Algae Meal Performs as Dairy Cattle Feed

Joanna Schroeder

With the demand for meat rising in countries like China and India, there is a shortage of protein in the marketplace. Therefore, one of the hopeful co-products of algal biofuels is algae meal. PetroAlgae has announced that after completion of a third-party feed trial, its micro-crop meal performs as well as alfalfa in dairy cattle diets. The global market for …

Agribusiness, algae

Texas Looks to Algae As Next Cash Crop

Joanna Schroeder

According to Texas AgriLife Research scientists in Corpus Christi, microalgae may be the next cash crop. There are an estimated 200,000 to 800,000 species of microscopic freshwater and marine microalgae, yet only 35,000 species have been described. Researchers around the globe are trying to discover the best algae species for producing biofuels. “It’s a huge, untapped source of fuel, food, …

algae, biofuels, Research

Researchers Study Alage in Roman Baths for Biofuels

Joanna Schroeder

Here is an interesting place to find feedstock for biodiesel – the Roman Baths. University of Bath researchers in the Department of Biology & Biochemistry are studying the algae growing in the Roman Baths as a source to produce biodiesel. The algae, growing in high temperature waters of the bath, may be a key to meeting growing biofuel needs. Holly …

algae, biofuels, Research

Ethanol Attacks in California Continue

Joanna Schroeder

Policymakers in California are once again attacking its ethanol industry. Led by California Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), she has plans in the works to limit incentives for production and use of biofuels that would cause taxes to be raised, an increase in use of foreign oil, reduce jobs, and increase pollution. According to the California Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (CEVC), Sen. …

algae, biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Legislation, Opinion

Biofuel IPOs On The Rise

Joanna Schroeder

The biofuels industry is making a come-back with several successful IPOs (initial public offering) over the past few months. Today, KiOR announced its initial public offering of 10,000,000 shares of Class A common stock at $15 per share. The company raised nearly $138 million of proceeds from the IPO which occurred on June 24. Other successful IPO’s include the much-awaited …

algae, biofuels, biomaterials, Opinion

Sydney, Australia Home of New Algal Biomass Facility

Joanna Schroeder

Algae.Tec Limited in collaboration with Manildra Group have announced the construction of an algae demonstration facility in Shoalhaven One, in Nowra south of Sydney, Australia. Manildra Group is the country’s largest ethanol producer. Algae.Tec Executive Roger Stroud said the partnership contract has been signed and final logistical plans are being made and submissions for permits are also in the works. …

algae, biofuels, International

Navy Seahawk Helicopter Flies with Algae

Joanna Schroeder

The US Navy has successfully flown an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter test flight using a 50/50 blend of biojet fuel using Solazyme’s Solajet HRJ-5, derived 100 percent from algae. This test flight, which took place on June 20, marks the first military aircraft ever to fly on algal-based biojet fuel. Just last week, ASTM International gave preliminary specs and approval for …

algae, biofuels, biojet fuel, Video

Algae to Omega Chooses LumiGrow

Joanna Schroeder

Algae to Omega, an algae company focused on producing algae crops in vertical indoor farms, has chosen LumiGrow to provide its lighting solutions for its facility in Oakland Park, Florida. The LED efficient lights are being utilized to increase algae crop yield. The algae is used for high-value products including cosmetics, fish meal and nutritional supplements. During the day the …

algae, biomaterials

DFCast: The Biofuels Industry Gets Married

Joanna Schroeder

The biofuels industry got married when a first generation ethanol plant walked down the isle with a second generation algae plant in Shenandoah, Iowa. BioProcess Algae and Green Plains Renewable Energy (GPRE) tied the knot and celebrated their anniversary last month with the announcement that their first babies, a set of Grower Harvester bioreactors, went online. This marked the last …

algae, biofuels, Domestic Fuel Cast, Environment, Ethanol

BIOfuel From Algae Technologies Project Launched

Joanna Schroeder

A new international project is kicking off to produce biofuels from algae. The BIOfuel From Algae Technologies (BIOFAT) project is supported by nine partners based in seven countries and the goal is to show that ethanol, biodiesel and bioproducts call all be produced at large scale from algae. Algae supporters believe algal biofuels can be produced in an efficient, economic …

algae, biofuels, International