06/04/2008 09:31 AM

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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: June 4, 2008

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GreenHunter Energy claims that its new facility is able to produce biodiesel from animal fats, vegetable oils, or a blend of the two, and the facility has zero emissions. The facility was originally a waste-oil recycling facility owned by Channel Refining Corporation, and GreenHunter Energy bought it in early 2007 and converted it into a biodiesel plant. As a result, the Houston biorefinery features 700,000 barrels of storage capacity, a methanol distillation system that is five times larger than needed, and a system to neutralize the crude glycerin byproduct, making it a more valuable product. The company was founded Gary Evans, a former oil executive. See the GreenHunter Energy press release and biofuels Web page.

Meanwhile, an attempt to circle the world in record time using only biodiesel as fuel is now well past its halfway point and ahead of the record pace. The Earthrace, a futuristic catamaran made of carbon fiber and Kevlar composites, attempted to circle the globe last year but abandoned that attempt when a crack developed in the hull. This year's effort launched from Sagunto, Spain, on April 27 with a goal of finishing by the end of this week. The record attempt went smoothly for most of May, with only a few delays. However, after battling storms to reach Palau, the crew discovered that the port driveshaft and propeller needed replacing, and the boat is now limping toward Singapore on one engine. If the repairs are successful, the craft will still need to cross the Indian Ocean, navigate the Red Sea to the Suez Canal, and cross the Mediterranean Sea to return to its starting point. According to the captain's blog, as of Monday the ship had traveled more than 15,000 nautical miles, with 9,000 nautical miles to go, and is 2,764 nautical miles ahead of the world record pace that was set a decade ago. For the boat's current position and the latest blogs and photos, see the Earthrace Web site.

Company Produces "Green" Crude Oil and Gasoline from Algae

Sapphire Energy announced last week that it has produced "green" gasoline from a synthetic crude oil made from algae. The algae yield a crude oil replacement that is literally green, and according to the company, the "green crude" meets fuel quality standards and is completely compatible with the existing petroleum infrastructure, from refinement through distribution to retail suppliers. Gasoline produced from the green crude achieved a 91 octane rating while meeting fuel quality standards. Sapphire Energy considers the achievement to be at the forefront of an entirely new industrial category, called "green crude production."

"It's hard not to get excited about algae's potential," says Paul Dickerson, chief operating officer of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. "Its basic requirements are few: carbon dioxide, sun, and water. Algae can flourish in non-arable land or in dirty water, and when it does flourish, its potential oil yield per acre is unmatched by any other terrestrial feedstock." See the Sapphire Energy press release and its companion Web site, Green Crude Production.

In fact, the hard part about algae production is growing the algae in a controlled way and harvesting it efficiently. Most companies pursuing algae as a source of biofuels are pumping nutrient-laden water through plastic tubes (called "bioreactors") that are exposed to sunlight. Last week, Green Star Products, Inc. announced its development of a micronutrient formula to increase the growth rate of algae. According to the company, its new formula can increase the daily growth rate by 34% and can double the amount of algae produced in one growth cycle. See the Green Star Products press release.

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