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10/01/2008 11:14 AM
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Algae for Biodiesel? What does it take? Page 2 |
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Each of the new companies approaches the growth and harvesting of the algae in a different way. Henston's company, Solix Biofuels, is progressing toward the fourth-generation technology of its photobioreactor, which is used to grow the algae. "This technology works, that's been proven," he said. "Bringing cost down is the biggest hurdle."
There are three types of algae-fuel companies according to Bryan Willson, professor of mechanical engineering at Colorado State University. There are closed bioreactors like Solix, open ponds and genetic modification specialists. According to Willson, credible companies in the bioreactor category include Solix and GreenFuels Technology Corp. of Cambridge, MA. Leading-edge firms in the open-pond category include LiveFuels Inc. (Menlo Park, CA); Aurora BioFuels (Alameda, CA) and Seambiotic Ltd. (Tel Aviv, Israel), which demonstrated a system to create clean CO2 from coal-plant emissions.
Genetic modification specialists include Solazyme Inc. (San Francisco), which in June received ASTM D-975 certification of its SolaDieselRD motor fuel; and Sapphire Energy (San Diego), which demonstrated in May a 91-octane gasoline. Defense contractors are working on algal sources for jet fuel.
"The higher oil prices go, the more attractive algae starts looking," said Darzins, but realistically, fuel products at marketable volume are still years away.
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FROM Solar Today, a SustainableBusiness.com Content Partner.
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