Algae Biodiesel Maker Updates Progress
Algae-biodiesel maker PetroSun, Inc. has released reports on the progress of three keys areas for the company: the domestic algae-to-biofuels program, algae derived co-products and alternative energy programs:
D.O.E. Integrated Biorefinery Proposal (DE-FOA-0000096)
The D.O.E. Integrated Biorefinery oral presentation was completed on October 15th by the University of Arizona-led team that included Texas A&M, Los Alamos National Lab, Air Liquide, Lurgi and PetroSun. The D.O.E. moderator indicated that a decision on the awards for this program is anticipated during December 2009.
Gulf Coast Algaculture Lease Program
This program was placed on hold until acceptable terms are reached for the capital required to retrofit the existing aquaculture farm ponds for commercial algae production. The global economic crisis crippled the capital markets during the past twelve months that PetroSun had engaged for this program, but those markets and new sources of foreign investment are now in the negotiation stage to provide potential funding for this program.
Business Model Moving Forward
The future implementation and operation of the commercial algae integrated biorefinery facilities by PetroSun BioFuels in the Gulf Coast Algaculture Program and the pilot scale Arid Raceway Integrated Design designed in collaboration with the University of Arizona team. The focus of the algae operation is to produce algal oil for conversion to fuel, recognizing however that a major revenue contributor to the program will be the value of the co-products, including animal feed and fertilizer.
PetroSun, Inc. is a diversified energy company with technology and operations in oil, natural gas and helium exploration, as well as algae-biodiesel.
1 Comment »
Clive Richardson
Engineering the commercially viable Algaculture of oil rich algae is not technically possible. There are several limiting factors that seem not to be a concern of the development companies that are engaging with this exercise. Not least the requirement for strategic location sensitivities.
The driving force behind the program is a desire to create a sustainable “well” of resources similar to a fossil oil well. However; oil in the ground is already a primary product. The oil processing technologies only require to be fed this primary product in order to produce the wide range of commodities we use for energy and many other functions.
With plant or Algae oil we have to incur the costs of Horticulture/Agriculture or Algaculture which are in addition to traditional costs of fossil fuel use.
We also have to incur the costs associated with the breakdown of plant biomass when compared to fossil oil breakdown into commodities. The utility of derivatives is limited to lower values than that derived from fossil fuels. This also limits the commercial viability for the distribution of plant derived energy and additional products.
Only at strategic locations in the sub tropical regions can one consider that drop in fuels plus alternative CHP opportunities have economic viability, when considered for decentralised energy solutions.
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