algae to biodiesel joshua j. heller department of chemical engineering the university of texas at...
TRANSCRIPT
Algae to Biodiesel
Joshua J. Heller
Department of Chemical Engineering
The University of Texas at Austin
Presentation Overview
• Background
• Algae
• Technology– Open Pond– Bioreactor– Greenhouse
• Challenges
• Conclusion
Background
• Growing U.S. and World demand for diesel– Approximately 30 billion gallons per year (U.S. only)
• Renewable fuel mandates– 36 billion gallons of biofuel per year by 2022
• Future carbon legislation– Cap and Trade/Carbon Tax
Background Cont.
• Compatible with existing technology– Engines– Infrastructure
• Versatile growing environment– Non-arable land– Will not displace food crops
• Potentially reduces greenhouse gases
Algae
• Main sources of energy– Lipids– Fatty acids
• Lipid accumulation– Environmental stress– Greater under nutrient deficient conditions
Algae Cont.
• Algae holds significant advantage over other oilseed crops– Does not require arable land– More efficient in term of oil per acre
• 15,000 acres of algae farms required to meet U.S. transportation fuel demand– Optimistic calculation– 1/7th the area of Colorado
Plant or Organism Gallons of Oil per Acre per year
Corn 18
Soybeans 48
Safflower 83
Sunflower 102
Rapeseed 127
Oil Palm 635
Algae 5,000 – 10,000
Technology – Open Pond
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Relatively cheap
• Synergy with power plant waste CO2 and waste water nutrients
Technology – Bioreactor
• Increased surface area• Turbulent mixing• Power plant pollutant
scrubber• Capital costs relatively
more expensive
Technology - Greenhouse
• Small scale• Greater temperature
control• Need access to local
processing facility
Challenges
• Cost– Capital and operations
• $0.50 to $10.00 per square foot• Product separation - $0.02 to $ 20 per gallon of
product
• Productivity– Efficiency– Photosynthesis limitations
• 3 to 4 % of sunlight converted to biomass• Light saturation
Conclusion
• High potential
• Variety of developing technologies
• Several challenges
• Bridge fuel
• One piece of the “all of the above” energy solution approach
Questions?
References• Briggs, Michael. Widescale Biodiesel Production from Algae. University of New
Hampshire Physics Department. 23 Nov. 2008 <http://www.unh.edu/p2/biodiesel/article_algae.html>.
• Gualtieri, Paolo, and Laura Barsanti. Algae : Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis, 2006.
• Larkum, Anthony, Susan E Douglas, and John A Raven. Photosynthesis In Algae. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2003.
• Nelson, Richard. "SOLAROOF : Green Buildings for Urban Agriculture and Solar Living ." Solaroof. 23 Nov. 2008 <http://www.solaroof.com/>.
• Riesing, Thomas F. "Cultivating Algae for Liquid Fuel Production." Permaculture Activist 59. 23 Nov. 2008 <http://oakhavenpc.org/ cultivating_algae.htm>.
• United Nations. Food and Agriculture Organization. "Oil production." Renewable biological systems for alternative sustainable energy production. Osaka: Food and Agriculture Organization, 1997.
• United States. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. A Look Back at the U.S. Department of Energy's Aquatic Species Program - Biodiesel from Algae. Golden: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1998.
• Whitton, Norman. Future Fuels - Algae. N.p.: n.p., n.d.