N.S.W in the forefront for algae fuel

May 28, 2012

Renewable Energy technologies nearly always focus on new ways to develop electrical power. If you stop and think about it, wind, solar, wave, tidal, hydro and so on all produce electricity, and although of extreme relevance and importance to mitigate the effects of global warming and reduce greenhouse gases very little is being done to reduce emissions from the transport sector.

The only alternatives are electric transport (still utilizing electricity which is being produced from fossil fuels), hydrogen (not yet a viable and safe alternative) and ethanol fuel, which in some parts of the world has proven to be successful, however, it would mean a major change in engines and it would bring disadvantages to the sugar industry.

Fossil fuels are still therefore, a major part of our lives when it comes to transport; be it cars, buses, boats, planes or scooters and the Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) that go with it are staggeringly high. In the US for example of all the GHG emitted in 2006, 29 percent was from the transport sector.

So a substitute for transport fuel remains to this day one of the biggest challenges.

Fuel produced from micro-algae could be the worthwhile substitute. The versatility of micro-algae strains makes it ideal to produce oil suitable for all kinds of fuels from diesels to kerosene. Depending on the strain used we can run cars, scooters, boats and even airplanes. Using algae fuels would also make the transport industry carbon neutral.

Algae.Tec (www.algaetec.com.au) located on the south coast of NSW, Australia is piloting a project that sees micro-algae being grown in large quantities in shipping containers to be turned into fuel for the transport sector. The nearby Shoalhaven Marine & Freshwater Centre – University of Wollongong with the help of Dr. Pia Winberg, Director of the Centre and her team are assisting Algae.Tec in identifying the right strain for the production of a biocrude.

Some micro-algae strains like Botryococcus braunii can contain up to 50 to 60 percent lipids and oils, and although this particular strain may be slow in re-production compared to other strains, it means that upto a maximum of 60 percent of the cell can be converted into a biocrude.

Through a process of photosynthesis the cells grow, reproduce (very quickly if the right conditions are in place) and can be harvested, and squeezed in a process I have described very similar to squeezing oil from olives or wine from grapes. In a controlled environment algae can reproduce many time each day.

The Algae.Tec process uses very large shipping containers (12 metre) to grow the algae in a controlled environment with artificial lighting, water, waste CO2 feeds from local industry, and nutrients. This results in an algae made up of oil, sugar and protein biomass, which is separated into oil and biomass. It is then refined to produce biodiesel, jet fuel and ethanol and can be produced at half the price of current oil prices.

The shipping containers act as photo bio-reactors (PBR), where the algae can absorb all the ingredients and turn them into useful oils and biomass. They are also fully scalable and modular to allow for growth and increase in production. With this technology Algae.Tec has made algae one of the world’s most valuable and sustainable feedstocks for fuel products in a large up-scaled industrial system.

Algae.Tec technology is world recognized and their main algae Development and Manufacturing Centre is in Georgia, Atlanta – USA. Algaetc also have a project in Holcim – Sri Lanka, using 250 shipping container modules, which will produce 31 million litres of oil for biodiesel production and 31000 tonnes of biomass per year, whilst capturing 125,000 tonnes of CO2. A pilot facility is currently being built in Shoalhaven, NSW – Australia this plant will utilize nearby ethanol fermenters for its source of CO2.

Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Sydney – Australia

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Algae for Food and Fuel – Presentation given at KMFRI in Kisumu, Kenya

June 13, 2011

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Football, Fuel or FOOD?

June 3, 2011

It is a fact that one hectare of land is equivalent to about the size of two full size football fields roughly 10,000m2 or 0.01km2. What does that have to do with Energy you may ask?

The UK is using over 1.6 million hectares of land in Sub-Saharan Africa (Mali, Guinea, Senegal and Tanzania) to produce biofuel; that is the size of 3.2 million football fields or 16,000km2 (the size of Swaziland). If we then consider how much African land is being used by the EU to produce biofuels from agricultural products in Africa the number doubles to 3.2 million acres, or over ¾ the size of The Netherlands. This is due to the fact that the EU has to adhere to a target to produce 10 percent of transport energy from biofuels by 2020.

All this land which could be used to grow agricultural products is being used to grow feedstock for biofuels in countries where the main concern is to bring food to the table of hungry children this does not seem sensible, and is contributing the rise of food prices.  Furthermore, the production process can emit from 3 to 6 times more greenhouse gases.

These enterprises are marginally helping development in these countries and are producing little employment for the local communities.  The feed stock is grown, harvested, fuel produced and shipped out.  It is not sustainable!

Recently Kenya changed its mind on the full implementation of a 50,000 hectare jathropha project near Malindi. The Kenyan franchise of the Italian company “Nuove Iniziative Industriali”  has had to turn its full scale jatropha project into a small scale pilot after the Kenyan government  considerably reduced the 50,000 hectare site as a consequence of protests by the Kenyan environmental groups.

Growing micro-algae for food does not interfere with land use or the production of food. Whether micro-algae is produced in photo bio-reactors, ponds or basins it will not decrease food production, It could in actual fact contribute to increasing food production if the left over biomass (after oil extraction) can be utilised as fertilizer or animal feed.

Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist,  Kisumu-Kenya

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Let’s Mitigate or Suffocate!

June 1, 2011

Greenhouse gas emissions have never been so high as in the past 2 years claims the International Energy Agency (IEA). The economic recession was thought to slow emissions down; instead it has done the contrary.

30.6 Gt of CO2 were emitted into the atmosphere last year,  a rise of 1.6 Gt from 2009 data, and an increase of over 5% in two years. This was mainly from fossil fuels and if we continue emitting at this rate by 2020 we will be emitting more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than initially predicted.

Of the new power plants being built about 80% of them will be running on fossil fuels by 2020, increasing the amount of emission to even higher than predicted levels.

The main concern is the increase in the mean surface temperature which was predicted to increase by 2 degrees if CO2 emissions did not fall. ‘It is becoming extremely challenging to remain below 2 degrees. The prospect is getting bleaker….” says Fatih Birol, chief economist of the IEA.

A small increase of 2 degrees on the world’s mean surface temperature will amongst other things; disturb agriculture, melt icecaps, rise sea level and cause displacement of people which will lead to wars. The Earth will suffocate

I will not stop saying this – let’s do something about it! The technologies are there to invest in Renewable Energy – wind, solar, biomass, wave power, tidal power etc.

I coin this term now – LET’S MITIGATE OR SUFFOCATE pass it on

Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist,  Kisumu-Kenya

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Don’t blame it on the sunshine – Just blame it on the increased fuel prices.

May 14, 2011

A major highway from Nairobi to Thika (approximately 50km) is being built by China’s Wu Yi Company, Sinohydro Corporation Ltd and Shengli Engineering Construction. This highway is to join the two cities of Nairobi and Thika, north of Nairobi.

An article on the Daily Nation on Thursday 12 May, 2011 claims that there will be delays on the completion of the highway which had an expected completion date of February 2012. It is the increase in fuel prices that is being blamed for the delays in completing the highway which is expected to ease traffic in the congested city.

The KSh27 Billion Highway will cost the government even more claims the Roads Permanent Secretary Mr. Michael Kamau due to structural delays, and due to the increase in fuel prices. “If this project is delayed and the fuel prices continue behaving the way they are doing, then we have serious challenges on the amount of money we are going to pay on the variation on price,”

Surely in a country with over 160,000km of roads (paved and unpaved) and so highly dependent on oil imports (over 80,000 bbl/day – 2007 est)[1] this should’ve been foreseen and budgeted,  before construction of the highway even began.

So why suddenly is the increase in fuel prices being blamed for the delays and for the increase in cost? Is this simply and excuse for the delay?

Perhaps its time Kenya looks at fuel alternatives. It has an enormous potential to produce its own fuel through the growth and production of algae oil by using photo bio-reactors. Not only will the algae absorb and store CO2 (carbon dioxide) in its cell as it grows[2] which will contribute to mitigating climate change, but it will also make Kenya free of oil imports.  Micro-algae require sunshine, CO2 , and waste water to grow and thrive, Kenya has an abundance of all these ingredients.

Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist,  Kisumu-Kenya

[1] http://www.cia.org
[2] 1 tonne of algae can store up to 2 tonnes of CO2

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Kenya – Food and Fuel a commodity or a luxury?

April 17, 2011

With crude oil prices soaring over US$110 a barrel (April 16, 2011), Kenyans along with other Africans will be struggling even more to illuminate their homes and feed their families.

Most Kenyans don’t have much of a choice as to what to eat during the day or in their evening meals, that is, if they are fortunate to have a second meal during the day. Fuel prices go side by side with prices of other commodities so it is inevitable that if fuel prices increase so too does the price of food. The slightest increase in fuel prices will have severe consequences on their daily lives.

According to an opinion poll published on the African paper “Saturday Nation” Kenya is to face a significant increase in food and fuel prices.  The poll conducted by Synovate Research, claims that the key issues that the public would like the government to deal with are the rising cost of food (mainly staples like, maize, rice, bread, beans and cooking oil) and the increasing cost of fuel. 33 percent of the 2000 people interviewed in fact, are particularly concerned with high food and fuel prices and increased cost of living and poverty.

The recent increase of Sh9 (0.07 euro cents) on fuel set by the Energy Regulatory Commission, consequently sparked off an increase in food and cost of living, this will push the country to an even higher inflation rate, causing protests not only in Kenya but in neighboring countries like Uganda where Kizza Besigye (Opposition Leader) was shot and injured while leading a “walk to work” demonstration last Thursday.

Kenya needs to consider looking at alternative energy, not only to save their environment, but to provide clean energy at local level.  The abundant sun in Kenya could provide sufficient energy to produce electricity and Photo Bio-Reactors could grow and harvest micro-algae to generate crude oil for transport fuels along with food supplements. The technology is in place it’s simply a matter of implementing it.

Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist,  Nairobi-Kenya

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Algae Screen(TM): to protect algae from bacteria

March 24, 2011
Micro algae, in particular the species and strains that are grown in open pond systems are subject to constant contamination. OriginOil, Inc. the developer of breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum recently announced Algae Screen(TM).

Algae Screen(TM) is a process that keeps algae healthy and productive by selectively eliminating microscopic predators that contaminate the algae, without the use of chemicals. The technology employs an electromagnetic pulse, similar to what is used to achieve Live Extraction(TM). OriginOil will offer Algae Screen and Live Extraction in one integrated offering for growers.
 
Algae in particular oil rich algae are targets for preditor invasion (rotifers and other bacteria), these can not only choke off algae growth but they can also reduce the value of the algae crop by metabolizing valuable oil and biomass. Algae Screen says Paul Reep (Senior VP of Technology) will continuously protect the algae from such invaders.
 
One other benefit is that it integrates fully with Live Extraction (a way to extract algae oil on a continuous basis without sacrificing the cell), due to the fact that it is based on the same technology.

Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist,  Nairobi-Kenya

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HELIAE – 5 Main Products

January 28, 2011

Heliae is an Arizona based company growing and harvesting micro-algae. Their main purpose is to produce 5 main products from the micro-algae harvested. Heliae sees untold promise in the production of algae as a replacement for fossil fuels, it captures and harvests the sun and the production is energy neutral.

    1. Aquaculture feed
    2. Livestock fee
    3. Fertilizers
    4. Transportation fuels
    5. Aviation & Military fuels

      Heliae hopes to achieve this by having put in place 4 main technology mechanisms.

      Algae Strain Develpment:
      In this field Heliae is particularly working on maximizing growth rates and lipid production that will make commercial scale algae technology a reality.

      Photo-Bioreactor Design and Development:
      Are working on optimizing biorecator design while minimizing the costs. A team of engineers and and algae experts are working closely to design a photo-bioreactor that will be “nothing short of world class standards”.

      Extraction Process & Technology Development:
      The company Heliae has a patent pending process, the patent system will revolutionise algae production and maximize profitability as well as increase the suite of by-products available on the market.

      Refining Process and Development:
      Heliae is currently looking at ways to reduce energy input during the refining process of the algae oil, and hence increasing profitability. Their aim is to produce truly sustainable energy products.

      Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist,  Rome-Italy

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      AUSTRALIA – “The Saudi of the biofuel industry”

      January 25, 2011

      A joint venture between Murdoch University, the University of Adelaide and commercial partner SQC, has established “Muradel” an Australian biofuels company, whose objective is to make Australia “The Saudi of the biofuels industry”. Murdoch University professor Michael Borowitzka affirms that the establishment of Muradel is “the next major step in Australia becoming a world leader in biofuel production”

      Muradel is working on algae or pond scum as a transport fuel, for navies, jet aircrafts and rail. Collaboration with the US can help in driving the industry forward to allow Australia to achieve its biofuels objective.

      Muradel has built a USD 3.3 million pilot plant in Karratha (Western Australia), the landscape and environmental conditions in Australia make it ideal for algae cultivation, the hot weather, flat land, access to suitable waters and abundant carbon dioxide are just what micro-algae require to reproduce abundantly.

      Investments are being made in Australia due to the fact that the country is highly experienced in managing very large energy resource project. Companies are beginning to recognize this skill and investments are required, US interest is already starting to be noted.

      The new company will focus on commercialising large scale algae plants. It will produce for fuel as well as use its by-products from the biomass. Mr. Borowitzka clarified that his research team has proven that it is possible to grow large quantities of algae for commercial purposes.

      The expertise for the project is being subdivided in the following way:

      • Murdoch University is contributing its expertise in the commercial production of algae and algal products.
      • The University of Adelaide’s knowhow focuses on engineering expertise in algal processing and,
      • South Australian-based company SQC Pty Ltd develops commercial processing of micro-algae biomass into renewable hydrocarbon products and fuels in particular.

      Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist,  Rome-Italy

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      Canada joins the algae race with a $5M project

      June 8, 2010

      While the United States and BP are desperately trying to cap the crude oil spurting out from the BP platform in the Gulf of Mexico, Canada is preparing to set up its first major algae to oil pilot plant. $5M project (US$4.7 million), have been awarded by the Government of Canada to grow, harvest and produce algal-oil in Nova Scotia.

      The new algae project brings Canada in line with other countries that are also investingating the potential of algae, these beign primarily the US, but also counties in Europe like, Spain, Italy and Germany.

      The National Research Council (NRC), and the Institute of Marine Sciences are the main actors in the project and they are in a unique position because they are using local species of algae, eliminating the risk to the environment. Sixty-four species have been collected and studied so far, twenty-four of these species have been brought into cultivation and about six have exceptional oil yields.

      The pilot plant which should be located in Ketch Harbour Marine Research Station and will produce 50,000 litres as well as producing valuable by-products like nutriceuticals or high protein animal feed.

      Some of the companies NRC will collaborate with include

      • Ocean Nutrition Canada in Halifax;
      • Menova Energy Inc. of Markham, Ontario;
      • POS Pilot Plant from Saskatoon;
      • and the international consortium Carbon2Algae Solutions (C2A)

      Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome-Italy

      Picture: Courtesy of Wikipedia

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