Sep
02 2010

Microalgae Industry Internet Directory Launched

Through genetic engineering many companies and scientists are trying to develop transgenic micro algae for the commercial use. Thus the content of oil or the yield of carotenoids and dyes should be enhanced as well as the production of proteins through micro algae should be facilitated

Furthermore, the biotechnology of micro algae is developing a solution to use micro algae for the commercial production of biodiesel in an industrial scale. At this point, it exists an interface between genetic modifications of micro algae, because the directed production of suitable long-chain hydrocarbons in micro algae could lead to higher yields for the production of bio diesel.

Based on a recent internet search, Prof. Dr. Gerd Kloeck / Professor of Bioprocess Engineering / Hochschule Bremen – Bremen, Germany, presents a list of algae producers and companies currently developing production technology. This list doesn’t claim to be complete yet. It is, however, the most comprehensive web directory of this industry publicly available.

More info

Sep
01 2010

Algenics Signs With Roquette For The Development Of An Innovative Microalgae Strain For High Value Industrial Uses

ALGENICS SAS has announced that it has signed a new cooperation contract with the ROQUETTE Group for the development of an innovative microalgae strain capable of producing high levels of a metabolite for high value industrial uses. The two-year programme is based on the use of ALGENICS’ genetic engineering platform, AlgebiosysTM, and is coupled with the signature of a licensing agreement for use of the technology. The financial terms of the contract have not been disclosed.

Sep
01 2010

US DOE to Host Series of Biomass Program Webinars: Algae Webinar Sept. 8

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Biomass Program is hosting a Webinar on Wednesday, September 8, 2010, from 2:00–4:30 p.m. EDT entitled “The Promise and Challenge of Algae as a Renewable Source of Biofuels.” This Web conference marks the first in the Biomass Program’s Webinar series, which will cover many of the program’s activities and feature “Hot Topics” discussions relevant to the development of renewable fuels, power, and products from biomass resources.

This Webinar will focus on the program’s approach to algal biofuels research and development and will include presentations from four of its recently funded consortia, comprised of more than 65 partners across the United States. This session will also discuss highlights from the National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap, which was released by DOE in June 2010.

The Biomass Program welcomes interested stakeholders from industry, academia, research institutions, government, non-profits, other organizations, and the general public.  Presenters include Joanne Morello of DOE’s Biomass Program and representatives from the National Alliance For Advanced Biofuels and Bio-Products (NAABB), the Center for Algae Biotechnology Commercialization (CAB-Comm), the Sustainable Algal Biofuels Consortium (SABC), and Cellana, LLC.

More info

Aug
25 2010

New Jersey Uses Former Landfill Site for Algae Project

A multimillion-dollar ethanol plant is planned for a former landfill site, but members of the community can get a sneak peak of the technology in action next week. Garden State Ethanol will demonstrate extracting the fuel from algae at a prototype site located on Washington Avenue at the old Gentilini Ford building.

The USDA is scheduled to visit Woodbine next Thursday to present a check for $98,000 to begin to transform the landfill into a production facility that could employ as many as 50 people.

The facility is still more than a year away, which is why the prototype is being used to demonstrate the technology next week. “It’s going to take about a year to get permits for the site approved, and we’ll just move from there,” Mayor William Pikolycky said. When the final facility reaches full production, it’s expected that 25 million gallons of ethanol and 10 million gallons of biodiesel will be produced at the site annually.

Aug
17 2010

Algae Aviation Fuel Sales Powdered Algae Jet Fuel to U.S. Air Force

Algae Aviation Fuel from CCA is Proud to Announce Initial Sale of Powdered Algae Jet Fuel to the United States Air Force Research Laboratory. An undisclosed amount of powdered algae fuel will be evaluated as a solid fuel propellant for aviation use.

Compact Contractors for America (CCA), a Southern Utah-based company has developed a dry process biofuel from algae, camelina seed, and other non-fossil fuel sources. Dry process biofuels are essentially powders that can be fluidized and combusted in jet turbine engines.

More info

Aug
04 2010

Rosetta Green and Seambiotic Will Collaborate in the Development of Improved Algal Strains for the Biofuel Industry

Rosetta Green, a company specializing in the identification of unique genes in plants and algae for the cleantech and plant biotech industries and Seambiotic, a company specializing in the growth of algae at industrial scale, announced yesterday that they have signed a collaboration agreement to develop and test improved algal strains for the biofuel industry. According to the agreement, Rosetta Green will be responsible for the development of the strains and Seambiotic will be in charge of large scale algal growth and biofuel production.

The companies will initially focus on increasing the oil content of the algae and producing strains that can better withstand contamination. The companies have formed a joint steering committee that will be responsible for the management and operation of the collaboration. The proof of concept phase of the collaboration is anticipated to last about two years, during which the companies will explore the development of facilities for producing biofuel from algae on an industrial scale.

More info

Jul
22 2010

Solazyme Delivers 100% Algal-Derived Renewable Jet Fuel to U.S. Navy

Solazyme, Inc. is helping the U.S. military move closer to powering its planes, ships, tanks and trucks on renewable fuel and has delivered of 1,500 gallons of 100% algae-based jet fuel for the U.S. Navy’s testing and certification program. The U.S. Navy has previously announced the objective to operate at least 50% of its fleet on clean, renewable fuel by 2020, and the delivery fulfills a contract awarded to Solazyme by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in September 2009.

Solazyme, a renewable oil and green bioproducts company and leader in algal biotechnology, manufactured the world’s first 100% algal-based jet fuel through its proprietary fermentation process in collaboration with renewable jet fuel processing technology from Honeywell’s UOP. Solazyme’s renewable Solajet(TM)HRJ-5 is designed to meet all of the requirements for Naval renewable aviation fuel. In preliminary tests, it also meets the fuel requirements of the U.S. Air Force and meets the standards for commercial jet fuel.

More info

Jul
22 2010

Algal Biomass Summit Releases Meeting Agenda

The 2010 Algae Biomass Summit recently released the event’s newly-expanded agenda featuring more than 70 speakers and seven new sessions. The 4th annual event will be held September 28-30 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona.

More info

Apr
20 2010

Algae as a source for electricity

In an electrifying first, Stanford scientists have plugged into algae cells and harnessed a tiny electrical current. They found it at the very source of energy production – photosynthesis, a plant’s method of converting sunlight to chemical energy. It may be a first step toward generating high-efficiency bioelectricity that doesn’t give off carbon dioxide as a byproduct, the researchers say.

“We believe we are the first to extract electrons out of living plant cells,” said WonHyoung Ryu, the lead author of the paper published in the March issue of Nano Letters. Ryu conducted the experiments while he was a research associate for mechanical engineering Professor Fritz Prinz.

The Stanford research team developed a unique, ultra-sharp nanoelectrode made of gold, specially designed for probing inside cells. They gently pushed it through the algal cell membranes, which sealed around it, and the cell stayed alive. From the photosynthesizing cells, the electrode collected electrons that had been energized by light and the researchers generated a tiny electrical current.

More info

From Issue 10 • Categories: Tags: , , , , , No Comments
Apr
15 2010

Algal Biomass Organization Announces Algae Finance Summit in NY

The Algal Biomass Organization (ABO), the leading trade association for the algae industry, today announced it will be hosting an Algae Finance Summit on May 13th, 2010 at New York City’s Flatotel. The day-long event will provide investors, analysts and fund managers with the information needed to make informed investment decisions and recommendations regarding opportunities in the fast-developing algae for energy industry.

Key experts, including government regulators and policymakers, algae producers, legal experts and investment professionals, will offer attendees a holistic — and realistic — assessment of the capital needs and financing structures for algae companies and projects, as well as the role of the federal government in regulating the industry and facilitating its growth through funding.

More info