Typical algae strains use sunlight and water to convert carbon dioxide into lipids. Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus can boost production, depending on the process. At prototype scales, supplying the "inputs" is not a problem, but at industrial scales, large quantities will be needed. Plentiful sources of CO2 and other nutrients are not readily available in many places, and even where they are, purchasing them at market prices could make algal biofuels too expensive.
The answer? Turn the waste from other industries into a resource for this new one, helping to solve the waste problem at the same time.
For example, algae production facilities could be located next to coal-fired power plants, which happen to be under increasing pressure and regulation to reduce CO2 emissions. Similarly, algae producers could locate near municipal wastewater treatment plants.
These integration concepts can be taken further, noted Norm Whitten, CEO at Sunrise. When the algae are harvested for their lipids, the remaining plant matter can be processed into animal feed, or converted into a syrupy liquid he calls bioleum that can be burned somewhat like oil, enhancing the economics of an algae biofuel plant.
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Veronica Cassandra
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algae.veronica@gmail.com
3 comments:
Using waste nutrient sources to produce biofuels would seem to make economic sense. Unfortunately, those waste products are not where they need to be to use algae or other plants. You need consistent sunshine and you need lots and lots of space. Every non-biased study done on algae biofuel production has concluded that bioreactors are not cost effective - they simply use more energy than they produce.
At scale algae production is going to need large surface areas. Current municipal sewage facilities were not located or designed to need this kind of space. To compound problematic municipal sewage facility location - over 35% of the nation’s sewage goes into septic tanks that are not cost efficient to collect from. http://bit.ly/dhhNUu
Taking a waste product and turning it into a resource makes good economic sense. Good attempt!
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