July 2, 2009
Solix Biofuels have added another investor to their already long list of investors. The Chinese company, Shanghai Alliance Investment has recently announced a Series A capital funding for $16.8 million to Solix. The proceeds will be used to finance construction and commencement of operations at the company’s Coyote Gulch Demonstration Facility, which will be operational by late summer 2009. Dr. Bryan Willson COO of Solix, said that the company is currently at around 2500 gallons per acre, and said that the company is on track to achieve crost parity with $80 oil in 3-4 years.
The company has launched a third-generation of its bioreactors, a 20-meter system that integartes CO2 delivery and increase surface area. The system is water-supported to reduce cost. A fourth generation of photobioreactors is now under development. Willson said at the recent Biofuels: Science and Innovation conference in San Francisco that the problem with contamination of open-pond algae systems had not, in his opinion, been yet overcome.
Open ponds however, still seem the only real option for developing countries due to their lower cost. Until the technology for PBR’s is perfected and costs lowered photo bio-reactors are far from reality in developing countries.
What is your opinion? Please leave your suggestions or ideas below.
Tony Picclo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome – Italy
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Uncategorized | Tagged: Algae, photo bio-reactor, biofuel, micro-algae, algae biomass, 2nd Generation Biofuels, algae fuel, Solix Biofuels | 
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
June 30, 2009
done
There is a strong potential to grow algae for fuel in the Mediterranean Region particularly in Northern Africa. The presentation above highlights the ways algae can be harvested for oil/fuel and the potential for the entire Mediterranean Region.
The presentation was given by me at the 1st EMUNI ReS (Research Souk) conference in Portoroz, Slovenia and you can download a copy of the presentation here.
Kindly leave your comments and suggestions below.an
Tony Picclo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Portoroz – Slovenia
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Algae, Biofuels | Tagged: Algae, algae biomass, algae fuel, algae-oil, algael oil, biodiesel, biofuel, Fish waste, Mediterranean Region, micro-algae, open ponds, photo bio-reactor, photo bio-reactors | 
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
June 18, 2009
What are the 5 most important strategies to look out for when wanting to commercialise algae biodiesel or biocrude?
Production needs to be faster, lipids and algae cells need to be fatter, the cost of production needs to be cheaper, the extraction process needs to be easier and better, and lastly but very important is that valuable co-products need to be produced.
According to a study done on algae biofuels/biomass market: Algae 2020 (460 pages, June 2009), these five key stratgies emerged as approaches to help producers to reduce costs and accelerate the commercialization of algae biodiesel.
1: Faster. As a first strategy for most algae biofuels producers is to identify algae species that have a high oil content, that will also grow quickly to produce biodiesel, biocrude and drop-in fuels. Growth of algae is tied to CO2 sequestration so the more CO2 can be sequestered from nearby emitters the faster the algae will grow.
2: Fatter. Algae are especially interested in utilizing algal species with a high triglyceride (TAG) oil content for biodiesel and biocrude production. Obviously the more oil content the more diesel can be produced.
3: Cheaper. Based on the examination of several algae business and economic models, the study finds the estimated costs to produce algae oils and algae biodiesel today range from $9 to $25 per gallon in ponds, and from $15 to $40 in photobioreactors (PBRs).
4: Easier/Better. The study has identified algae producers are now employing easier and better methods of producing algae for biodiesel, biocrude and drop-in fuels.
5: Co-Product Fraction Marketing Strategies. Even with algae species with up to 50% oil content, the additional 50% biomass remains. This biomass fraction contains valuable proteins for livestock, poultry and fish feed additives valued from $800 up to $2500 per ton. As fish-feed an interesting concept would be to feed the biomass to fish (tilapia for example) and then produce fish fillets, fish meal, and fish-oil from which another bio-diesel can be produced
Tony Picclo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Portoroz – Slovenia
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2nd Generation Biofuels, Algae, Biofuels | Tagged: 2nd Generation Biofuels, Algae, Algae 2020, algae biomass, algae fuel, algae-oil, bio-diesel, Biofuels, energy, photo bio-reactors, Tony Piccolo ABS - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist | 
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
June 4, 2009
The 1st European Algae Biomass Association (EABA) Conference and General Assembly meeting of the Association was held in Florence, Italy, June 3-4th, 2009.
However the outlook was not as optimistic as one would like to think, or as optimistic as the US outlook. General indicative timeframes claim that it will take 10-15 years to commercilize algae, the Executive Director Mr. Raffaello Garofalo pointed out that this is in fact indicative and that there is still alot of research to be done, which part of EABA’s mandate. He also went on to say that at present, producing biodiesel from algae costs 10 to 30 times the cost of making biodiesel from traditional feedstocks. By-products it seems are going to be what makes algae oil production viable in the shorter term. Those highly valued products will make the price drop and make algae oil competitive with other feedstocks.
Mr. Garofalo also added that the new association has 54 members representing science and industry and aims to be a platform for creating full algae-based production chain, from biofuels to animal feed to nutrients.
This outlook strongly contrasts with the more positive scenario and assessment made by some US companies who claim they can commercialize in 3 to 4 years.
- Sapphire Energy has projected that it will reach 1Mgy in production in 2011 and 100Mgy by 2018.
- Solazyme has projected reaching 100 Mgy by 2012 or 2013.
- Biofields has projected production in Mexico of 250 Mgy by 2013 based on the Algenol process.
- PetroAlgae has indicated it expects to reach commercial scale production (below 100Mgy) in 2011.
- Aurora Biofuels has projected the development of “$1.30 at the gate” fuel by 2013
Which of the 2 scenarios do you think is more realistic? The US who have been working on algae to oil production since the 1970’s or the EU whose research is much more recent ?
The US have been speeding up their science and technology on algae for oil/biodiesel production and as the Algae Biofuels World Summit concluded in San Francisco on March of this year. The technology is now in place to commercialize algae as fuel it is the patent laws that are holding everything back. Certain companies have perfected certain branches of extraction, harvesting, CO2 sequestration etc, but have patented the technology and are not sharing their discoveries. This is slowing up the process, but within 4-5 years the US should be able to go commercial.
So will it take 2 to 3, 4 to 5 or 10 to 15 to commercialize algae oil?.
What do you think? Please write your views and opinions below, or contact me directly via e-mail by clicking here
Tony Picclo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Portoroz – Slovenia
Leave a Comment » | Algae, Biofuels | Tagged: 2nd Generation Biofuels, Algae, algae biomass, algae-oil, algael oil, bio-diesel, micro-algae, Tony Piccolo ABS - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist | Permalink
Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
May 19, 2009
Sweet Desert Biofuels situated in Gila Bend (Arizona) has been working on algae culture for a while and are happy to announce their breakthrough in carbon negative fuel production with algae.
To announce this Sweet Desert Biofuels are holding a conference in association with Desertbiofuels and Greenindependence. The conference will be held on May 22, 2009 at ASU’s SkySong Auditorium, which is located at 1475 N. Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ 85257 from 9:00 a.m. until noon. The title of the conference will be: A New Green Model for Agricultural Energy Production: CO2 Sequestration and Carbon Neutral Fuels with Algae.
For further information visit Desertsweetbiofuels website
The main problem with algae fuel has been its economic viability, Sweet Desert Biofuels has made a breakthrough toward the economic production of carbon neutral algae biofuels, (CNAB) that are produced in a process that creates substantial Carbon Dioxide sequestration.
Biofuels by definition are carbon neutral, but the process of producing these biofuels is carbon negative. When using these biofuels in cars, trains, planes and ships, -CO2 is removed from the atmosphere. The CNAB process is both economic and scalable in such a way as to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and to help control climate change. Furthermore, the consequences of the full development of this new model may lead to slowingor stopping the destruction of our rain forest and oceans.
On their website Sweet Desert Biofuels want to make it their goal to produce algae biodiesel at under $3.00 per gallon, compared to todays fuel prices which range from $2.20 – $2.50, that’s roughly a 20% increase. If this were the case;
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PAY MORE FOR YOUR FUEL KNOWING THAT IT IS COMING FROM A SUSTAINABLE SOURCE AND IT IS CO2 NEUTRAL?
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome-Italy
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
March 12, 2009
As a joint bilateral agreement both South Korea and Indonesia will develop a biofuel derived from seaweed in order to encourage green energy.
The Government of Indonesia is supporting this venture especially after the issues raised by environmentalists on the disadvantages of using land-based biofuel feedstock such as palm oil, maize and sugar cane, as these are causing vast deforestation across the country.
An agreement has already been signed by the Secretary General of the Indonesian Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry Widi Agoes Pratikto and president of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) Kyoung-hoan Na, this will secure a joint cooperation to harness the abundant seaweed resource in Indonesia.
This agreement will encourage partnerships and exchange of information and technologies among researchers and experts. Training will be provided to coastal communities to empower these areas in coastal seaweed development.
Best cultivation areas are currently being looked at and these include:
- West Nusa Tenggara,
- South Sulawesi and
- Bangka-Belitung
For South Korea this project will contribute to the overall aim of increasing market share for renewable energies to 11 percent of its total domestic energy market by 2030, as well as encouraging funding for Renewable Energy sources.
Indonesia on the other hand sees the venture as not only a way to significantly boost its efforts to protect its marine environment, but to also produce a biofuel that does not use land – based products and hence entail deforestation.
The venture does not specify whether the macro-algae will be grown in an aquaculture environment, judging by what is said ti will be marine seaweed which may not be a very sustainable way of production? What consequences will the marine environment have if this seaweed is removed? The other flora and fauna may suffer as a consequence. It is in any way upsetting a natural environment.
What are your views?
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome-Italy
Leave a Comment » | 2nd Generation Biofuels, Algae, Biofuels | Tagged: 2nd Generation Biofuels, Algae, algae-oil, seaweed | Permalink
Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
March 6, 2009
Glycerin an important by-product, produced from the production of bio-diesel is currently further being enhanced and could become a new source of income for bio-diesel producers.
Glycerin is colourless, odorless, slimy liquid which is used for pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic purposes. Up to now market conditions have impeded this valuable by product to be sold commercially, however, world wide researchers and experts are looking at ways to enhance the product and find more ways to utilise it in order to make it economically and commerciably viable.
Aquafinca in Honduras which produces biodiesel from the waste of its 100 tonne catch a day already commercialises its by product glycerin, extracts it from its biodiesel plant and sells it separately as extra revenue.
Zhiyou Wen, an assistant professor of biological systems engineering with Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is developing a technology that will use glycerin to aid in the production of algae that produce omega-3 fatty acids.
Wen’s technology focuses on glycerin as a carbon source, which is used to grow a microalgae species that produces omega-3 fatty acids.
According to WBI (Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative) other uses of glycerin could be, as direct fuel or to be used in the production of plastics.
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome-Italy
Leave a Comment » | Algae, Biofuels, Fish waste | Tagged: 2nd Generation Biofuels, Algae, algae biomass, bio-diesel, Fish waste, glycerin | Permalink
Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
February 23, 2009
EUROFISH magazine has featured my work in their monthly magazine. The article attached here written by a EUROFISH consultant, talks about the potential of extracting diesel from fish waste and biofuel from algae. The author emphasizes the fact that the aquatic sector has been so far overlooked with regards to energy production, although the high potential is there to be exploited.
The article also mentions the disadvantages of using land based biofuel feedstock, like rapeseed, sugar and soya and how these have been found to have a direct correlation with rising food prices and food security throughout the world.
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome-Italy
Leave a Comment » | 2nd Generation Biofuels, Algae, Biofuels, Fish waste | Tagged: Algae, algae fuel, algae-oil, biofuel, energy, EUROFISH, Eurofish Magazine, fish, Fish waste, Fishwaste, micro-algae | Permalink
Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
February 21, 2009
Algae Floating Systems, Inc. (AFS) recently announced that it has commissioned a new 12,000 liter working demonstration unit in the San Francisco Bay Area. This improved generation 6 demonstration facility is a gateway for AFS to the next step of building a commercial-scale facility.
The following are parameters of the systems:
- annual production capacity – 10 million US gallons of algal oil and 100,000 tonnes of algal cake;
- capital cost – USD35 million;
- footprint – 500 acres;
- useful life – 12 years;
- volume – 500 million liters (water is continuously recycled);
- annual amount of sequestered carbon dioxide (CO2) – 250,000 tonnes;
- annual amount of produced and collected oxygen (O2) – over 100,000 tonnes.
Furthermore the system requires low operating expenses for harvesting and oil extraction, and algal oil production cost, which includes capital as well as operating expenses, on a commercial scale will be US$2 per gallon (US$80 per barrel or US$600 per tonne);
Mr. Vadim Krifuks from AFS during a brief telephone conversation went onto say that the initial costs of the innovative bioreactor is about the same price as building a pond. This of course would have important implications for developing countries.
Up to now I have always considered and thought that algae would be a wonderful option for energy production in developing countries (see entry on Carbon Trust), but have always considered open-pond systems due to the high costs of photo-bioreactors. However if AFS claim that their costs would be the same then of-course the options change. Photo-bioreactors are much more efficient, produce higher yields and are not as subject to contamination as are open pond systems.
About AFS:
Algae Floating Systems is the company that develops and deploys algae-based carbon capture and sequestration systems for power plants and industrial facilities that profitably convert CO2 and solar energy into renewable fuels and other valuable products. In the long term the company plans to deploy AFS Biofarms™ offshore to maximize the efficiency, cost and footprint of the systems.
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome-Italy
Leave a Comment » | 2nd Generation Biofuels, Algae, Biofuels | Tagged: 2nd Generation Biofuels, AFS, Algae Floating Systems, algae fuel, algae-oil, developing countries, Inc., micro-algae, photo bio-, photo bio-reactors, San Francisco | Permalink
Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
Solix Biofuels have added another investor to their already long list of investors. The Chinese company, Shanghai Alliance Investment has recently announced a Series A capital funding for $16.8 million to Solix. The proceeds will be used to finance construction and commencement of operations at the company’s Coyote Gulch Demonstration Facility, which will be operational by late summer 2009. Dr. Bryan Willson COO of Solix, said that the company is currently at around 2500 gallons per acre, and said that the company is on track to achieve crost parity with $80 oil in 3-4 years.
Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
