Texas grants $4 million for algae oil production research

In Texas, the state’s Emerging Technology Fund will provide $4 million to Texas AgriLife Research and General Atomics to conduct microalgae research and development. The two groups have previously identified high-oil content algae strains, and the project will fund research into commercial-scale cultivation of the varietals as well as design and testing of advanced oil separation procedures. The first phase will be a quarter-acre demonstration system, followed by a second-phase commercial-scale production system covering up to 100 acres.

Algae-based research and development continues to pick up in pace, even though the US Defense Department is estimating that the current production cost of algae oil exceeds $20 per gallon. Recent developments include:

• In Virginia, researchers at Old Dominion University have successfully piloted a project to produce biodiesel feedstock by growing algae at municipal sewage treatment plants. The researchers hope that these algae production techniques could lead to reduced emissions of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon dioxide into the air and surrounding bodies of water. The pilot project is producing up to 70,000 gallons of biodiesel per year.
• In Minnesota, Xcel Energy has pledged $150,000 to assist in funding an algae-to-biodiesel research project sponsored by the University and the Metropolitan Council. The grant is a follow-on to more than $4.5 million given to five other University of Minnesota projects from the Xcel Energy Renewable Development Fund.
• The US Department of Energy recently partnered with Chevron in a research effort to develop higher-yield strains of micro algae. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is working on a project with Honeywell, General Electric and the University of North Dakota.
• In Texas, US Sustainable Energy is awaiting lab results from a test of biocrude production using 20 pounds of algae as a feedstock. The company recently ran its initial test of 20 pounds of 5% oil-content algae feedstock with 40 percent water content, and resulted in an ignitable oil product.
• In Arizona, PetroSun BioFuels Refining recently signed a joint venture to develop and operate a 30 Mgy algae biodiesel facility in Coolidge. Construction is projected to commence in the third quarter of this year. Late last fall, PetroSun announced a letter of intent to supply 54 million gallons of algal oil to a new 54 Mgy Bio-Alternatives biodiesel plant in south Louisiana. The initial delivery to Bio-Alternatives refinery will be in the third quarter of 2008.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

Australia pledges $15 million for second generation biofuels research grants; applications accepted through 01/2009

In Australia, the Minister for Resources and Energy announced that the government will provide $15 million in funding for a Second Generation Biofuels Research and Development Program. The program wil...

Beacon Energy to acquire 12 Mgy biodiesel plant in Texas from Smithfield BioEnergy

In Texas, Beacon Energy will purchase the operating assets of Smithfield BioEnergy, including a 12 Mgy biodiesel plant in Cleburne. Beacon will finance the transaction via a private equity placement. ...

National Algae Association to convene networking forum in Texas on July 17

In Texas, the National Algae Association will hold a July 17th forum for networking, research and to present business plans. Algae oil production companies, algae researchers and algaeprenuers will pr...

Secretary Chu announces $25 million advanced biofuels research grant program

In Washington, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced $25 million in grants for R&D on fuels made from non-food energy crops. The grants will be made over four years in a joint program with the USD...

U of Texas researchers, DOE tout algae-to-energy acceleration

Researchers at the University of Texas have been promoting their 3,000 strain collection of algae species; however, UT professor Michael Webber said that the challenge with algae is "price, price, pri...

Novozymes to build $100 million enzyme plant in Nebraska

In Nebraska, Novozymes said that it will construct a 50,000 ton enzyme plant in Blair at a cost of between $80 million and $100 million. The plant will produce enzymes for ethanol production, as well ...