Search
News Archive
Categories
UC Davis and University of Tokyo collaborating on algae biofuels project
Posted On: January 22, 2012A better understanding of how algae can be used to make biofuels is the aim of a new joint project between UC Davis and the University of Tokyo, Japan. It is one of four new grants, jointly funded by the US National Science Foundation and the Japan Science and Technology Agency, to develop environment-friendly fuels and reduce pesticide use.
The four grants, totaling $12 million (¥960 million), will be divided between the Japanese and US laboratories. UC Davis’ share will be about $1.5 million over three years, with the possibility of renewal for another two years.
All four projects are based on metabolomics, an approach that uses high-tech analysis to understand all the chemicals involved in a living cell’s metabolism.
OriginOil and DOE to Develop Direct Conversion of Algae into Renewable Crude Oil Source
Posted On: January 22, 2012Good news on the algae-to-oil front has been released by Los Angeles-based OriginOil, Inc., in conjunction with the US Department of Energy. The company will work in partnership with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to help algae growers to enter the global crude oil market.
OriginOil, a developer of a technology platform to extract oil from algae, reports that it plans to co-develop an integrated system with the DOE’s INL for direct conversion of raw algae into a renewable crude oil that can be used by existing petroleum refineries.
Algae-based fuels a growing business in New Mexico
Posted On: January 22, 2012Sapphire Energy Inc., which uses a proprietary process to turn algae oil into renewable gasoline to replace fossil fuels at the pump, broke ground last June on a 300-acre commercial demonstration facility in Columbus.
In Hobbs, in the heart of southeast New Mexico’s oil patch, Massachusetts-based Joule Unlimited Inc. broke ground this fall on a five-acre site that will use concentrating-solar biorefineries to extract ethanol and diesel from bacteria in salt-water mixed with carbon dioxide.
Algae biofuel pilot plant construction starts
Posted On: December 27, 2011The Biotechnology Consortium (Bal Biofuels) began the construction of the Experimental Centre of Algae (CEA) in Puerto Montt Campus of the University of Los Lagos. The plant is expected to be operational from August next year.
The proponents of the initiative plan to develop technology to produce advanced biofuels and high added value chemicals with low emissions of carbon dioxide and low cost, using native giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) farmed in a sustainable manner.
Algae Biodiesel Company World Health Energy Holdings Inc. Announces Letter of Intent to Develop Up to 250 Acre Algae Farm With Prime Inc. India
Posted On: December 27, 2011$100 Million Project Envisioned for Production of Biodiesel and Commercial Fish Food
World Health Energy Holdings, Inc. , a public holding company developing joint venture partnerships for algae production for biodiesel and commercial fish food, announced today the signing of Letter of Intent with Prime Inc., an India Industrial and transport Company, to develop a biodiesel production facility ramping up to 250 acres with a budget of up to 100 million dollars.
The proposed sites for development are in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, India and will utilize an Algae Enhancement Technology, known as the GB3000 system, used for growing algae for the production of Fish Feed, Proteins and Bio-fuel in the Territory of India. Prime Inc. India’s current clients include: Exon, Shell, General Electric (GE) and Siemens.
Aurora Algae edges closer to omega-3 EPA commercialization
Posted On: June 28, 2011California’s Aurora Algae has signed off on the engineering contract for its commercial facility in Western Australia, as the company edges towards the production of thousands of tonnes of algae-based biomass annually.
The company announced this week that MWH and John Holland (JH) have been awarded the initial engineering contract, a move which is claimed to represent the start of the construction of the largest commercial scale photosynthetic algae facility in the world.
“Aurora Algae is now the first global company to begin a commercial project for bioproduct and biofuel production based on photosynthetic marine microalgae,” said Greg Bafalis, CEO of Aurora Algae.
Heliae and Azmark to Test Algae-Based Jet Fuels
Posted On: June 23, 2011Heliae Development, LLC, an Arizona-based algae technology company, and Azmark Aero Systems, an Arizona-based designer and manufacturer of small gas turbine engines, have announced an agreement to develop and test algae derived jet fuels. Azmark’s small, precision turbine engines are designed primarily for use in military UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). The announcement was made at the 49th annual Paris Air Show.
Azmark’s innovative turbine engines range in size from the “World’s Smallest Turbine Engine” that produces 300 Watts of continuous power to a 60 HP Turboprop engine for UAVs.
Scientists in India join hands to develop biofuel from microalgae
Posted On: October 31, 2010Scientists from across the country of India belonging to a consortium of nine laboratories, are working on an ambitious project called ‘New Millennium India Technology Leadership Initiative’ ( NMITLI), to develop a viable and scalable process of biofuel from microalgae, undertaken by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi.
The laboratories are Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar, Department of Marine Living Resources, Andhra University (AU), Vishakapatnam, Calcutta University (CU), Kolkata, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Technology, Khargpur (IIT-KGP), National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune, National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and Chennai, National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science & Technology (NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram.
#mce_temp_url#More info
Algenol Biofuels Opens State-of-the-Art Labs in Lee County, Florida
Posted On: October 21, 2010Algenol Biofuels Inc. celebrated the opening of its new state-of-the-art biofuels and green chemistry lab and R&D facility today in Fort Myers, Fla. The 40,000 square-foot facility houses an advanced algae biology, engineering, carbon dioxide (CO2) and green chemistry laboratory, as part of the larger Lee Integrated Biorefinery. The facility was made possible with a $10 million incentive grant from the Lee County Board of Commissioners.
The facility will house Algenol’s advanced biology and engineering laboratories and operations. An adjoining 4-acre outdoor R&D area and 36-acre outdoor commercialization area will hold the company’s proprietary photobioreactors—the containers that generate ethanol from algae, saltwater and CO2 using Algenol’s patented Direct to Ethanol™ technology. In addition to producing low-cost ethanol, Algenol is beginning to work on related projects, such as using its ethanol and other green chemicals as a replacement for petroleum in plastic and chemical building blocks. Furthermore, Algenol has formed a partnership with a local university, Florida Gulf Coast University, to assist in establishing programs for students interested in pursuing careers in the green chemistry and biofuels industries.
Jellyfish “smoothies” offer solar solutions
Posted On: October 16, 2010Putting thousands of jellyfish in a blender to make a smoothie sounds like the start of bad joke. In fact, it’s one way to source ingredients for a new generation of solar power solutions that could aid medical science and offer cheap energy.
Scientists say by liquidizing the humble Aequorea victoria — a glow-in-the-dark jellyfish commonly found off the western coast of North America — they can use the green fluorescent protein (GFP) it contains to create miniature fuel cells.
These, say their creators, could be used to power microscopic “nanodevices” that could operate independently inside the human body, helping reverse blindness or fight tumors.
Nanotechnology — the manipulation of matter at an atomic scale (one nanometer is equivalent to one billionth of a meter) — is seen by many as the future of medicine, but the science of powering nano-machinery is still in its infancy.
Which is where the jellyfish come in.
Zackary Chiragwandi at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden told CNN he has developed a method of generating power at a nano-level by administration a droplet of jellyfish-type GFP onto aluminum electrodes and exposing it to ultraviolet light.
Host
 |
Partners
  |
Sponsors
 |
 |
Share Aquapreneur
