Last month, I told you about how algae-to-biodiesel developer OriginOil, Inc. had decided to go to Australia to test its algae oil extraction process with partner MBD Energy.
Today, I received an update from OriginOil that it has received the first commercial order to deploy its algae oil extraction system in an industrial setting:
MBD Energy (MBD) recently committed to purchase an initial OriginOil extraction unit for piloting at one of Australia’s three largest coal-fired power plants.
“OriginOil’s algae harvesting equipment performed extremely well during preconstruction tests at MBD’s R&D facility at James Cook University,” said Managing Director Andrew Lawson, Managing Director of MBD Energy, Ltd.
“We have every confidence that OriginOil’s algae oil extraction technology will meet our high expectations for the next stage,” Lawson added.
MBD Energy expects OriginOil technology to support a pilot Bio-CCS (Bio-based Carbon Capture and Storage) algal synthesizer system at Queensland’s Tarong Power Station.
The proof of concept phase on a one-hectare site, scheduled for later this year, will use concentrated CO2 emissions to produce oil-rich algae in MBD’s proprietary growth membranes. OriginOil’s unique extraction technology will be used to harvest the algae oil and biomass.
OriginOil CEO Riggs Eckelberry says this system will support the early testing of the company’s technology with intentions to put in a much larger unit capable of processing up to 300 gallons per minute of algae culture for the one-hectare pilot site.
To learn more about OriginOil’s testing in Australia, check out my Domestic Fuel Cast from last month.