Department of Energy’s ARPA-E (Transformational Energy Research Project) selects Univenture (Algaeventure Systems) to pursue breakthroughs that could fundamentally change the way we use and produce energy.

Marysville, Ohio—October 26, 2009—Described as a “potentially transformative innovation”, the Department of Energy announced today major funding for continued development of Algaeventure Systems HDD dewatering technology. Univenture’s Algaeventure Systems was formed to explore technology barriers for algae to energy and has been spun into a separate company.

Often described as the greatest cost barrier to algae’s viability as an energy solution, the HDD system reduces the energy costs of dewatering microalgae by over 90%. “The recognition and credibility that ARPA-E provides to our breakthrough technology is extraordinary”, says Ross Youngs, Algaeventure Systems Founder and CEO. “Our technology can be transformational to meeting our nations energy and national security needs.”

Of the $151 million in funding being awarded through the DOE’s recently formed Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), Univenture is slated to receive $5.9 million, the seventh highest award of over 37 highly selected recipients. ARPA-E’s mission is to develop nimble, creative and inventive approaches to transform the global energy landscape while advancing America’s technology leadership. This is the first round of projects funded under ARPA-E.

Inspired by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), ARPA-E was created to support high risk, high reward energy research that can provide transformative new solutions for climate change and energy security. ARPA-E was originally established under the America Competes Act of 2007. In April of this year, President Obama announced $400 million in initial funding for ARPA-E through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

In announcing the selections, Secretary Chu said: “After World War II, America was the unrivaled leader in basic and applied sciences. It was this leadership that led to enormous technological advances. ARPA-E is a crucial part of the new effort by the U.S. to spur the next Industrial Revolution in clean energy technologies, creating thousands of new jobs and helping cut carbon pollution.”

ARPA-E seeks to bring together America’s brightest energy innovators to pioneer a low cost, secure, and low carbon energy future for the nation.

The first ARPA-E solicitation was highly competitive and oversubscribed, with over 3,600 initial concept papers received. Of those, approximately 300 full applications were requested and ultimately 37 final awardees through a rigorous review process with input from multiple review panels composed of leading U.S. energy science and technology experts and ARPA-E’s program managers. Evaluations were based on the potential for high impact on ARPA-E’s goals and scientific and technical merit.

The DOE expressed that Univenture’s (Algaeventure Systems) “application was among those of the very highest scientific and technical merit, and is part of an ARPA-E portfolio of high impact projects that have great potential to revolutionize the U.S. energy sector.”

Lead Research Organization: Univenture, Inc.
Partner Organizations: Rockwell Automation, Ohio University, Case Western Reserve University

DOE Grant Amount
$5,992,697

Lead Organization Location
Marysville, OH

Project Description
Biomass Energy / Direct Solar Fuels A novel algae harvesting system that could dramatically reduce the energy cost necessary to harvest, dewater, and dry algae by using a novel absorbent moving belt harvester. This technology offers the potential to transform the economics of algae-based biofuel production by removing a major barrier to large-scale commercialization.

MARYSVILLE, OH, September 28, 2009

Algaeventure Systems (AVS), the creator of HDD technology, was awarded Algaepreneur for its development of low energy separation technology to harvest, dewater and dry (HDD) microalgae. Often described as a barrier to algae’s viability as a biofuel, the AVS HDD technology reduces the harvest and dewatering costs by over 90%. With each demonstration, consensus is built that the extraordinary breakthrough of HDD technology provides algae with a path toward commercialization.

AVS presented the HDD system to attendees at the National Algae Association (NAA) conference. Included in the presentation was a video illustrating the dewatering process, scanning electron microscope (SEM) illustrations of screen performance compared to high pressure filtering systems, and cost analysis of HDD processing comparative to current dewatering technologies.

Throughout the conference the merits of algae were discussed. The low capex and opex of the HDD systems enables the merits of algae to become realized.

Algaeventure Systems CEO, Ross Youngs shared, “We are grateful for the opportunity the NAA provides in bringing leaders and professionals from around the world to participate and contribute for the collaborative good of the industry. It is through collaboration that we will realize the benefits algae has to offer. We anticipate this is one of many breakthroughs that will be introduced at the NAA”

NAA members and conference attendees were encouraged to attend HDD demonstrations at Algaeventure Systems in Marysville, Ohio.

About Algaeventure Systems, Inc.

Algaeventure Systems, Inc. is part of Univenture, Inc., an environmentally conscious plastics packaging manufacturer bringing to market a variety of patented and award winning molded and converted plastic products that are eco-friendly. Algaeventure Systems, Inc. develops technology and systems for algal production of lipids and biomass, which can be used for fuels, plastics, advanced materials, feeds, foods, and other valuable resources.

For more information on Algaeventure Systems, Inc visit algaevs.com, or contact Amy Bucklin: 937-645-4604 or abucklin@algaevs.com.

NAA Contact
B. Cohen, 936-321-1125
Info@nationalalgaeassociation.com

Univenture, Inc. and AlgaeVenture Systems, a wholly owned LLC in Marysville, Ohio has announced on March 10, 2009 the details of a disruptive solid liquid separation and dewatering technology specifically designed for microalgae. Patent documents have been filed and an operational prototype unit has been demonstrated to collaborators who have participated in research and commercialization proposals.

Prototype and laboratory testing has successfully been achieved with three species attempted including Chlorella vulgaris, Euglena gracilis, and Botryococcus braunii. The company plans to continue development on the process, equipment, and technology and is looking to establish relationships with potential customers, licensees, distributors, as well as funding or investing sources.

For potential customers, funding sources and investors, a demonstration of the equipment is available by appointment in Marysville, Ohio, USA or representatives of the company will be in the Washington DC area the week of Biomass 2009 and appointments are being booked for March 16th, 17th or 18th.

In late March/early April, a description and video of this technology will be available online. Please keep updated on our milestones via our newsletter. If you currently do not subscribe, please sign up at http://www.algaevs.com/

Get an overview of this technology (PDF)

View the technical details (PDF)

Corporate Contact:
Amy Bucklin
AVS Project Manager
(937) 645-4604

Cold came early to the Columbus, Ohio area bringing temperatures to near zero in December and then to nearly 20oF below in January.  Our prime power generator was installed in the middle of December and started providing electricity for our installed research cell and associated systems.  Unfortunately an oil breather port on the prime power generator froze solid during the -19oF reached in January and back pressure pushed the dip stick out of place and the generator automatically shut down once low oil was detected.  Thankfully the protection systems kept the generator from any damage.  The restart took several days and the very, very cold weather has kept the staff from installing the heat exchanger and CO2 distributor.

Without adequate external waste heat (generator will supply the waste heat) we were unable to bring the temperature to target because of the record cold temperatures.  The Algae Growth cell was in the 40oF range for most of December and January.  Vivid green algae was visible through the canopy at those temperatures, even through no nutrients have been introduced into the cell.  During the next 8 weeks full scale growth and harvesting will commence.  At least the outdoor difficulties have not impacted our indoor research, growth, testing, and experimentation, which are continuing unabated.

Micro-Algae Harvesting, Dewatering, Drying has been a bane to the industry for over 3 decades.  AlgaeVS’s highly innovative engineering staff has been researching this issue since early 2008, employing a number of different strategies.  A proof of concept for a unique new technology was successfully tested on January 12th, 2009 and a prototype device is being readied for initial testing.  Provisional patents are filed and patent applications are being readied.  Various options for commercialization of this technology are being considered.  AlgaeVS is not ready to disclose the technology, or make any claims on performance at this time – so stay turned.

In early November the Control building and the TPH prototype (transport process harvest) unit was placed at the ends of our hybrid-closed pond cells one and two. The new temporary buildings allow for engineering staff to work through the cold weather testing and improving the systems and processes. Our experience has really illustrated some key technical success factors that are critical to year-round algae growth.

Now that the control system is in place a number of processes will be installed in the buildings over the next month including harvesting, dewatering, power generation, temperature control units, process control equipment, make up water system, and various other capabilities.

The buildings have been insulated and temporary heating is in place until initial prototype processing that provides waste heats are installed. The entire team has been working around the clock to get the systems installed and algae growth productivity improved.

Our cooling system for controlling temperature of the hybrid-closed ponds has been determined, and as a result of an excellent capacity of a geo-thermal aquifer that when utilized our cooling costs will equate to running a pump.

Last week we harvested and dried small quantities of algae biomass and this week our team will be extracting lipids during initial testing of technologies.

August 28 - Ross with Greg Mitchell and other members of Scripps Institute on a tour led by Carbon Capture management. The tour visited their facilities of operations including open ponds growing extreme autotroph algae.

August 27 - Scripps Institute’s Algae Commercialization Series After Ross’s presentation, “Production of Algae in a Hybrid Pond Photo Bio Reactor, Primarily for Bio-Plastics and Fuel”, lunch on the veranda overlooking the Pacific Ocean from the cliffs in La Jolla, CA.