar, Pune, India renewableenergy at in dot com
Tell me more about the saltwater component to the algae. Reading your article it appears that you are only testing your production beds in ponds which I assume are fresh water. Given the increasing scarcity of fresh water this would appear to be a non-starter. But the idea of being able to harvest ocean born algal blooms is intriguing to say the least.
Where would the technology have to go to make this feasible?
What of the transportation costs? It would seem that an entrapped bay would mitigate those to at least the same level as using fresh water ponds.
An ecological impact statement would of course have to be done on the native denizens of wherever the bloom was developed and care would be need to be taken with the handling of those issues. But still the ocean is very large. Sheer quantity may serve to make this technology practical.
Tell me more about the saltwater component to the algae. Reading your article it appears that you are only testing your production beds in ponds which I assume are fresh water. Given the increasing scarcity of fresh water this would appear to be a non-starter. But the idea of being able to harvest ocean born algal blooms is intriguing to say the least.
Where would the technology have to go to make this feasible?
What of the transportation costs? It would seem that an entrapped bay would mitigate those to at least the same level as using fresh water ponds.
An ecological impact statement would of course have to be done on the native denizens of wherever the bloom was developed and care would be need to be taken with the handling of those issues. But still the ocean is very large. Sheer quantity may serve to make this technology practical.
Tell me more about the saltwater component to the algae. Reading your article it appears that you are only testing your production beds in ponds which I assume are fresh water. Given the increasing scarcity of fresh water this would appear to be a non-starter. But the idea of being able to harvest ocean born algal blooms is intriguing to say the least.
Where would the technology have to go to make this feasible?
What of the transportation costs? It would seem that an entrapped bay would mitigate those to at least the same level as using fresh water ponds.
An ecological impact statement would of course have to be done on the native denizens of wherever the bloom was developed and care would be need to be taken with the handling of those issues. But still the ocean is very large. Sheer quantity may serve to make this technology practical.
Yet another Leerdammer moment and full of huge holes breeding the creatures in mill pond type settings is much different that a roaring sea or ocean, the climate also controls how much and where it could be grown,
Take the six thousand gallons and multifly it by millions and that’s the entire surface area of the Noth Sea every day at current usage.
Tide and time waits for no man comes to mind, and the problems go on and on, a few answers if you please Jake.
Also giving the human traights for power and control the production plants unless gaurded closely could be poisoned or destroyed in an instant by a hungry super power, we are killing each other daily for the real stuff what chance do you think the bio route would have.
I am an open minded person but this is yet another diversion to what is happening while our life blood is being sucked dry, our best hope is to stop wasting the energy as we are today, we will stil be around when its gone, but at a much lower population as the experts keep telling us, please bare with me because this is relevant.
My old man a farmer said to me when I was a small boy, we have a 100 acre field over there with a 100 sheep in her, if we put another 100 sheep in there they would all die without the grass to feed them, most of our fertiliser comes from oil, without it our food will suffer, as the world population grows, we are going to need more food, without it we cannot fight wars, wars for food have already reared their ugly head in some African countries.
Food should be our main concern not fuel, without it civilisation is 3 meals away.
Fuel from alge for cars to make a tiny few rich, we cannot eat cars and trucks, it may seem very insignificant right now, lets wait and see, oil from algae is a no brainer from the off.
Yet another Leerdammer moment and full of huge holes breeding the creatures in mill pond type settings is much different that a roaring sea or ocean, the climate also controls how much and where it could be grown,
Take the six thousand gallons and multifly it by millions and that’s the entire surface area of the Noth Sea every day at current usage.
Tide and time waits for no man comes to mind, and the problems go on and on, a few answers if you please Jake.
Also giving the human traights for power and control the production plants unless gaurded closely could be poisoned or destroyed in an instant by a hungry super power, we are killing each other daily for the real stuff what chance do you think the bio route would have.
I am an open minded person but this is yet another diversion to what is happening while our life blood is being sucked dry, our best hope is to stop wasting the energy as we are today, we will stil be around when its gone, but at a much lower population as the experts keep telling us, please bare with me because this is relevant.
My old man a farmer said to me when I was a small boy, we have a 100 acre field over there with a 100 sheep in her, if we put another 100 sheep in there they would all die without the grass to feed them, most of our fertiliser comes from oil, without it our food will suffer, as the world population grows, we are going to need more food, without it we cannot fight wars, wars for food have already reared their ugly head in some African countries.
Food should be our main concern not fuel, without it civilisation is 3 meals away.
Fuel from alge for cars to make a tiny few rich, we cannot eat cars and trucks, it may seem very insignificant right now, lets wait and see, oil from algae is a no brainer from the off.
Sir ,
I am from Bangladesh , I am a business development manager . Recently i am engaged in searching a agro base business , which is in many aspect needed for our nation’s present status as well as subsidize by present govt.
I began storming my brain for a suitable agro base project and then start thinking about algae and so on …
In my thought it was there to set up a power plant powered by Bio-diesel by own production .Power is the 2nd largest subsidized project in our country and also huge shortage .
Today I am noticed and very happy by reading your article that my thought could be the best scenario …
In the business aspect and for nation’s demand i will continue to study about this project and will start this project managed by our group .
I think you will help me by giving some reference and information re: production of bio diesel from algae.
Hope to receive your co-operation .
J.Alam
parvez1207@yahoo.com
Sir ,
I am from Bangladesh , I am a business development manager . Recently i am engaged in searching a agro base business , which is in many aspect needed for our nation’s present status as well as subsidize by present govt.
I began storming my brain for a suitable agro base project and then start thinking about algae and so on …
In my thought it was there to set up a power plant powered by Bio-diesel by own production .Power is the 2nd largest subsidized project in our country and also huge shortage .
Today I am noticed and very happy by reading your article that my thought could be the best scenario …
In the business aspect and for nation’s demand i will continue to study about this project and will start this project managed by our group .
I think you will help me by giving some reference and information re: production of bio diesel from algae.
Hope to receive your co-operation .
J.Alam
parvez1207@yahoo.com