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
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3rd Generation Biofuels, Algae, Biofuels, energy, Renewable Energy | Tagged: 2nd Generation Biofuels, algae fuel, algae-oil, algael oil, bio-diesel, bio-reactor, biofuel, biomass, CO2, developing countries, energy, photo bio-reactor, Renewable Energy, Tony Piccolo ABS - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist | 
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
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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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
January 18, 2010
An energy company in Lousiana, USA, called “Aquatic Energy” is making progress in the production of algae oil from micro-algae in open pond systems. The company which formerly had less than a hectare, will slowely expand into a 12 hectare demonstration project plant, which will yield about 9500 litres per hectare (approx. 4000 squared metres).
Interestingly enough more than 70% of the CO2 comes from the atmosphere and the remaining 30% is being generated from the natural gas burned in the algae plant itself (used for drying the algae). Clay soils are used as opposed to lining which makes the ponds less expensive and easier to maintain.
Mr. David Johnston the CEO of Aquatic Energy chose the location of Louisiana due to the fact that rainfall exceeds evaporation rate, giving him free access to water resources, on top of that the former rice cultivation plants which have the clay soil base are suitable for the algae growth.
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome-Italy
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
September 15, 2009
Recently I was asked to write a paper on the subject of Aquatic Biofuels for my University’s internal Newspaper (Link Campus – University of Malta). I was then asked to re-write the paper in Italian as well. Therefore I have attached both for your ease and convenience. The paper talks a little about the origins of algae and why I feel there is so much potential in growing algae for fuel and energy. It also includes some news about fish waste for biodiesel and the integrated system, Integrated Aquaculture Energy System (IAES).
Aquatic Biofuels Link Campus article English Version
Aquatic Biofuels Link Campus article Italian Version
Your thoughts and comments are highly valued so please do not hesitate to contact me.
Tony Picclo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome – Italy
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
August 2, 2009
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, Rome – Italy
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Leave a Comment » | 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 | Permalink
Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
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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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
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
January 23, 2009
A group of Sand Diego companies; Cleantech, The Scripps Institution of Oceanography, The Scripps Research Institute, and the University of California (UC San Diego) are lobbying in order to establish the San Diego Centre for Algae-based Biofuels, (SD-CAB).
As the researchers pointed out, San Diego has the highest concentration of Algae Research companies in the whole of the US. Important companies such as General Atomics and SAIC.
These companies were named as the lead contractors last month for algae fuel research efforts funded by the Defense Advances Research Projects Administration (DARPA). SAIC’s project received a $14.9 million contract, while General Atomics project received $19.9 million.
San Diego is also home to Sapphire Energy (which received one third of all funding that went into algae research in 2008 US$100 milion), Synthetic Genomics, Genomatics, HR Biopetroleum, Earthrise Farms, and Carbon Capture.
The goal of SD-CAB is to establish a research center on the University of San Diego (UC San Diego) campus. The research centre would not only put San Diego on the map as the leading city of algae-fuel research but it would also have the technical expertise to work on the commercial viability of algae fuel.
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuel Specialist, Rome-Italy
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Leave a Comment » | Algae | Tagged: 2nd Generation Biofuels, Algae, algael oil, biofuel, Cleantech, energy, micro-algae, University of California | Permalink
Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
December 15, 2008
Volume 2 issue 5 of Biofuel International Online features my article on fishwaste to biodiesel. The article outlines the basic processes of extracting fishoil from the residues and wastes of the fishing sector and how to convert them into biodiesel.
It can be viewed by clicking here on the Biofuel International webpage, however if you are not a full subscriber you may not be able to see the full article. I have therefore also attached it to this posting for your convenience. Just click on the image below and you will be directed to the article in pdf format.
I am currently working on a paper on the actual processes of converting fishoil to biodiesel and the mechanisms and costs involved. Please bookmark or subscribe to this website for updates on aquatic biofuels.
Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuel Specialist, Rome-Italy
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1 Comment | Biofuels, Fish waste | Tagged: bio-diesel, biofuel, fish, Fish waste, publications, waste | Permalink
Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
November 27, 2008
Viet Nam and Finland have joined forces to build facilities on a catfish farm to produce fuel from the waste generated from the farm itself. Finland’s VTT Technical Research Center, the largest applied research organization in Northern Europe together with its partners have launched ENERFISH which will run as an experimental project til 2011.
The process of converting fish waste to bio-diesel, has to first forego the process of conversion to fish oil. Once the fish oil is made, there is a purifying process and caustic soda has to be added to in order to separate the glycerine (which can be sold separately to the cosmetic industry). Then it is just a matter of adding methanol (usually 25%) and cleaning and purifying the liquid. It is then ready to be used as bio-diesel. ENERFISH have a total budget of €5 million of which 60% comes from EU funding and 10% from the government of Finland.
The machines running off the fish-diesel need no modifications however the smell of fish is dominant when operating the machines or vehicles. This will improve as technology advances. Other companies that are working on conversion of fish oil to biodiesel include AQUAFINCA – Honduras, AGIFISH – Viet Nam and ENERFISH – Viet Nam
I am currently finalising a paper on the conversion of fish oil to biodiesel please subscribe to the website or write to me to receive a full update.
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Posted by Tony Piccolo - Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
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.
Aquatic Biofuel Specialist
