Using microscopic algae to solve big fuel problems

Plant biologist Heike Winter-Sederoff and her team investigate the prospects of algae biofuels.

By Mark Herring, Features Editor

Heike Winter-Sederoff has an eye for recognizing the potential in some of the smallest and most commonly overlooked things.

© NCSU Student Media 2011

In her office, Heike Winter-Sederoff explains how her research on algae for use in biofuels has progressed. She, along with a team of other researchers, started the work two years ago, and they have just sequenced their algae samples. "We are just drowning in data," she said. Photo by Brett Morris.

© NCSU Student Media 2011

Row after row of different strains of algae are stored in refrigerators in Heike Winter-Sederoff's lab in Gardner Hall. Here the algae is grown for use in experiments ranging from oil extraction to changing the actual composition of the algae's oil. "The algae grows really well at 27 degrees," said. Winter-Sederoff. "They divide fast and you get a lot of cells." Photo by Brett Morris.

This summer Sederoff, assistant professor of plant biology, sent experiments on a common garden weed to the International Space Station. Now she's looking to make biofuels out of an algae commonly used in fish feed to make salmon orange. She's also investigating the oily properties of the camelina seed, a mustard plant that thrives in poor conditions.

Unlike biodiesel and ethanol, Sederoff is using the Dunaliella salina algae to produce lipids and fatty acids that burn similarly to petroleum.

"The oils this algae produces will be converted into a fuel that can be substituted for petroleum based fuels," Sederoff said.

Unlike ethanol, which is only a supplement, algae biofuels can replace petroleum fuels 100 percent.

"Ethanol is only an additive," Sederoff said. "If you're driving a car you can only use 15 percent of your fuel as ethanol. The biofuels we are making will be ‘drop in replacements,' or complete substitutes."

Sederoff said algae fuels will be the most viable solution to finding a replacement to oil. After starting in 2009, the multidiscipline research team has invested their efforts in to converting natural algae into small fuel factories.

"The algae can control how its genes serve its needs, like any organism. This includes lipid production and control. We want to override that," Sederoff said. "We want to keep that oil production switch on."

Amy Gruden, associate professor of microbiology, is working to isolate genes in extremophile archaeabacteria—the living relics of ancient prokaryotic bacteria that thrive in extreme conditions. High salinity environments interest Gruden and Sederoff most.

"I work with halophilic bacteria, which are extremely salt tolerant," Gruden said. "The algae we are using is a halophile itself, so it grows in sea water. The reason why we went with this is so we don't have to worry about freshwater usage, which is a commodity we want to save on in the biofuels process."

Gruden is working to transform extremophile genes into the genetic material of the algae, but the team hasn't been successful in finding the exact locus, or location on a chromosome, to place the bacteria genes.

"So far the algae has been spitting the genes back at us, but all we need is some time to find where it will fit," Sederoff said. "Give us time, we just got started."

The research team just sequenced the genetic blueprint of the Dunaliella algae through an institution in China, according to Sederoff.

Although Sederoff's lab on the top floor of Gardner Hall is one of only a handful of labs looking into the potential of algae, the biofuel business is becoming a topic serious international examination.

"Biofuels, just like petroleum, is an international business and it's only going to grow. It's got to." Sederoff said. "In Southeast Asia there is a big business in palm oil, another biofuel option."

According to Gruden and Sederoff, the military is looking to turn to biofuels in the near future. Sederoff said any car company can produce a battery that can power a truck, but aircraft rely on hydrocarbon fuels for combustion. The Air Force plans to operate on 50 percent biofuels by 2016.

"The military has made a huge commitment to biofuels," Sederoff said. "And if the military can become independent on oil, then we can forget about all those wars."

In addition to algae-based biofuels, Sederoff is researching the potential of biofuels made from the camelina seed, which has a high oil content of 40 percent according to the USDA. This robust plant grows in poor soils and dry climates and requires little fertilizer. The Native American Resource Council for Energy is keen to build camelina farms and processing plants on reservations—which are historically infamous for being on marginal lands.

Unlike sugarcane or corn-derived ethanol, algae and camelina biofuels won't compete with the food supply, according to Sederoff.

"Producing ethanol requires incredible amounts of fertilizer and fresh water, so it's unsustainable," Sederoff said. "We can culture our algae in salt water. We can grow camelina blindfolded. So we really think this could be our solution."

According to Sederoff, biofuels have come a long way since the beginning, but she thinks this new generation of biofuels will be the answer to the post-petroleum energy market.

"It's exciting to be on the cutting edge, but it still requires a lot of work," Sederoff said. "But it's been an honor working with the whole spectrum—biologists, engineers, economists, biochemists, microbiologists—to try to address our current issues."

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Algae industry is bubbling up

The latest clean-tech energy contender pushes toward commercial production, even as federal money is drying up.

The ingredient list for products ranging from jet fuel to dietary supplements may soon get an unusual addition: algae.

Entrepreneurs who hope to profit from algae-growing ventures in Florida, Iowa, Hawaii and elsewhere described a broad array of commercialization plans Tuesday at an industry summit in Minneapolis.

"We are on the verge of breaking out on a global scale, not just here in the U.S.," said Mark Allen, a vice president for Accelergy Corp., a Houston-based synthetic fuels company and president of the Algal Biomass Organization, which hosted the summit.

Algae executives said the microorganism, which feeds on carbon, is being grown in ponds in New Mexico, Iowa and Florida, and brewed in bioreactors in Hawaii and elsewhere. The industry's widely varied technologies can produce jet fuel, ethanol, biodiesel, cosmetics ingredients, animal and fish feeds and food supplements like healthful Omega-3 oils, executives said.

Some of the biggest projects underway have gotten federal grants and loan subsidies, including Solazyme, a California company that raised nearly $200 million in an initial stock offering and whose biofuel has been successfully tested by the U.S. Navy. The company's president, Harrison Dillon, said it is ready to start building factories to produce a range of products from food oils to diesel fuel.

Another federally aided company, Sapphire Energy, is digging ponds for a $135 million algae-for-fuel project in New Mexico. Tom Zenk, the company's vice president of corporate affairs, said the nation's expansion into algae-based fuels will require "massive amounts of capital to be raised" and that the private sector can't take on all of the risk.

But just as the algae industry prepares to bloom, the federal pipeline of subsidies, tax credits and loan guarantees that helped the wind, solar and other clean-tech industries may soon dry up.

"The prospects for the short term do not look good," said Gary Klein, an attorney for the federal affairs practice of DLA Piper, a Baltimore-based law firm whose clients include energy development firms.

He blamed the uncertainty on the federal budget crisis and political fallout from the collapse of government-backed solar panel maker Solyndra. Even the U.S. military's procurement of biofuels on national security grounds "is under threat," Klein said.

The bankruptcy filing last month by Solyndra, which received a $535 million federal loan guarantee in 2009, has provoked congressional hearings into the Obama administration's support for the company and is likely to be an issue in the 2012 presidential campaign.

The emerging algae industry also faces a tough time raising private capital as investors become less willing to plunge into new, unproven technologies.

"There is no venture capitalist betting on hope," said Todd Taylor, an attorney for Fredrikson & Byron in Minneapolis who advises algae firms and other clean-tech companies.

Michael Martin, an associate with Braemar Energy Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm, said investors still are willing to put money into algae technology, but a company "has to be able to stand on its own" without counting on federal assistance.

Original post available here.

OriginOil Shows How Algae Can Reduce Biofuel Dependence on Food Crops

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

OriginOil, Inc. (OTC/BB: OOIL), the developer of a breakthrough technology to extract oil from algae and an emerging leader in the global algae oil services industry, identified serious dislocations caused by single-crop fuel policies and pointed to algae as a way to help make crops and waste more sustainable, in a presentation at the 6th Annual Meeting of the WRA Biofuels 2011 Conference in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

In his presentation "Solving the Food vs. Fuel Issue," OriginOil CEO Riggs Eckelberry asked how it was that Brazil will import one billion liters of ethanol this year, after a bad sugar crop. "This wasn't supposed to happen," he said. "Given continued demand for both fuel and food, is this seesaw likely to stop?"

Eckelberry concluded, "In this zero-sum game, there can be only one winner. Food will always win, since biofuels can be replaced by fossil fuels."

He continued, "Instead of waiting for algae to take over from existing biofuels, we should use it now to diversify feedstocks and increase their fuel value. Biofuels from algae can have a relatively high fuel efficiency ratio."

Eckelberry cited examples of combining high-volume forestry waste products with high energy-value algae, or using algae to reduce the carbon footprint of ethanol plants – eventually replacing wheat or corn altogether. (Manildra, Australia's largest ethanol producer, has announced plans to diversify into algae.)

Additionally, Eckelberry called for support of the U.S. Department of Energy's diversification initiative, so that refiners in a given region could mix and match sources and avoid feedstock dislocations.

OriginOil was an algae industry representative at the Department of Energy's Biomass Preconversion and Densification Workshop held on August 23 and 24, 2011, at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). In his recent article for Algae Industry Magazine, "It's Time to Set Uniform Algae Feedstock Standards", Eckelberry provided a link to presentations from the workshop and the subsequent webinar.

About OriginOil, Inc. (www.originoil.com)

OriginOil helps algae growers extract oil from algae for use as a feedstock for the commercial production of transportation fuels, chemicals and foods. In a single step, our breakthrough technology efficiently dewaters and breaks down algae for its useful products, overcoming one of the greatest challenges in making algae a viable replacement for petroleum. As a pioneer and the emerging leader in the global algae oil services field, OriginOil supports its core algae extraction technology with an array of process innovations for some of the world's most successful algae growers and refiners, just as pioneers like Schlumberger and Halliburton have done in the oilfield services industry. To learn more about OriginOil®, please visit our website at www.originoil.com.

Safe Harbor Statement:

Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with our history of losses and our need to raise additional financing, the acceptance of our products and technology in the marketplace, our ability to demonstrate the commercial viability of our products and technology and our need to increase the size of our organization. Further information on the Company's risk factors is contained in the Company's quarterly and annual reports as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Abstract

OriginOil shows how algae can reduce biofuel dependence on food crops, CEO's presentation at Amsterdam's Biofuels 2011 describes how blending algae with other feedstocks can ease shortages and help develop advanced biofuels

Read more: http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/11/10/b2069317/originoil-shows-how-algae-can-reduce-biofuel-dependence-on-food-crops#ixzz1cXZCnQNt

U.S. Navy Expands Algae Biofuel Testing At Sea And In The Air

The algae biofuel industry is still in its infancy but the U.S. Navy is already planning ahead for a robust future.

Earlier this year, the Navy successfully tested a 50-50 algae aviation biofuel blend on a Seahawk helicopter in flight, and now an algae biodiesel blend has passed muster during tests on a 135-foot landing vessel.

The ship, a conventional Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1600-class, went through its paces earlier this month using a marine fuel blend composed of one-half algae biodiesel and one-half NATO standard multi-purpose naval fuel, called F-76.

The LCU is commonly used to transport troops and supplies over relatively short distances, from a ship or seagoing base to shore.

Though a relatively small vessel, the LCU can reach speeds up to 12 knots while carrying up to 400 combat-equipped Marines. The equivalent cargo in supplies is about 180 tons.

As with the Seahawk helicopter algae biofuel demonstration, the LCU tests show that an algae biofuel blend can be used as a drop-in replacement for conventional fuel, without the need for any modifications to the engine, fuel tanks or exhaust system.

The LCU is among at least three new vessels undergoing biofuel tests this fall. The Navy also plans on testing biofuel on a decommissioned destroyer in November, and on a Landing Craft - Air Cushioned (LCAC) vessel in December.

The LCAC is a type of hovercraft, designed to cross shorelines that are inaccessible to conventional landing craft.

Last year, the Navy also successfully tested an algae biofuel blend on a Navy Riverine Command Boat, designed for use in inland waterways.

All of this activity has its roots in a 2010 Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of the Navy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to promote the development of the domestic biofuel industry.

When the Memorandum of Understanding was announced, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus made it clear that the biofuel industry would be called upon to play a critical role in future national defense, stating:

“In order to secure the strategic energy future of the United States, create a more nimble and effective fighting force and protect our planet from destabilizing climate changes, I have committed the Navy and Marine Corps to meet aggressive energy targets that go far beyond previous measures.”

One of the immediate goals is to create a seagoing “Green Strike Group” ready for demonstration by 2012. Perhaps disappointing some biofuel fans, the Green Strike Group will rely heavily on nuclear vessels and diesel-electric hybrids as well as biofuel-blend ships, but the reality is that commercial biofuel production will need years of development before it can support either the military or civilian market.

The inclusion of nuclear energy in a “green” initiative is also consistent with the Navy’s energy goals, which are not so much pro-biofuel as they are pro-anything-but-petroluem.

As described succinctly by the Navy:

The United States Navy and Marine Corps rely far too much on petroleum, a dependency that degrades the strategic position of our country and the tactical performance of our forces. The global supply of oil is finite, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find and exploit, and over time cost continues to rise.

After the Green Strike Group is tested, the next step for the Navy is to sail a “Great Green Fleet.”

Projected by 2016, the fleet will include both marine vessels and aircraft, such as the Seahawk helicopter and Super Hornet fighter jet, which has been tested on a 50-50 biofuel blend based on the weedy plant camelina.

Original post available here.

From ethanol to algae to poultry feed

By Erin Golden WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

This greenhouse in Shenandoah, Iowa, is among those being used by Green Plains Renewable Energy to grow algae from ethanol byproducts. The harvested algae are then being tested for use as the key ingredient in poultry feed.

They grow from the stuff left over from ethanol production: carbon dioxide, heat, water.

And as it turns out, the algae produced at Green Plains Renewable Energy's ethanol plant in Shenandoah, Iowa, might be the key ingredient for poultry feed — not to mention products ranging from biodiesel to the omega-3 supplements on drugstore shelves.

The BioProcess Algae project, a joint venture involving Omaha-based Green Plains and three other companies, began operating on a commercial scale this summer.

Since then, some of the algae harvested from greenhouses lined up across a half-acre area have been sent to agricultural scientists. The goal: Figuring out if they might make animal feed that's as good as or better than the kind made of more typical sources like corn, soybeans and sorghum.

This week, Green Plains announced that the first round of feed trials yielded positive results. Tests led by a University of Illinois professor, Carl Parsons, found that algae meal provided a higher concentration of protein and amino acids to chickens than similar amounts of meal made from corn or soybeans. Samples were also tested by scientists at the University of Missouri.

"It looks like it's got quite a bit of feeding value for poultry," Parsons said.

His group has been doing feed testing for 30 years, but this is the first time algae have come into the picture, Parsons said.

BioProcess Algae CEO Tim Burns said he believes the facility in Shenandoah is the only place where algae are being grown from ethanol byproducts, harvested on a commercial level and used in feed trials.

The algae-based feed will undergo more testing before it's ready to hit the market. But Burns said the results gathered so far are a good indicator of the product's potential for feed — and other products.

Leaders of the BioProcess project hope to dedicate some of the algae for the "neutraceutical" market, which includes cosmetics and supplements. In a couple of weeks, they plan to break ground on five more acres of algae-growing space. Each acre will produce between 40 and 60 tons of algae each year.

Burns says algae are a good replacement for fish meal and fish oil, which is prized for its omega-3 acids. Algae provide the same nutrients but cut out the middle fish, so to speak.

"They're currently grinding up fish, and you're getting fish oil in your omega-3s," Burns said. "Fish are eating the algae, and that's what you're getting."

The BioProcess Algae project is operated by Green Plains along with Clarcor, a Tennessee company that specializes in filtration equipment; a related filtration company, BioProcess H2O; and NTR, an Irish renewable energy group. The companies have not released the total cost of the effort, but they did receive grants totaling more than $4 million from the Iowa Power Board Fund.

The ethanol plant on the site produces 150,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year. With the right infrastructure, that output could produce about 50,000 tons of biomass for feed, neutraceuticals and fuel.

Original post available here.