Algae to Biofuel
Algae for Biofuels
Algae are an excellent source of oil for making biodiesel, which could displace substantial volumes of petrodiesel for heating and transportation. Microalgae reproduce rapidly, and they grow on non-agricultural land, so they don’t compete with food, feed, or fiber production. Algae utilize large amounts of CO2 gas and ‘waste’ nutrients from farm or municipal sources, so it can help to address climate change and wastewater cleanup.
The keys to commercializing algae for biofuel production include identifying and cultivating native species, optimizing growing conditions in natural and artificial environments and the efficient harvest and oil extraction of algal biomass.
The profiles, publications, and links to the right and image gallery below provide more information on the work being done in Vermont and nationally to advance the commercialization of algae for biofuels and wastewater remediation.
With funding from the US Department of Energy secured by US Senator Patrick Leahy, the Vermont Bioenergy Initiative has supported a number of algae biofuel research projects. This early-stage research and development was undertaken to determine the most viable and cost-effective methods for accessing algae’s commercial potential to produce clean renewable energy while treating wastewater and supplying nutrient-rich feeds and food
Green Mountain Spark set about to demonstrate the feasibility of using photochemistry to create a single system for oil separation from micro-algae and biofuel production from the separated oil. The outcome of this research is an algae fuel processing system prototype capable of producing biofuel more cost effectively and with less energy investment compared to standard oil extraction and transesterification. Successful development of this technology will give microalgae oil biofuel producers a more efficient oil extraction and biofuel conversion process.
Algae Biofuel Overview
US Department of Energy, Algal Biofuels Fact Sheet.
US Department of Energy, National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap. May 2010.
US Department of Energy, Algal Biofuels Factsheet. 2008.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, A Look Back at the US Department of Energy’s Aquatic Species Program: Biodiesel from Algae. July 1998.
Algae Biofuel Technology
US Department of Energy, “Advancements in Algal Biofuels: Year in Review.“ January 2014.
Science Daily, “Researchers Design Photobioreactor to Produce Biofuel from Algae.” May 24, 2013.
Ronald Halim et al, Extraction of oil from microalgae for biodiesel production. May-June 2012.
Growing Algae
E.M. Trentacoste et al, “Metabolic engineering of lipid catabolism increases microalgal lipid accumulation without comprimising growth.” October 29, 2013.
Market Development
Vermont Biofuels Initiative, Keys to Algae Market Development.
Algae for Biofuels & Wastewater Treatment
Anju Dahiya, Cost-effective Algae Biomass Production for Oil Integrated with Wastewater Treatment and Valued By-Product, US Environmental Protection Agency. March 2011.
Anju Dahiya, Integrated Approach to Algae Production for Biofuel Utilizing Robust Algal Species, Springer. 2012.
Anju Dahiya, Wastewater Treatment Integrated with Algae Production for Biofuel, Springer. 2012.
Technology
Algae to Bio-Crude (Video)
Algae Biofuel Organizations
Resource Center (Algae Biomass Organization)
Oilgae (Algae Energy Online)
National Algae Biofuels Publications
Algae Biology
Algae (Wikipedia)
Algae to Biofuels Pathway
Algae fuel (Wikipedia)
Biodiesel (Wikipedia)
Converting Algae to Biofuel (How Stuff Works)
Photobioreactor (Wikipedia)
How Algae Biodiesel Works (How Stuff Works)
Algae Lab
Algae inoculation lab, University of Vermont, 2012. Photo credit: General Systems Research.
Algae Samples
Native algae samples, University of Vermont, 2012. Photo credit: General Systems Research
Algae Inoculation
Algae inoculation lab, University of Vermont, 2012. Photo credit: General Systems Research
Researcher in Lab
Dr. Anju Dahiya, University of Vermont algae researcher and president of General Systems Research, 2011. Photo credit: General Systems Research
Algae Racks
Algepower, Inc. prototype I, Bridport, Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Algae Racks
Algepower, Inc. prototype I, Bridport, Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Inoculum Prototype
Carbon Harvest Energy’s first inoculum prototype, University of Vermont Rubenstein School, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Inoculum Closeup
Close-up of Carbon Harvest Energy’s inoculum prototype, Brattleboro, Vermont, 2012. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Algae Researcher
Josh Wilkenfeld, Carbon Harvest Energy, siphons inoculum prior to introducing into the raceway, Brattleboro, Vermont, 2012. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Algae Researcher
Josh Wilkenfeld, Carbon Harvest Energy, siphons inoculum prior to introducing into the raceway, Brattleboro, Vermont, 2012. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Algae Inoculation Lab
Carbon Harvest Energy’s algae inoculation lab, Brattleboro, Vermont, 2012. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Raceway Prototype
Josh Wilkenfeld, Carbon Harvest Energy, introduces algae inoculum into the raceway prototype, Brattleboro, Vermont, 2012. Photo credit: Carbon Harvest Energy
Raceway
Carbon Harvest Energy’s algae raceway prototype, Brattleboro, Vermont, 2012. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Prototype Reactor
Green Mountain Spark, LLC, prototype reactor, Burlington, Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Green Diesel
Green Mountain Spark, LLC, making green diesel, Burlington, Vermont, 2012. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Green Diesel Sample
Green Mountain Spark, LLC, sample of green diesel produced in their prototype reactor, Burlington, Vermont, 2012. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Turbulence Research
Algae testing flume for turbulence research, University of Vermont College of Engineering, 2012. Photo credit: University of Vermont, CEMS
