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Most people which are Thinking about Algae biodiesel would like to discover the answers to the following queries…how algae biodiesel functions…how is oil removed from algae…how do researchers grow algae?..pros and cons of algae biodiesel….what can we use algae biodiesel for? In addition they want the information in laymen’s terms. So we will attemp to answer a few of these concerns now.

Algae as Biodiesel

Biodiesel refers to fuel produced from as soon as living organisms. It’s generally created into a liquid or gaseous state and many people use Biodiesel for running vehicles or supplying electrical energy through a diesel generator. Due to the fact of the plentiful supply of algae biomass in freshwater and other marine sources, large-scale studies have already been performed for the use of algae as a possible source of biodiesel.

The production of biodiesel & commercial farming of algae biomass is grown in numerous countries internationally. The important fuels synthesized from algae oil are biogas, biodiesel, biomethanol, bioethanol, biobutanol and dry algae fuel (similar to coal) such as the group Robert Fulton has created. Quite a few countries around the world have integrated highly sophisticated techniques for enhancing commercial-scale cultivation of algae and the United States is a front runner within this technology.

Greatest things about Algae as Biodiesel

The fast growth of algae is a contributing factor for commercially produced algae farming. Some species of algae can double their mass in a day. When compared with other biodiesel solutions this includes soybeans or jatropha, there are certain advantages of using algae this includes:

• The quantity oil from algae is comparatively higher (about 30 times) more than land based crops.
• Marine water and also brackish water can be used for commercial farming of algae.
• Unlike petroleum fuel, biodiesel produced from algae are biodegradable, thus reducing environmental pollution. In case there is spills of algae-based biofuel in water sources, there are no long standing adverse effects on the environment.
• Algae also capture polluting Carbon Dioxide (C02), Nitrogen (N) and emit Oxygen (O)

Studies show that about 60 percent of algal biomass can be converted into biodiesel. The microalgae species are economically beneficial for biodiesel production than other larger algae species.

carbon emission after using algal biodiesel is lower than those of petroleum fuels.
Since biodiesel production from algae is a relatively new technology, more research is needed to cultivate standard protocols for cultivation and large scale commercial algae biodiesel production. Commercial production on a large scale commonly means 1million acres under cultivation. The preferred method to removing algal oils is using an industrial oil press. For more facts on what can be accomplished with algae biofuel visit the Biodiesel 101 E-Library.

The next few months could be “make or break time” for the soy biodiesel industry in the U.S.

Biodiesel faces several challenges right now, including the high cost of the feedstock and the loss of the one dollar biodiesel blenders’ tax credit, which Congress allowed to expire on December 31^st.  Indications are that most biodiesel plants have ceased production as they await Congressional action on the tax credit, which may not happen until March.

In Iowa, the state’s Renewable Fuels Association has launched a campaign to highlight the importance of biodiesel—and renewable fuels, in general—to Iowa’s economy.  Monte Shaw is the executive director ofIRFA. “We’ve got a lot of exciting thing coming down the road for this industry—things that are going to really redefine renewable fuels for the future,” says Shaw. “Whether it’s exciting feedstock projects like the algae project at Shenandoah, or maybe it’s the biorefinery  project that’s scheduled to go into Newton.”

Good reasons, Shaw says, to keep Iowa’s biodiesel industry viable.

“If we let the current biodiesel industry wither away and lose the jobs we have today, it also means we’re not going to be the place—we’re not going to be the state—where those next generation investments and next generation jobs come either,” he says.  “So we’re really at a turning point, not just for the investors and jobs of today, but for making Iowa the place to be for the future of this industry as well.”

In addition to the federal tax credit extension, Shaw says IRFA will also be lobbying for a five percent biodiesel mandate in the Iowa legislature.

“We really do need a B5 fuel quality standard to create a low level of demand,” says Shaw. “It’s constant, it’s year-around, it’s predictable—and that’s what can help these plants cash flow during the good times and the bad times.”

A bill creating a B5 fuel quality standard passed the Iowa Senate in 2009, but time ran out before the Iowa House could consider the legislation.

Turning turning algae into fuel, i.e. algal oil, on a commercial scale, could become one of the most significant technological and economic events of the early 21st century. If this feat is accomplished, and it’s not certain it will be, it will have dramatic, disruptive consequences to oil producers, oil refiners, ethanol, biodiesel, jet fuel and other biofuels producers, biotechnology companies, agricultural producers, consumers, motor vehicle makers, regulators, R&D activities and investors, among others. However, from this change will come enormous opportunities, including less dependence on petroleum oil, more geopolitical independence, reductions in CO2 and global warming, technological advancements, very large, new industries and markets, and huge profits. This is according to a recent report from Amadee+Company: Algae For Fuel, Algal Oil, Biofuels, Biodiesel, Ethanol And The Future Of Petroleum And Green Energy: Global Markets, Technologies, And Opportunities: 2009-2020 Analysis and Forecasts.

Algae for fuel is an emerging, third-generation biofuel, which is still several years away from commercialization. Both the concept of algal oil, the amount of investment in the space, the news on the subject and public interest have grown dramatically over the last year. To date, there has been no significant production of algal oil, however, it is moving from the proof of concept phase into commercialization.

The challenge for algal oil is not technological, but process driven: the science of making algal oil is well understood, how to make it cheap enough to compete with existing refinery products is not. But, algal oil is at an inflection point similar to that seen in the past with the wind and solar industries, where scale and ongoing technology improvements led to large cost reductions.

Since algal oil offers a direct potential replacement for petroleum and plant-derived oils, the market opportunity is tremendous. Global petroleum oil production is estimated at 4.73 trillion liters, worth $1.94 trillion, in 2009. By comparison, global production of biofuels in 2009, now primarily biodiesel and ethanol, is estimated at approximately 100 billion liters, worth $166 billion. Biofuels, currently represent about 2% of the petroleum oil market on a volume basis and 8.5% on a value basis. By 2020, they are forecast to equal 3.6% of the oil market in terms of volume and 14.7% in terms of value. By comparison, algal oil production in 2009 is so small it’s not meaningful in terms of ethanol and biodiesel production. However, it’s clear the opportunity for algal oil is huge.

Already, more than 200 companies are trying to commercialize algae for fuel. Most are small, private companies without much capital. But there are many large ones as well including: ExxonMobil (joint venture with Synthetic Genomics), BP (JV with Martek Biosciences Corp.), Dow Chemical, Shell Oil, Ingrepro B.V., SAIC, and UOP LLC (Honeywell) among others.

The report provides a review of algae in terms of biology, classifications, photosynthesis and applications and discusses algae for fuel in terms of its history, applications, cultivation technologies and R&D. Analysis of the algal oil market in terms of its advantages, challenges, production costs, scale-up, market opportunity and sector investments is given. The biofuels market in terms of technology generations, market drivers, industry consolidation, next generation technologies, fuel standards, winners/losers, government policies, the oil majors, capital costs and future outlook is discussed. An analysis of the biodiesel market as regards production technology, end use, global production, addressable market, feedstocks, market conditions, environmental controversies, jatropha oil and major players is given. An analysis of the ethanol market in terms of first, second and third generation technologies, food vs. fuel, global production, risks and opportunities, government incentives and major players is provided. Profiles of 56 major players in the algal oil market are given and 175 biofuels, ethanol and biodiesel companies and organizations are discussed. More information.

Algae Farming for Fuel is a Proven Science! Some proponents of clean renewable energy talk about being green and forward thinking with their sustainable green energy plans, but no one actually is willing to step up to the plate with the money needed to fund the projects! This technology is not a back yard set up that you put together from a box kit. You can equate the latest Algae Photo Bioreactor setups to the Amoco, Shell Oil and BP’s of the world when they start new operations. On the up side the operation cost are not as intensive, you are after all growing a plant. If you are smart about the Algae Farming operation, you will use free nutrients, Saltwater or Sewage Waste water that will provide you with the nutrient base.  What about the carbon dioxide? Well again smarter is better, contact the local coal fire plant or concrete refinery in your area and help them out with their Carbon Dioxide problem.

Bottom line, this new technology cost money for a renewable energy Biofuel plant, but being smart and using the resources in your area (Partnering) will make the job much easier and less capital intensive. Soon we will be able to make biofuel from algae at low cost and we will have wondered why it took so long to make it happen.