Under most cultivation conditions, microalgae reach a typical cell density of less than 1 gram per liter of water; that's 999 parts water to 1 part algae. Removing that quantity of water to get to the algae is an uphill battle. Adding to the problem is scale; the optimal size of a commercial "open-pond" algae production facility is envisioned at more than a million liters of culture each. This means the harvesting technology not only has to concentrate the algae cheaply and effectively, but it must do so at a robust flow-through rate.
A team of DOE researchers led by Babetta Marrone of Los Alamos National Lab's Bioscience Division is perfecting an Ultrasonic Algal Biofuel Harvester, which modulates the frequency of sound waves to separate oils, proteins, and water from algae. See the Energy Blog post.
World's Largest Medical Center Now Among the Most Energy Efficient
Houston-based Texas Medical Center recently celebrated the completion of an energy efficient, 48 MW combined heat and power system (CHP). The system, funded in part by a $10 million Recovery Act grant, will save about $200 million in energy costs over the next 15 years - a big number, even by Texas standards.
The energy intensive, sprawling complex has its own electrical company, the Thermal Energy Corporation (TECO). To keep up with energy requirements as the Medical Center grows, TECO completed an ambitious $377 million plant project, dedicated on May 17.
The new CHP plant is a key part of that project, which is making the Texas Medical Center a model for energy efficiency, operating flexibility, and environmental sustainability. CHP systems, ideal for large energy consumers, use energy that would otherwise be wasted to heat and cool the building. See the Energy Blog post.
Flex-Fuel Pump Options Coming to your Gas Station
A new rule clarifies the definition of renewable energy systems in the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to include flexible fuel pumps.
Americans will soon have more choices at the gas pump through a USDA program that will provide funding to install flexible fuel pumps. The Administration has set a goal of installing 10,000 flexible fuel pumps nationwide within five years.
Presently, most gasoline sold in this country is a mix of 10% ethanol. However, 8-8.5 million of the approximately 250 million vehicles on the road are flexible fuel vehicles, which means they can be fueled with E85 (a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline). Only 2,350 of the more than 167,800 fueling stations nationwide offer E85.
Earlier this year, the EPA released the results of E15 testing on vehicles years 2001 and younger. EPA's findings confirm there are additional vehicles on the road able to use higher ethanol blends than are currently available at the local, non-E85, pump. Comments on the interim rule, which was published on April 14 in the Federal Register, must be received by June 13. See the USDA press release and the rule in the Federal Register .
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EERE Network News is a weekly publication of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
