Trindade

NREL-AFOSR Workshop, Algal Oil for Jet Fuel Fuel Production, Arlington, VA February 19th , 2008 2008

Overview: Algae Oil to Biofuels

(annotated presentation) John R. Benemann

Benemann Associates

Walnut Creek, CA, jbenemann @ aol.com [phone]

Abstract – a short history of algae biofuels biofuels

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Microalgae were first mass cultured on rooftop at MIT during the early 1950s, first mention of algae biofuels in report of that project.

• Methane from algae studied at U.C. Berkeley during the 1950s, Initial conceptual process and systems analysis published 1960

• The energy shocks of the 1970s led renewed study of microalgae biofuels, H2 and methane in combination with wastewater treatment

• From 1980 to 1995, the U.S. DOE-NREL ASP for microalgae oil production. Initial issue: open ponds vs. closed photobioreactors The ASP culminated in open pond pilot plant at Roswell, New Mexico • Algae oil production is still a long-term R&D goal. Like the ASP a future program should be an open collaboration by researchers from academia, national laboratories and industry, not inhibited by concerns about IP or commercial interests.

Not enough vegetable oil available. Biodiesel plants now at ~25% capacity, Æ need new sources

NYT 1/31/07: “Once a Dream Fuel, Palm Oil May Be an Eco-Nightmare”

Bubbles are H2 Æ

Microalgae biotech could be a huge source of H2 fuel Jae Edmonds, World Industrial Biotech Congress, 2004
400 350 300 EJ/year 250 200 150 100 50 0

1990 2005 2020 2035 2050 2065 2080 2095

Biomass Electrolysis Coal Gas Oil Biotechnology

Example of rampant extrapolation... From little bubbles to Exajoules

Direct biological production of H2.

Optical Photobioreactor for H2 Production (USA, 1977)

Example of not clear on concept: cannot produce cheap biofuels in very expensive bioreactors.

Japanese NEDO-RITE

Project 1990-2000

Optical Fiber Photobioreactors