15 Algae Biofuels Startups to Watch

Just a thought. Growing algae requires fertilizer, water and sunlight. LA has proposed injecting processed sewage back into the aquifer

Many years ago, European cities processed sewage by spraying it on fields of grass. The grass cleaned it up as it grew. If you grow algae in sewage, You clean up the sewage and grow biomass at the same time.

Currently, sewage is treated by bacteria in big tanks and then filtered. The sludge is often burned and the ash put into the dump.

HI! This is a fascinating topic. I have some comments on biofuels, especially algae as feedstock available here. A little more technical, but it should be understandable.

http://apoptotic.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/whats-the-deal-with-biofuels/

I've been studying and writing about algae based fuel options for some time now, see http://www.algaepetro.com

I'm very frustrated with how few people have heard of this technology yet. On several occasions I asked groups if they have ever heard of fuels being made from algae and the response is always void with the "deer in headlights" stare.

People, Americans anyway, are just waiting for someone to come to the rescue. For once I wish people would stop crying about the oil situations and become proactive.

Sorry to rant.

Peace and grace.

The biology is sound and well-grounded. The processing is largely an engineering problem. If we can produce space exploration methodology, economical algae biofuel production design should be a piece of cake. Beware of the political resistence from the current vegetable oil processing companies and countries.

To a large extent, I agree with Stanley. It is an engineering problem - biological, water & chemical engineering problems to be more precise.

When the NREL did the Aquatic Species Program (the first major research undertaken to evaluate algae as a fuel source) decades back but dropped it midway, they did not drop it because it was impossible, but more because of political compulsions and also because the price of oil had come drown dramatically from its high during the early 70s.

I'm not saying it is a piece of cake in itself to get oil from algae on a sustainable basis, but yes, it most likely is a piece of cake if you compare it to the kind of research efforts that had to be done for the pioneering space programs. Just to put things in perspective, the space program research costs billions, and at best a 100 millin $ or less would have been so far spent on algae fuel research. And no one really knows what the space programs are going to bring in terms of immediate benefits, but all of us know what a successful algae biofuel research program can do to the whole world, just in the next few years

You can also find more info on oil from algae at our site Oilgae - www.oilgae.com

Thanks for listening!

Narsi

I went to BioKing's headquarters in The Netherland's last year and discussed purchasing a one ton algae plant.

Everything about their system looks great until you get a look at the "food" requirements the algae will consume each day. Besides nitrogen, phosphorus and other's nutrients, the company representatives stressed emphatically that I would need approximately 3,881 Kg (6,338 pounds US) of CO2 each day to produce this volume.

Since I don't live near a CO2 spewing power plant or else invest in

Algae oil company web-sites never mention the HUGE amount of CO2 the algae need to consume before produce oil.

Why? Unless you have a CO2 spewing power plant's conveniently located in your backyard, you will have to produce it yourself (such as a nursery hothouse) or capture it from the atmosphere.

I know of a company that has exclusive rights to a biofuel processor that requires NO WASH. No dry wash no wet wash and produces ASTM D6751 grade biofuel.
In the efforts of not seeming like spam I wont give out links and such. But if anyone is interested in new companies to watch or maybe interested in getting in on investing early feel free to contact me.
Their 4,000 gallon a day 1.2 million gallon a year processor is only $82,000! that makes a biofuel company profitable fast. And the processor is mobile and easily transported from site to site. No building permits needed.

Webmaster: Nice article.
Just writing to let you know that Bodega Algae mentioned in the "15 Biofuel Startups to Watch" has a website up at www.bodegaalgae.com. We are alive and well and developing a light guiding system capable of overcoming light limitation in large cultivation tanks. Details on the site.
Thanks!
Joe Dahmen

This is a extremely topical subject today. The search and need for renewable energy has never been more important. I believe the attention towards algae as an alternative fuel source will benefit us as one of the most successful and important fuel alternatives. Valcent, out of El Paso, Texas, has developed a facility for cultivating algae and turning in into a viable fuel source. In the near future we hope to become fully operational and a competitive candidate within the algae to biofuel industry. Please find an algae biofuel article, which features Valcent, in the Dec. 15th issue of American Way, the in-flight magazine of American Airlines. Flip to page 28 to read the virtual edition. http://www.americanwaymag.com
Please come check out our recent developments and feel free to contribute your thoughts.

http://blog.valcent.net
Jessica Brock
Valcent

Jumping on board with the alternative energy push is imperative at this time. The more people direct their attention and energy the quicker and more successfully we can reach our goals of a sustainable economy in alternative fuels.
Please come and check out what Valcent is doing with regards to their algae biofuel technology. Come and visit their new blog to see newest developments, recent pictures as well as recent featured articles.
http://blog.valcent.net
Please feel free to contribute your comments and thoughts!
All the best,
Jessica Brock
Valcent
http://blog.valcent.net

Hey every heres an idea instead of commenting on all of these web sites let start taking some big steps by introducing this new and supior biofuel into todays economy, so far people are taking little baby steps but i have had it with the waiting, what are we waiting for an invitation, No we need to take action now lets market this stuff and show the world about this new and great idea for a brighter future stop with all these lame comments and lets get to action, so far we are all talk, talking about this isnt going to help unless we get the task at hand Done, we need to market this and it needs to be a global not just in a few regions( such as Iowa and others ) dont you think we have waited long enough. I am tired of wait aren't you?

Alright! Now that's the kind of thing that needs to be said about such an advancement. You realize how significant this is don't you people?

This disposes of our waste in a productive manner. By cleaning sewage water and consuming carbon, this energy source could very easily make up for the toll our habitation on this planet has taken... IF IT GETS GOING!

It could extend the time this planet will remain habitable.

The future depends on ideas like this.