Algae to Biodiesel
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Presentation Transcript
Algae to Biodiesel Joshua J. Heller Department of Chemical Engineering The University of Texas at Austin
Presentation Overview • Background • Algae • Technology • Open Pond • Bioreactor • Greenhouse • Challenges • Conclusion
Background • Growing U.S. and World demand for diesel • Approximately 30 billion gallons per year (U.S. only) • Renewable fuel mandates • 36 billion gallons of biofuel per year by 2022 • Future carbon legislation • Cap and Trade/Carbon Tax
Background Cont. • Compatible with existing technology • Engines • Infrastructure • Versatile growing environment • Non-arable land • Will not displace food crops • Potentially reduces greenhouse gases
Algae • Main sources of energy • Lipids • Fatty acids • Lipid accumulation • Environmental stress • Greater under nutrient deficient conditions
Algae Cont. • Algae holds significant advantage over other oilseed crops • Does not require arable land • More efficient in term of oil per acre • 15,000 acres of algae farms required to meet U.S. transportation fuel demand • Optimistic calculation • 1/7th the area of Colorado
Technology – Open Pond • National Renewable Energy Laboratory • Relatively cheap • Synergy with power plant waste CO2 and waste water nutrients
Increased surface area Turbulent mixing Power plant pollutant scrubber Capital costs relatively more expensive Technology – Bioreactor
Small scale Greater temperature control Need access to local processing facility Technology - Greenhouse
Challenges • Cost • Capital and operations • $0.50 to $10.00 per square foot • Product separation - $0.02 to $ 20 per gallon of product • Productivity • Efficiency • Photosynthesis limitations • 3 to 4 % of sunlight converted to biomass • Light saturation
Conclusion • High potential • Variety of developing technologies • Several challenges • Bridge fuel • One piece of the “all of the above” energy solution approach
References • Briggs, Michael. Widescale Biodiesel Production from Algae. University of New Hampshire Physics Department. 23 Nov. 2008 <http://www.unh.edu/p2/biodiesel/article_algae.html>. • Gualtieri, Paolo, and Laura Barsanti. Algae : Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis, 2006. • Larkum, Anthony, Susan E Douglas, and John A Raven. Photosynthesis In Algae. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2003. • Nelson, Richard. "SOLAROOF : Green Buildings for Urban Agriculture and Solar Living ." Solaroof. 23 Nov. 2008 <http://www.solaroof.com/>. • Riesing, Thomas F. "Cultivating Algae for Liquid Fuel Production." Permaculture Activist 59. 23 Nov. 2008 <http://oakhavenpc.org/ cultivating_algae.htm>. • United Nations. Food and Agriculture Organization. "Oil production." Renewable biological systems for alternative sustainable energy production. Osaka: Food and Agriculture Organization, 1997. • United States. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. A Look Back at the U.S. Department of Energy's Aquatic Species Program - Biodiesel from Algae. Golden: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1998. • Whitton, Norman. Future Fuels - Algae. N.p.: n.p., n.d.