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Posts Tagged ‘Algae’

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.

Earlier this month, the US Department of Energy announced almost $600 million in funding for advanced biofuel projects.     This money is intended to push forward next generation biofuels, since corn based ethanol plants have come under fire for increasing food costs.   One of the beneficiaries of the funding is Sapphire Energy, who received $50 million from the DoE and another $54.5 million load guarantee from the Department of Agriculture, under the Biorefinery Assistance Program (part of the 2008 Farm Bill).

Sapphire Energy has developed a process  to produce oil from algae and then turn this oil into gasoline that is virtually identical to the gasoline that is used in cars.   Sapphire calls its gasoline a “drop-in” replacement since its fuel can be used in existing engines without any modification to the vehicle.    Sapphire is currently ramping up production of its biofuel and is looking to produce 1 million gallons of algae based fuel per year by 2011, and 100 million gallons per year by 2018.

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.

It’s been called ‘too good to be true’ and a ‘miracle’ fuel. It’s a biodiesel that’s made from waste, not food stock. If it’s successful, the new plant could replace the need for foreign oil.

The crowd at Ever Cat Fuels grand opening in Isanti, Minnesota learned all about a new way of making energy. They’re also seeing a biodiesel plant like no other in the world.

“It’s going to spur our economy,” said Clayton McNeff, co-founder of Ever Cat Fuels. “It’s a green technology, and it’s going to provide jobs. ”

The plant creates fuel without water, chemicals or waste. The new process called “Mcgyan”– named after its inventors — converts fats into fuel within seconds.

“When we get to full capacity in another week,” said McNeff, “we’ll be producing more than 10,000 gallons a day. And so that’s more than a truckload a day, so it will be going out to consumers very soon.”

“Biodiesel,” said Ben Yan holding up a bottle of the fuel. “This is the first time in this plant.”

They’re using vegetable oil waste as the base, but they could use anything from stink weed to algae.

For safety reasons, the only way to tour the plant is to watch through remote cameras. Two six-foot tall reactors will start by making 3 million gallons of fuel this year. In 3 years, that will be up to 30 million gallons per year.

“This is really a first of its kind plant,” said Yan. “It’s unique in the world. So, it had to be demonstrated at large scale and now our intention is to license the technology and so hopefully you’ll be seeing these plants all over the country.”

The plant creates fuel without water, chemicals or waste. The new process called “Mcgyan”– named after its inventors — converts fats into fuel within seconds.

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Premier News

70CentsaGallon.com a biofuel technology company of Florida announced visitation rights to their new Commercial algae production system today. You can learn how to manufacture biodiesel fuel with algae oil today.

For_Immediate_Release:

United States of America (Press Release) December 09, 2009 — Governments, Corporations & Biofuel producers can now produce algae oil using new closed process continuous harvesting algae photo bioreactors. Large vehicle fleet managers can now have a steady renewable energy resource to make biofuel that does not compete with our nation’s food crops.

“Schedule a site visit to view our commercial algae photobioreactor system with your group at our manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas at  http://www.70centsagallon.com/Algae.html” says Rich Fortun, chief engineer of the project.

Learn the safest, fastest, and most cost-effective means of making algae oil for Biodiesel fuel production. Not only is biodiesel fuel less expensive, it also burns cleaner and is better for the environment.

The breakthrough in the new technology is significant, the ability to control temperature and to have a closed system is very important.

Visit their web site to learn how you can make an appointment to view their commercial algae photo-bioreactor in person.

70CentsaGallon.com site http://www.70centsagallon.com/Algae.html will give you access to a downloadable specifications sheet on the new commercial algae machine. Learn how to increase your miles per gallon while reducing the cost per gallon by converting to Biodiesel fuel using algae oil.