Algatech and GreenFuel: Partnering For The Sake Of Algae And Fuel
by Karin Kloosterman, Tel Aviv 
on 08.18.06
Producing biodiesel from algae has been touted as the most efficient way to make biodiesel fuel. An Israeli company Algatech cultivating algae for the cosmetics and neutraceutical market is partnering with US-based GreenFuel to give biodiesel made from algae, a run for its money. According to Israel21c, the two companies will be working towards a common goal: developing cost effective, energy efficient fuel made from micro-algae feeding off of carbon dioxide emissions. ::Israel21c
Algatech says its success is based on its ability to cultivate algae efficiently in a closed system, making maximum use of the desert sun where it is grown in Israel. All media ingredients used are food grade, and no solvents, pesticides, herbicides, or toxic substances are used during the production process.
Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, GreenFuel develops algae bio-reactor systems that can convert carbon dioxide or smokestack emissions into clean, renewable bio-fuels. The company was founded by Isaac Berzin, an Israeli industrial bio-engineer principally responsible for patenting GreenFuel's approach to efficiently propagating algae on an industrial scale.
"We'll make it cost effective," GreenFuel CEO Cary Bullock told Israel21c. "In the past you couldn’t grow the algae fast enough to justify the cost of building the plant. But with growing improvements and weighing the costs of producing a refined fuel derived from putting a refinery next to a major carbon source, the benefit is dramatic. You knock out the costs of producing, importing, refining and shipping and you're simultaneously reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere."
Both companies expect about a decade of R&D before a product is achieved. ::Algatech ::GreenFuel ::Israel21c
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I keep reading news stories about how algae are growing out of control in our warming oceans, crowding out the already threatened fish populations. Even considering how much oil we use globally, there might be enough algae to fuel our needs, particularly if they are an efficient fuel source. The ability to harvest an invasive species to our advantage almost seems too good to be true. Perhaps there is hope for our oceans yet?
That makes so much sense! I didn't know algae could be used to create biofuel, but I remember some factoid about how most of the C02 in the world was converted by it.
I was wondering why there weren't ways to grow it more...
Imagine transparent Grain silos
filled with growing algae. saves on land usage, and scalabe. Also, this kills the argument people have against using Food for Fuel.
the reason that algae hasnt been grown in mass quanities is the 'local weed algae', so far monocultures of algae have been extremely hard to grow. and a heterogeneous mixture of biomass cannot be 'brewed' like ethanol or biogas or can it be burned because no one knows what is in the mix and the btu vs transportation and collection isnt close to cost effective. plus some maybe toxic and handling and drying is an issue.
'transparent grain silos' would be a system called a photobioreactor. they have been difficult to maintain vs btu output. the companies in the article are a few of the leaders in this new field but its so new that i wouldnt expect anything soon.
there is always spirulina. it could be a staple for humans and farm animals. but right now the cost to produce is not anywhere near the cost of corn or alfalfa. recently, spirulina is being sold as a 'wonder algae' curing everything from cancer to toenail fungus. the literature is pretty clear that its not a wonder drug but just another product. a company called Cell Tech was shut down for making false claims about spirulina.
in the near future, algae could start becoming a more widely grown product. no doubt that algae per acre yields vastly greater amounts of useable products than present day farming. and in theory it should be easier to grow algae in the 'cooler' climates because they could even grow in a liquid pool on a sunny winter day.
i think the real promise of algae is in food production and energy production via chemical manipulation, like pyrolysis or gasification or other...
Growing algae would be the cellulosic process. Converting cellulose to ethanol is still very debatable (input vs. btu output)
From my understanding the algae mixture would not have to be homogeneous for that process. Algae would be the Biomass like rice straw and corn stover.
would heterogeneous mixture contain bacterias that would disrupt the liguification and sacchrification process?
Once the Sugars have been extracted from the algae. Then that is what is used create the ethanol (via yeast consumption) burning the leftover(lingin?) for a heat source would be problematic if the source contained unknown contanminants.
clearly there are issues behind the entire process or there would be more people doing it. I just hope is all works out for the people attempting to make a change.
Adam, they aren't going to use the algae for ethanol. If I remember correctly, some algae can be up to 50% oil by mass, so they'll take the oil and convert it to biodiesel.
Reading your article,I am really surprised that the algae is absorbing CO2 from environment. It will reduce pollution & is also benificial to produce biodiesel. In fact the natural sources of crude oils are limited & is best alternative option for petro-diesel.If any further information regarding preparation methods of biodiesel from algae, pl. e-mail me. Thank You
-Shahaji Sonne
we will have our cake and eat it
this works
trying it on my own inside
determining the best strain
and optimum conditions
then building greenhouses and
growing sprirulina
university tested in the states
and elsewhere
60,000 liters per acre with lots
of problems.
potential for 200,000 liters
per acre.
will take time
but it is an answer
nothing will ever be as easy
as it is now
the dawn of a new beginning is
fastly approaching
where we work again for what
we use
no more easy street at the
expanse of our environment
balance we will find