Algae Farms American Energy Independence will be achieved when all cars, trucks and buses on U.S. highways
are powered by transportation fuels produced in the USA.
Widescale
Biodiesel Production from Algae
By Michael Briggs, University of New Hampshire, Physics Department
As more evidence comes out daily of the ties between the leaders
of petroleum producing countries and terrorists (not to mention the
human rights abuses
in their own countries), the incentive for finding an alternative to
petroleum rises higher and higher. The environmental problems of petroleum
have
finally been surpassed by the strategic weakness of being dependent on
a fuel that can only be purchased from tyrants. The economic strain
on
our country resulting from the $100-150 billion we spend every year buying
oil from other nations [in 2003 dollars—when oil cost less than
$30 per barrel], combined with the occasional need to use military
might to protect and secure oil reserves our economy depends on just
makes matters worse (and using military might for that purpose just
adds to
the anti-American sentiment that gives rise to terrorism). Clearly, developing
alternatives to oil should be one of our nation's highest priorities.
In the United States, oil is primarily used for transportation -
roughly two-thirds of all oil use, in fact. So, developing an alternative
means
of powering our cars, trucks, and buses would go a long way towards weaning
us, and the world, off of oil. While the so-called "hydrogen economy" receives
a lot of attention in the media, there are several very serious problems
with using hydrogen as an automotive fuel. For automobiles, the
best alternative at present is clearly biodiesel, a fuel that can be
used in existing diesel engines with no changes, and is made from vegetable
oils or animal fats rather than petroleum.
In this paper, I will first examine the possibilities of producing biodiesel
on the scale necessary to replace all petroleum transportation fuels in
the U.S.
Read more...
After you finish reading the above paper by Michael Briggs, read
Water For Algae Farms. Then we will take a closer look at Michael Briggs'
numbers and combine his proposal with the concepts presented in Water For Algae Farms.
Because this web site is intended for an American audience, the examples
that follow are presented in feet and acres, in place
of the metric system values, meters and hectares, which Michael Briggs
uses in his paper.
You do not need to be an engineer or mathematician to understand the
following examples. If you can balance your checkbook, you have the
skill
to “Do the math,” and prove to yourself and others that American
Energy Independence can be achieved with alternative fuels like biodiesel
made from microalgae.
First, consider if you will, a treaty between the United States and Mexico,
where Mexico grants the U.S. a permanent right-of-way to the Gulf of
California for the purpose of building a seawater canal that will transport
a large
and continuous flow of seawater from the Gulf of California into the
USA. For the sake of discussion, let us assume that a canal has already
been
built between the Gulf of California and the Salton Sea; and that the
Salton Sea will serve as a transfer reservoir.
Now, visualize a large aqueduct
between the Salton Sea and Death Valley where a second inland sea has
formed, approximately the size of the Salton Sea. From these two inland
seas, several aqueducts extend out into the deserts of the Southwestern
United States; Reaching into Arizona and Nevada.
Of the many and various desert farms, ranches and
communities served by the aqueducts, there will be forty-thousand algae
farms, having
a total
water surface area of 250 acres each. Two-hundred and fifty acres multiplied
by forty-thousand farms equals a total of ten million acres of shallow
water algae ponds, dedicated for the purpose of growing non-food renewable
biomass for the production of transportation fuels.
Each farm would have many ponds. Here is a picture of what a single pond
might look like:
The pond would be shallow and the water would flow around the circle,
making it easy to harvest the algae.
These are salt water algae ponds. Therefore, increasing levels of
salinity caused by evaporation will be a problem. However, the problem
can be solved by diluting the ponds with fresh water produced from
desalinated
seawater. Whenever new seawater, taken from the aqueduct, is
added to the pond, desalinated seawater can be added too. Solar energy
can power the desalination equipment. A new industry would develop to
capitalize on
the
salt and minerals
extracted
from the process of desalination.
The readily available seawater solves the problem of evaporation, allowing
full exploitation of the abundant sunlight. And desalination provides
a source of local fresh water to dilute the salty pond water, keeping
the salinity levels constant. Solar
ponds can be built adjacent to the algae ponds to provide heat
during cold desert nights.
1 hectare = 2.47 acres. Michael Briggs gave an estimate of $80,000 per
hectare for the construction costs to build the algae ponds.
$80,000 divided by 2.47 = 32,390 rounded. We will say $32,500 per acre.
$32,500 times 250 acres = $8,125,000 construction costs for a 250 acre
algae farm.
$8,125,000 times 40,000 farms = $325,000,000,000 to construct ten million
acres of algae ponds.
That is Three Hundred and Twenty-Five BILLION dollars to construct the
algae ponds. This does not include the cost of constructing the many
distributed
biorefineries
that will be needed to process the algae and make the biodiesel (and
to make the 10% methanol ingredient, etc.) Several adjacent algae farms
could
co-op a biorefinery, and/or the biorefinery could be the industrial center
that defines an algae farming community.
Michael Briggs also provided an estimate of $12,000 per hectare for operating
costs (including power consumption, labor, chemicals, and fixed capital
costs).
$12,000 divided by 2.47 = 4,860 rounded. We will say $5,000 per acre
for operating costs.
$5,000 times 250 acres = $1,250,000 annual operating costs for a 250
acre algae farm.
The University of New Hampshire Biodiesel Group also provided the
following information on their Algae
ponds:
“Micro algaes present the best option for producing biodiesel in
quantities sufficient to completely replace petroleum. While traditional
crops have yields of around 50-150 gallons of biodiesel per acre per
year, algaes can yield 5,000-20,000 gallons per acre per year. Algaes
grow best off of waste streams. Agricultural, animal, or human. Some
other studies have looked into designing raceway algae ponds to be fed
by agricultural or animal waste. We are now pursuing funding to investigate
redesigning wastewater treatment plants to use raceway algae ponds as
the primary treatment phase. With the dual goal of treating the waste
and growing algae for biodiesel extraction. We also plan to investigate
the possibility of using the algae mush (what is left after extracting
the oil) as a fertilizer.”
5,000 to 20,000 gallons per acre per year. That is a wide range. Will
seawater provide enough nutrients? Would micro algaes grown in waste streams
be more productive than algaes grown in seawater?
In his paper, under the section titled: How much biodiesel,
Michael Briggs concluded that 140,800,000,000 (140.8 billion) gallons
of biodiesel could replace 100% of the petroleum transportation fuels
consumed in the United States annually, without requiring a big change
in driving behavior or automotive technology. Although he did assume
everyone would switch to diesel engines because of the superior efficiency
of diesel
compared to gasoline engines, and he did point to the new diesel-hybrid
cars and trucks that are now becoming available, and the promise of
new
diesel engine technology on the horizon. (And, of course Michael Briggs
was not implying that existing gasoline engines would run on biodiesel.
The purpose of the paper is to answer the question HOW MUCH BIODIESEL
is needed to free the USA from oil dependence.)
140.8 billion gallons divided by ten million acres = 14,080 gallons
per acre (per year).
If the algae ponds fail to yield enough micro algae oil to produce 14,080
gallons of biodiesel per acre per year, then ten million acres will not
be enough to yield the target goal of 140.8 billion gallons per year.
Hey, we have plenty of fresh seawater, lots of sunshine and unlimited
enthusiasm, so we will assume the algae ponds average 15,000 gallons
per
(pond surface area) acre, per year - if not, we will hire
the best plant geneticists money can buy, and breed those little algae until
they reach super algae status!
Based on Michael Briggs’ estimates, we were able to show that an algae farm
with 250 acres of pond surface area would have $1,250,000 annual operating expenses.
15,000 gallons per acre times 250 acres = 3,750,000 gallons per algae
farm per year.
$1,250,000 divided by 3,750,000 gallons = 33.3333 cents per gallon operating
costs.
10,000 gallons per acre times 250 acres = 2,500,000 gallons per algae
farm per year.
$1,250,000 divided by 2,500,000 gallons = 50 cents per gallon operating
costs.
5,000 gallons per acre times 250 acres = 1,250,000 gallons per algae
farm per year.
$1,250,000 divided by 1,250,000 gallons = 100 cents ($1) per gallon operating
costs.
Did Michael Briggs’ estimates of operating costs include the cost
of the initial capital investment? How much will it cost to pay off the
$32,500 per acre loan for the initial construction costs (the $80,000
per hectare)?
That is: $32,500 times 250 acres = $8,125,000 construction costs for
a 250 acre algae farm.
Let us assume a zero Interest federally insured loan spread over 20
years with a single payment of 1/20th of the principle due each year.
$8,125,000 divided by 20 years = $406,250 cost of debt per year per 250
acre algae farm.
$406,250 divided by 3,750,000 gallons = 10.8333 cents per gallon cost
of debt (at 15,000 gallons per acre).
$406,250 divided by 2,500,000 gallons = 16.25 cents per gallon cost of
debt (at 10,000 gallons per acre).
$406,250 divided by 1,250,000 gallons = 32.5 cents per gallon cost of
debt (at 5,000 gallons per acre).
Worst case scenario at 5,000 gallons per acre = $1.33 per gallon total
expense (operation costs + debt payments)
The worst case scenario total expense of $1.33 is for FEEDSTOCK only,
and does not pay for the processing at the biorefinery to produce the
final consumable gallon of biodiesel.
If the annual yield is only 5,000 gallons per acre, then the worse case
scenario for feedstock is $1.325 times 42 = $55.65 per barrel of oil equivalent.
If the annual yield is 10,000 gallons per acre, then we would see a
more rosy scenario for feedstock at .6625 cents times 42 = $27.83 per
barrel of oil equivalent.
If the annual yield is 15,000 gallons per acre, then the cost of producing
algae biodiesel feedstock would be .442 cents times 42 = $18.56 per barrel
of oil equivalent. Very competitive with petroleum at low prices.
Don’t’ forget we have not added a profit yet.
If the farm earned 10 cents per gallon profit, then:
15,000 gallons times 250 acres times 10 cents = $375,000 per year net
earnings.
10,000 gallons times 250 acres times 10 cents = $250,000 per year net
earnings.
5,000 gallons times 250 acres times 10 cents = $125,000 per year net
earnings.
The idea of a 250 acre farm has a very important purpose, indicated by
the potential net earnings:
The U.S. congress can pass legislation to make this happen, with the
condition that each of the 40,000 farms be given to qualified farmers.
The qualifications would be pre-defined in the legislation. Corporations
and foreign entities would not qualify. Only United States farmers could
qualify—Willie Nelson farmers.
You can’t get any more American than that. And, it would not be
socialism. It would be 21st century Americanism, while allowing
our nation to pursue its own self-interest—Achievement of Energy
Independence. Adam Smith would be proud.
• The 250 acre farm in the above example describes
250 acres of pond surface area. The actual land area required for
each farm would be more than 250 acres, in order to include space for
roads
and processing facilities.
NOTICE: Experience
with open pond algae production has shown significant problems. Although
the final stage of algae oil production—converting
the lipids into biodiesel—is a proven cost effective process, growing
the microalgae lipids in open ponds is not so easy.
Unfortunately, the high yield, high lipid-content algae strains are
contaminated when
grown in open ponds.
The open ponds are invaded
by local species, which are often low lipid-content algae strains that
dominate the weaker high-lipid algae; causing lipid production
to suffer. Research is focused on genetically altering the algae, attempting
to develop a dominate high-lipid strain.
An enclosed system of bioreactors will solve the problem, but: Open ponds
are desirable because they are less expensive than bioreactors, similar
to the
cost differences
between
conventional
farming and hot-house farming. Where the hot house delivers advantages,
but at a much higher cost. Open ponds make possible large inexpensive
surface areas which allow shallow ponds where sunlight can easily reach
the algae. A closed system requires expensive lighting,
and expensive covering.
September
24-27, 2012: 2012
Algae Biomass Summit — Denver, Colorado, USA
Support of Algae Biofuels as Viable Source of Green Energy Gains Momentum
In the world of biofuels, 2010 is officially the year of the autotrophic
organism as dozens of companies and academic laboratories race to transform
algae into a source of viable green energy, according to Algae Biofuels
Production Technologies Worldwide by leading industrial market research
firm SBI Energy. The endgame of these research efforts — which include
genetic engineering and other biological techniques that create chemically
induced mutations to improve how algae functions — is to domesticate
algae, to make it a crop highly efficient at converting sunlight and
carbon dioxide
into lipids and oils that can be sent to a refinery and made into replacements
for conventional gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and ethanol, as well as
various other chemicals.
“Algae can be cultivated and harvested in support of a wide array
of biofuel products. In addition, algae biofuels systems hold promise
to enable rapid production of high quality, high throughput biofuels systems
in support of carbon emissions reductions targets, and in support of
clean
fuel production,” says Robert Eckard, SBI Energy analyst and author
of the report. “The U.S. Department of Energy's recent $24 million
commitment to a trio of research groups determined to bring algae biofuels
to market indicates just how much potential this industry holds.”
At its current stage, the algae biofuels industry is primarily pursuing
pilot and demonstration-scale algae cultivation projects and algae biofuels
production facility projects. Due in part to the wide array of production
technologies available, pilot projects are expected to continue through
2015 following the completion of demonstration-scale and commercial-scale
projects that will result from varying stages of business activities between
algae biofuels companies. Most announced development is currently within
the U.S., although smaller peripheral markets in the European Union and
Asia are expected to emerge due to collaborations with the U.S. algae biofuels
industry or as a result of research programs beginning in 2010-2012. The
U.S. is forecast to represent over 82% of the global market for open pond
algae cultivation systems from 2010-2015, while the EU and Asian markets
are respectively expected to claim 11% and 7%.
The major factors for algae biofuels technology market growth include trends
in the prices and commodity markets for fossil fuels, regulatory support
and incentives available to the algae biofuels industry for industry growth,
growing investment in the algae biofuels industry, and contemporary industry
activity focused on reducing the operational and capital costs associated
with algae biofuels production. The high market growth projected for algae
cultivation systems is based upon the growing volume of pilot, demonstration-scale,
and emergent commercial-scale projects currently planned by companies within
the algae biofuels industry. More than a dozen projects with over $25 million
in algae cultivation system costs are projected through 2015.
Source: Algae Biofuels Production Technologies Worldwide August
16, 2010
forums:
Biodiesel from Algae
References:
Algae fuel
Algaculture
U.S. Department of Energy Microalgal Biofuels Projects
Algae Research in Full Bloom at U.S. NREL
European Algae Biomass Association
Oilgae.com — Oil from Algae! —Information,
Resources & Links
History of USDOE Aquatic Species Program
YouTube videos:
–San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology
–Algae Biomass Summit 4 - Perspectives on genetic engineering —Dr. Stephen Mayfield, Director of the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology and Professor at University of California San Diego.
–Perspectives
from Leaders in the Algae Industry —Dr. Margaret McCormick, COO of Targeted Growth, Inc, and Chairperson of the Algal Biomass Organization's Board of Directors, discusses the current and future status of the algae industry.
–Perspectives
from Leaders in the Algae Industry —Dr. Greg Mitchell, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego.
–Perspectives
from Leaders in the Algae Industry —Bill Glover, Vice President for Environment & Public Policy for The Boeing Company, discusses his company's interest in and support of the algae industry.
–Algae: The World's Most Important Plants —The important roles algae have played in the development of life as we know it.
–The Biology and Business of Biofuels: Algae as Biofuel
Growing Algae in Bioreactors:
Arizona State University (ASU)
James Madison University
Colorado State University — Algae on the Edge
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