Articles & Newsletters
Tuesday, March 10th, 2009
By Eric T. Baumgartner, PhD – Dean of the College of Engineering, Ohio Northern University
A collaborative team consisting of university and industry partners recently submitted a proposal to the Third Frontier Wright Projects program to build a Multi-Species Algae Bioreactor Facility on the campus of Ohio Northern University in Ada. ONU was supported on the proposal effort by AlgaeVS and Marathon Petroleum Company who represent industries that are committed to the development and use of renewable resources such as bioplastics and biodiesel fuels. Rhodes State College and the Edison Materials Technology Center (EMTEC) rounded out the proposal team.
The proposed effort seeks to develop the technology required for a loosely-controlled algae growing system that will allow multiple algae species to thrive within the bioreactor environment. The resulting system will be based around algal communities that grow naturally within Ohio’s freshwater environments. It is expected that the growth and development of naturally-occurring algae species within the bioreactor facility will result in a cost-effective solution to algae farming by achieving consistent algae harvest yields and by reducing the need for tight contamination control techniques and methodologies.
The effort will build on AlgaeVS’s significant activities associated with the development of Rapid Algae Farming systems. Ohio Northern University will also leverage faculty expertise within the College of Engineering and the Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences for the design, construction and implementation of the Multi-Species Algae Bioreactor facility at ONU. The resulting technology solutions within the bioreactor facility will be commercialized in conjunction with AlgaeVS’s Rapid Algae Farming system. In addition, the specific algae oil products that are produced by the Multi-Species Algae Bioreactor facility will be evaluated for commercialization potential by AlgaeVS for use within their various plastic packaging products, by Marathon Petroleum Company for use as a biodiesel product, and by EMTEC as a potential bio-based jet fuel product.
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Friday, January 16th, 2009
On January 15, 2009, Central Ohio’s Agriculture, Business, and the Agriculture Support Community braved the weather and came together for a productive day of learning and discussion.
David Coho, AlgaeVS’s Vice President of Sales, discussed and demonstrated some of the sustainable (crop based) plastic products that AlgaeVS has made over the last couple of years. Among the bio-based packaging shown were the pouches for Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” and Leonardo DiCaprio’s “The Eleventh Hour”. Also shown were the PLA Tradeshow Badge Holders that AlgaeVS now supplies all over the world and a Soybean/Petroleum blended R&D Binder that AlgaeVS has been working on.
Norma McDonald from Phase 3 Renewables was the second presenter and updated the audience on several “waste-to-energy” and “closed-looped” opportunities revolving around anaerobic digesters. Norma explained that the “digestate” or the brown water that comes off these units is high in the nutrients that algae need to grow and flourish. Therefore, future plans are in the works to possibly co-locate the AlgaeVenture RAF (Rapid Algae Farming) system with these anaerobic digesters at dairy farms, swine operations, poultry operations etc.
Ross Youngs, as the final presenter of the day, demonstrated that algae farming makes sense in the Ohio Valley and the Midwest in hybrid covered ponds. The algae and the resulting lipids can be used to make fuels and plastics and a host of other products.
Mr. Youngs showed how the old “Rust Belt” could become the new “Green Gold Belt” because algae can be a “Platform Industry” as it involves technologies in growing, harvesting, dewatering, extraction, and refining. Hundreds of new businesses and jobs could be created in Ohio in the fairly near term.
The meeting ended with a tour of AlgaeVS’s manufacturing facility and a tour of the AlgaeVenture System’s growth cells and buildings.
The farmers that were present asked some fantastic and poignant questions. All departed with a level of excitement to move these technologies to the next level. Mike Vallery, a leading agriculture voice from Madison County said “I am impressed with AlgaeVS’s leadership role they have taken in regards to algae and hope that they and their collaborators bring this affordably to the farmers as soon as possible.”
Representation from the Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center, The Center for Innovative Food Technology, Edison Materials Technology Education Center, and local businesses found the tour to be interesting and wanting to play a part to team and collaborate in making this technology successful in Ohio. Ohio currently stands at a doorway where it can enter into new industries with the leverage of its largest industries – agriculture, fuels, and polymers. In order to achieve this, we have to be prepared to walk through together as a State of progressive thinkers and doers.
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Thursday, January 15th, 2009
By Norma McDonald, Phase 3
Algae cultivation requires four things: light, nutrients, proper temperature, and CO2. All of these can be provided by co-location with livestock operations which incorporate the latest technologies.
An increasing number of US farms are installing anaerobic digestion systems to provide two key benefits versus conventional land application of untreated manure: enhanced environmental management of manure, and, energy independence. The systems are best suited to farms with liquid manure like swine and dairy, but drier manures such as beef, chicken, turkey and horse manure can be mixed with the more liquid sources.
During anaerobic digestion, naturally occurring bacteria decompose the manure to produce biogas which is typically composed of about two-thirds methane (or natural gas). The biogas can be used to generate heat, electricity or be upgraded for insertion into the pipeline or used as compressed natural gas for vehicle fuel. Farms can become energy independent and obtain revenues from selling excess energy production and emission reduction credits.
After digestion, the liquid leaves the digester with several improvements: vastly reduced odor, pathogens, weed seeds, fly larvae and particulate matter. The remaining particulate matter in the effluent can be separated, leaving a warm, homogeneous liquid organic fertilizer that makes a perfect feedstock for algae cultivation. By co-locating, algae cultivation can benefit from these nutrients, and also from the thermal and electrical energy production and vented CO2. Farms can provide the necessary acres for rapid growth photobioreactors, as well as utilize the remaining liquid for irrigation. The expanded farm activities are truly synergistic.
Phase 3 Renewable’s specializes in the development and commercialization of agricultural-based conversion of waste to renewable energy and biobased products, and is collaborating with AlgaeVS AlgaeVenture to commercialize rapid and profitable growth of algae. The two companies are exploring sites for a commercial scale model in 2009.
Phase 3 brings a unique combination of knowledge and practical experience to the marketplace, with a staff that has extensive experience in biobased products including upgraded biogas, fermentation processes, anaerobic digestion, logistics, manufacturing equipment, purchasing, financial management, and marketing. Managers come from farming families, and formal qualifications include electrical, mechanical and biosystems engineering; general contracting and licensed electrical contractor.
Phase 3 has also developed a proprietary decision-support software tool, PATHWAYS 2 PROFIT™, for biogas and energy conversion plants using agricultural and other food wastes. The tool allows farmers and other producers to simultaneously examine all of the options for construction, equipment, biogas production, co-feeds, energy conversion, emission reductions, nutrient management, and funding. The tool integrates data from operating systems around the world and provides the financial and operational perspective needed to make system choices.
Phase 3 is a certified Carbon Credit Aggregator, registered with the Chicago Climate Exchange. Phase 3 is a small, women and veteran-owned and operated business. http://phase3developments.com/
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Thursday, December 4th, 2008
An Expert Team of Collaborators formed to submit proposal to Ohio Third Frontier
By Mike Long, Resource 100 LTD
AlgaeVS and a Who’s Who of collaborators including The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, The Ohio State University, Honda of America Manufacturing, The Ohio Grocers Association, Rockwell Automation, The Center for Innovative Food Technology, Makel Engineering, George J. Igel and Company and Resource100 LTD submitted a Research Commercialization Proposal for a “Scalable and Integrated Waste to Energy System” to the Third Frontier Commission on November 7th.
This unique project, when fully implemented will use an integrated and synergistic system of technologies to provide waste removal, clean water, energy and food on a small footprint of less than 5 acres. AlgaeVS’s rapid algae farm will be the hub of the system which makes the integration possible.
What brings this diverse group of organizations together is a common goal of developing sustainable infrastructures that can lead to development of a sustainable community by ensuring that the development of a zoo, community, or nation makes smart infrastructure improvements that do not deplete natural resources. Therefore, the transition and adoption of policies and actions that rely on renewable resources figure heavily into the development of sustainable infrastructures including the zoo project which AlgaeVS and the collaborators want to replicate around the globe.
The collaborators on the proposed RCP project will:
- Receive Honda cafeteria & zoo restaurant food waste, mix it with zoo animal waste & anaerobically digest the mixture, assuring it does not go into a landfill or incinerator.
- Produce digester gas to be converted into electricity in the Makel Engineering engine.
- Produce compost that can be used in landscaping & food production.
- Produce a nutrient rich liquid from the digester which will be modeled by The Ohio State University / OARDC & controlled by technology from Rockwell Automation to provide “food” for AlgaeVS’s algae farm.
- Harvest & dewater the algae producing oil which will then be atomized & fed into the Makel engine to make electricity or ultimately be used to produce biodiesel fuel.
- Take the remaining biomass from the algae & either anaerobically digest it to produce more gas & electricity or use it as an animal feed based on recommendations of the animal nutritionists at the zoo & Ohio State.
- Rockwell Automation will develop software & control systems for system integration.
- CIFT & Resource100 LTD will provide systems engineering & project management.
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Saturday, November 15th, 2008
In August, AlgaeVS participated in 11 Letters of Intent (LOI) with multiple research organizations for Ohio’s Third Frontier Advanced Energy Program (TFAEP). Additionally, 6 proposals were submitted for grant consideration. Our research partners’ vast capabilities, skills and experience has led to effective collaboration and definable progress from their scientists and engineers. “We are extremely encouraged by the scientific and engineering community’s support of the opportunity to work toward clean energy and feedstocks from algae. Each organization brings a strong focus on achievement” says Ross Youngs, AlgaeVS’s CEO and the principal entrepreneur /inventor. “AlgaeVS and our company’s associates have an established record of success with the commercialization of new technologies and products from conception. Our commercialization experience coupled with our partners’ experience, vision and tenacity provides a platform to accelerate the successful implementation at scale.”
A Third Frontier Research Commercialization Program (RCP) LOI will be submitted for a Scalable and Integrated Waste to Energy System. This proposal will be submitted with the support and contribution of our collaborative partners on November 7th. In addition, the TFAEP is requesting LOIs for the next set of advanced energy proposals. We have plans to work with many of our existing and additional researchers on putting together LOIs that will be due to Third Frontier by December 7th.
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