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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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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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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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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Aquatic Biofuels – New Options for Bioenergy

June 6, 2010

AQUATIC BIOFUELS – New Options for Bioenergy

Copies of my Dissertation can be purchased through dissertation.com for $US 17 by clicking either the image on the left or the link above.

Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuels Specialist, Rome-Italy

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Can micro-algae and the waste from the fishing sector be part of the solution to the liquid fuel problem?

September 15, 2009

Link CampusRecently 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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EMUNI Presentation on algae potential in the Mediterranean region

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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Solix receives $16.8 million for algae investments from China

July 2, 2009

Solix PBRSolix 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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OriginOil’s BioReactor Technology – A breakthrough in the production of oil from algae

December 28, 2008

Before setting out to develop a new technology to maximize oil yields from alage and to lower energy use in production phase, OriginOil set itself 3 primary challenges:

  1. Algae does not like agitation of water, one of the challenges is how to introduce CO2 and nutrients into the algae without disruption or over-aerating the algae.
  2. Light distribution needs to be evenly distributed and cost-effective.
  3. Algae organisms have a tough cell wall, this cell wall needs to be cracked with an energy inexpensive process – the challenge is to maximize oil yield by cracking as many algae cell walls as possible with the least energy possible.

Recently OriginOil have announced the successful automation of the Helix BioReactor system. This is a system that optimizes algae growth and makes commercialization of algae oil at large scale possible. The system is a complete algae growth and extraction system, and it uses an array of proprietary technologies, including Quantum FracturingTM  and the Helix BioReactorTM , to enable a continuous oil-production industry.

www.OriginOil.com
            Helix BioReactor
   source: www.originoil.com

Quantum Fracturing (patent pending) 
Quantum FracturingTM  is OriginOil’s technology. It not only addresses but overcomes the 3 challenges above by using the science of mass transfer and fluid fracturing. It breaks down and unlocks the chemical properties that hinder efficient algae production and oil extraction. In the process, water, CO2 and other nutrients are fractured at very high pressure, this creates a slurry of micron sized bubbles which is fed to the algae at a lower pressure, thus not disrupting the algae cells.

Helix BioReactor (patent pending)
Due to its design (see photo above) the Helix BioReactor allows very low energy lights to penetrate every algae cell, unlike perhaps open natural ponds which only receive direct sunlight on the top layer and maybe 1 to 2 cm below. Furthermore, the Helix BioReactor features a rotating vertical shaft with very low energy lights arranged in a spiral pattern, which result in an unlimited number of layers. Each lighting element is specifically engineered to produce optimal light waves and frequencies specific to algae growth.  The design of the Helix BioReactor allows delivery of nutrients from the Quantum Fractured system including CO2 at optimal levels and evenly delivered for maximum efficiency and growth.
 
Solvent-Free Extraction Process (patent pending)
Cell walls in algae are very hard to break down and the process to crack these walls and hence release the oil is very energy intensive and costly. Chemical solvents are often used and these can be toxic and hence require careful handling.  OriginOil has now developed a system where chemical solvents are not used. The biomass goes through a cell breaking microwave cracking system after it has passed through a wave guide system where it receives low-wattage. Quantum Fracturing is then applied and the oil is extracted with ease, in a low-energy environmentally safe algae oil production system.
 
Modular and Scalable System (patent pending) 
For mass production of algae oil to be realistic and reach levels high enough to replace petroleum as an energy source, an algae growth system needs to be fully scalable.  This is why OriginOil’s system allows both horizontal and vertical “stacking” of Helix BioReactors into an integrated system network, which is;
  1. Fully automated
  2. Portable
  3. and remotely monitored.

The system developed by OriginOil seems a very efficient low-energy intensive unit which can produce oil for an array of products like diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, plastics without greenhouse gas emissions and completely CO2 neutral. Investments in algae oil production have added up this year to  $300 million and 2009 sees a definite increase in R&D in algae oil production.  Furthermore the price per gallon of the final product has dropped from $3000 per gallon in 2006 to $10-20 per gallon in 2008.

So it seems that the future for algae oil is promising. With the right government backups and policies, algae could replace crude oil imports from the middle east thus making the US energy independent and secure.

Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuel Specialist, The Netherlands

 

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Bill Gates to fund algae fuel production

October 12, 2008

After the failed attempt at investments into Sapphire Energy for Pacific Ethanol, Mr. Gates is once again putting money where his mouth is and investing once again with algae oil producers Sapphire Energy this time for algae fuel.

It all began in 2007 when Sapphire Energy stated they were able to obtain a successful product “Green Crude” from algae. Processing this green crude could yield chemical gasoline equivalents, diesel and even jet fuel.

The investments received by Sapphire will help them reach thier daily target of 10.000 barrels of algae fuel and smoothen commercial scale production by 2011-2012. No information was given on what the technology will be used, whether it will be photo bio-reactors but judging by what the large coroprate companies are investing in it will most likely be photo bio-reactors as opposed to open pond biofixation process, that yes do require major invesments but do give higher yields.

Tony Piccolo – Aquatic Biofuel Specialist, October 12, Rome

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