Proposed Algae-to-Biofuels Pilot Facility on Cape Cod

Proposed Algae-to-Biofuels Pilot Facility on Cape Cod
8 August 2009
Under the leadership of Massachusetts-based Plankton Power and the Regional Technology Development Corp. (RTDC) of Cape Cod, the Massachusetts National Guard, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), and Cape Cod Commission are forming a public-private consortium to establish the Cape Cod Algae Biorefinery.

The new facility will focus on pilot- and commercial-scale development of algae biodiesel that is cost-competitive with existing petroleum- and vegetable-based fuels, with improved performance characteristics.

The planned biorefinery is proposed for construction on five acres of land on the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) in Bourne, Massachusetts, supported by the Massachusetts National Guard pending legal and regulatory reviews. The pilot facility will provide the required infrastructure for testing commercial scale-up of an algae-growth technology resulting from 20 years of cold saltwater species research and production.

The Cape Cod Algae Biorefinery Consortium recently submitted a $20 million proposal to the US Department of Energy (DOE) that would leverage $4 million in private funding to construct the proposed facility. MassDevelopment, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and Loud Fuel Company are also supporting the initiative.

Beginning in autumn 2010, Plankton Power expects to initiate pilot-scale operations to generate up to one million gallons of biodiesel per year—enough fuel to supply Cape Cod’s current biodiesel usage. The company projects that commercial-scale operations on 100 acres could eventually yield 100 million gallons of biodiesel, which would meet 5% of the demand for diesel and home heating fuel in the state of Massachusetts.

Plankton Power applies proprietary technologies to create cost-effective, low carbon-emitting, 100% renewable biofuel products from cold-saltwater algae species. The company’s algae crude, biodiesel, biojet fuel, and other products are derived from a patent-pending technology that is the culmination of 20 years of research.

Plankton’s fully contained recirculating algae production system uses closed ponds and novel algae-to-fuel bioreactors and recycles much of the nutrient content and virtually all the water used in production, minimizing environmental impact. Plankton was incorporated in 2007 and is based in Wellfleet, Massachusetts.

August 8, 2009 in Brief | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Comments
An interesting idea. It will be miraculous if all these players can actually make something with commercial viability. After digging around the Plankton b.g. it seems they have acquired the Greenfuels bioreactor IP as well as a former designer of the same. These are greenhouse type closed grow ponds utilizing naturally occurring algae species.

One of the biggest problems for bioreactors has been methods to circulate fast growing algae through the photosynthesis cycle. Race ponds enclosed or otherwise suffer the same problem. How to cycle algae so increasing biomass gets even exposure to light. This seems to be a major challenge for any bioreactor design and will be the challenge for this consortium. One solution is active separation via controlled fluid dynamics - a proprietary IP.

But they are on the right track with utilization of waste water nutrients, ocean water and State land. They may want to consider using GMO algae with lipid yields higher than the 25% from wild species. We wish them good luck and congratulations on an imaginative adventure.