CleanTech San Diego has been ranked in the top 10 of global clean tech clusters. Pretty amazing considering that the organization was only founded in 2007 through an initiative of the mayor’s office and several local businesses. The organization that created the ranking, Sustainable World Capital, has created a global clean tech organization of which CleanTech San Diego is a …
Navy to Fuel Boats with Biofuels
There will be a Wrigtht Brothers reenactment on Friday as the U.S. Navy prepares to fuel a boat with biofuels. Okay, so I fibbed a bit in the lead….it’s a boat, not a plane, and the boat will be fueled by biofuels and not jet fuel, but you get the point. The full power demonstration of a Riverine Command Boat …
Flux Capicitor Travels in Time to Return With Algal Fuels
Just in time for the 25th anniversary of Back to the Future, the flux capacitor is back in action. Only this time, it’s not taking us back in time – it’s bringing us fuel. Last week, a bubble-maker that mimics the flux capacitor in looks alone, was awarded the Royal Society’s Brian Mercer award for innovation, a £250,000 prize. The …
Algenol Opens New R&D Algae Lab
Algenol Biofuels has officially christened its new biofuels and green chemistry lab and R&D facility in Fort Myers, FL yesterday with a ribbon cutting celebration. On hand for the event were U.S. Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.), Lee County Commission Chairwoman Tammy Hall, Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah, and Algenol Founder and Chief Executive Officer Paul Woods. The lab in part, …
Farming For Algae
Steve Mayfield, the Director of the San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology, believes that we need new sources and new revenue streams for agriculture. The most important element of the crop, says Mayfield, is that it can’t complete with existing agriculture. His answer? Algae. Algae, says Mayfield, is going to be the next big agricultural crop. The only difference is …
New Algae Incubator Program Launches
The National Algae Association is launching a new Algae Production Incubator Program for qualified algaepreneurs. The program begins on October 1, 2010 and is considered the first Algae Production Incubator starting in the U.S. More specifically, it will be a new algae farming cooperative. For people and companies who are interested in developing algae for various markets including jet fuel, …
Key Vote in US House Moves Forward Algae Biofuels
A key vote in the U.S. House of Representatives has moved forward a measure that will help the nation’s algae biofuels industry. Passage of H.R. 4168, the Algae-based Renewable Fuel Promotion Act, garnered praise from Sapphire Energy for two key Congressmen, Reps. Harry Teague (D-NM) and Brian Bilbray (R-CA) whose bi-partisan support lead to the bill’s passage: Congress took the …
Arizona Provides $2 Mil for Algae to Biofuel Development
The state of Arizona is providing $2 million to support research and development of alternative fuels, especially the development of algae into biofuels. KPHO-TV in Phoenix reports Gov. Jan Brewer made the announcement during this week’s Algal Biomass Organization’s national conference in Phoenix: “Our state has the potential to be a national and global leader in algae research and biotechnology, …
OriginOil Launches Service to Help Algae Oil Industry
California-based OriginOil, Inc. has launched a new service that lends the company’s expertise to other potential algae oil producers. The company announced its professional “expert services” at the recent National Algae Association meeting in Houston, Texas: “For the past three years, hundreds of large companies, entrepreneurs, development agencies and investors have asked for our help in launching their algae programs,” …
Green Star to Build Algae-to-Biodiesel Plant
Utah-based Green Star Products, Inc. has announced it will build an algae-to-biodiesel refinery on the west coast. This company press release says Green Star has already started building the 13 modules to process the algae oil into biodiesel: The algae to biodiesel plant will be rated initially at two million gallons per year with all necessary provisions incorporated so that …