THE ALGAE SOLUTION

"Put quite simply, microalgae are remarkable and efficient biological factories capable of taking a waste (zero-energy) form of carbon (CO2) and converting it into a high density liquid form of energy (natural oil)."

-A Look Back at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Aquatic Species Program: Biodiesel from Algae, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Algae are the least publicized source of biofuel feedstock yet may hold the greatest potential for simultaneously tackling the problems of our worldwide dependence on fossil fuels and limiting CO2 emissions linked to global climate change. It can produce substantially greater oil per acre than traditional oil seeds and also cut the level of CO2 as algae consumes it while emitting clean oxygen. Algae can grow in places other than on farmlands or other arable land. Many strains of algae can grow optimally using brackish water, sea water, or waste water. The economics of such a plant and process are driven by the high potential solar energy conversion efficiencies of single celled algae versus crop plants on a per acre, per day basis. For these reasons and others, microalgae have many advantages over terrestrial plants in addressing two of the world’s major challenges: energy security and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
ENERGY SECURITY:
ALGAE ARE VERY EFFICIENT PRODUCERS OF BIODIESEL FEEDSTOCK -- OIL

Fossil Fuel PumpGiven the right conditions, algae can double its volume overnight. Microalgae are the earth’s most productive plants –– 10 to 15 times more prolific in biomass than the fastest growing land plant exploited for biofuel production. While soy produces some 50 gallons of oil per acre per year; canola, 150 gallons; and palm, 650 gallons, algae can produce up to 15,000 gallons per acre per year. In addition, up to 50 percent (or more) of algae biomass (dry weight) is comprised of oil, whereas oil-palm trees—currently the most efficient large-scale source of feedstock oil to make biofuels—yield approximately 20 percent of their weight in oil.

Algae oil can easily be converted to biofuels such as biodiesel through the same technology used with oil from oil seeds transesterification -- which is currently used to convert vegetable oil to biodiesel. In addition, the algae oil can be hydro-treated to produce other fuels such as JP-8 and other jet fuels.
CLIMATE CHANGE:
MICROALGAE SEQUESTER POTENTIALLY HARMFUL C02 EMISSIONS

Earth View from SpaceMicroalgae naturally sequester CO2 from the atmosphere; however to support the rapid growth needs of an algae farm, additional amounts of CO2 are necessary. The solution: capture CO2 emitted from industrial sources, such power plants, cement plants, and ethanol factories, that would have otherwise been a source of environmental pollution. Thus, a potential source of global warming is converted to a source of clean burning feedstock for biofuels.

In addition, all other methods used for CO2 mitigation only sequester CO2; they do not convert it into useful products or energy, making microalgae to method of choice to combat climate change.
COMPETITIVE WITH FOSSIL FUEL

Algae-to-oil is projected to be competitive with petroleum-based crude oil. Based on extrapolations from our pilot production facility, algae oil is projected to be produced at around US$50-$90 per barrel of oil equivalent (boe), which is significantly below current crude oil prices. Longer term, with further increases in algae productivity, algae-to-oil production cost is expected to fall to around US$30-$50 per boe, a cost far below any other biofuels feedstock crop and which is significantly lower than projected for most oil & gas production facilities now under development.

It is projected that, over the long-term, algae oil can compete with fossil fuels with or without government mandates or subsidies afforded to alternative energy solutions. However, government mandates and assistance and incentive programs (e.g., R&D support, tax credits, loan guarantees for the construction of commercial facilities) can significantly accelerate the initial commercialization of this technology and ensure a more rapid adoption throughout the United States and other parts of the industrialized world.
SUMMARY MARINE MICROALGAE ADVANTAGES

* Carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from power plants, refineries, cement plants, etc. provide high growth rates for algae, thus converting atmospheric pollutants to biofuel and other valuable commodity products
* Cultivation can be accomplished in waste land areas which preserves valuable farmlands for food production
* Transportation costs of feedstock can be reduced or eliminated, which costs are a major economical concern for terrestrially grown biomass
* Marine microalgae use brackish water or salt water to grow which preserves valuable fresh water sources
* Processing is simplified because of microalgae’s small grain size and lack of lignocellulose; found in all land-based biomass sources, lignocellulose greatly complicates the biomass-to-biofuel conversion process
* Microalgae are suitable for production processes ranging from entrained flow gasification to direct transesterification
* No harmful waste products result from microalgae production
* Marine microalgae can produce feedstocks to make a variety of biofuels and petrochemical replacement products
* The byproducts of the cultivation process include protein and carbohydrates that can be used as an animal nutritional supplemental