10th January, 2011
Algae Fuels – Are You Upto the Challenge?
Hi all,
This is the second note I am sending within a week for the team being
formed for an ambitious algae fuel project (see my earlier note from
here - http://www.oilgae.com/mlist/archives/6_jan_2011.html ). This is
undertaken by one of India's most prestigious companies with a history
of overcoming daunting challenges. Oilgae is assisting the company in
putting together a world class team that can come up with breakthrough
ideas to make algae fuels a reality.
The project will be predominantly based out of India, so you should be
willing to relocate and work in India, or at least be based out of
India part of the time.
After I sent the earlier note, I had a number of enquiries in which I
was specifically asked about the type of research that needs be
undertaken. I felt I could answer many of these queries by providing
details of the analysis Oilgae had done on the various challenges.
These challenges will give you an idea of the types of expertise that
our client is looking for in their ideal team.
Challenges and Required Expertise
Challenges outlined are as follows:
Strain Selection
Producing and Maintaining High Yields
CO2 Capture at Power Plants and Transportation to Ponds/PBRs
Overcoming Contamination in Open Cultivation Systems
Enhancing the Algal CO2 Capture %
Photobioreactor Design
Harvesting and Drying
Conversion of Algae Oil to Biodiesel
Energy Consumption
Strain Selection – The most important oil-bearing algae strains have
been researched for over two decades. While some of these strains do
present attractive potential, scientists are yet to zoom into one
strain or a small set of strains that will have all the desired
traits. In this context, opinion is divided on the best way to go
forward - natural strains or genetically modified strains. In order to
find solutions for the key challenges present in this stage, we feel
that one or more of the following experts will be required: Algal
biologists, Botanists, Marine biologists, Genetic engineers/molecular
biologists
Producing and Maintaining High Yields – Literature and a few pilot
programs suggest that algae can produce yields of up to 100 T of dry
biomass per hectare per year and about 30 T oil, even under open
cultivation systems. On the other hand, rarely have these numbers been
achieved in reality. What are the key factors that really hold back
the actual potential of algae in this regard? How can we overcome
these? In order to find answers for these, professionals who are
specifically focusing on algae metabolism and related aspects will be
required.
CO2 Capture at Power Plants and Transportation to Ponds/PBRs – A
concentrated CO2 source is critical for algal growth. By using large
quantities of CO2 emitted from power plants for this, we also tackle
the problem of climate change and global warming. However, there are
many challenges for CO2 capture, transportation and distribution to
ponds or photobioreactors. We feel that innovative experts/researchers
in chemical and process engineering will be a useful addition to the
team in this context.
Overcoming Contamination in Open Cultivation Systems – While open
ponds are more economical than closed and controlled systems such as
photobioreactors, they have significantly higher disturbances from the
external environment, the chief among these being contamination.
Overcoming the contamination and related challenges will require the
expertise of botanists and aquaculture specialists.
Enhancing the Algal CO2 Capture % – With high yields and at
approximately 1.8 T of CO2 capture per T of algae biomass, algae is a
serious candidate in our fight against global warming. However, in the
real world, less than 50% of the CO2 delivered to the open pond
systems is captured by the algae, owing to a variety of factors. How
can this rate be increased substantially? What innovative ideas from
biologists and engineers could achieve this? For answers to these,
research will be required in the domains of algal metabolism and plant
biotechnology.
Photobioreactor Design – Photobioreactors can result in up to 3X
productivity increases – even the critics agree to this. But
photobioreactors are prohibitively expensive today both in their
capital and operating costs, owing primarily to equipments such as
pumps, degassers and lighting and sensor systems. Are there creative
ways by which photobioreactor costs could be brought down by an order
of magnitude? Engineers with backgrounds in innovative systems design
and bioprocess systems could come in handy for this.
Harvesting and Drying – Harvesting algae, especially microalgae, is no
joke – it takes large external energy inputs. Dewatering and drying
pose similar challenges. Traditional methods to harvest and dry
microalgae will not make the cut. Disruptive concepts and innovations
that can make harvesting and drying effective and economical need to
conceptualized by professionals such as cellular physiologists,
biologists & system engineers.
Conversion of Algae Oil to Biodiesel: Algal oil has not been used on a
large scale so far to produce biodiesel. As a result, the lipid
chemistry in the context of conversion to fuel is not well understood.
In addition, oil from different algae strains could vary significantly
in their chemistry and these could pose specific challenges – for
instance, high amounts of Free Fatty Acids (FFA) in oil from specific
strains could create problems during transesterification. The team
will require innovative chemical engineers to find suitable solutions
to these challenges.
Energy Consumption – There is a need to reduce energy consumption at
every stage of the algae-to-fuel value chain, whether the option is
open pond or photobioreactors. For instance, paddle wheels for open
ponds and control systems for photobioreactors are electricity
guzzlers. How can we use our existing knowledge of algae metabolism,
physics and an intimate knowledge of nature to reduce energy
consumption without affecting algae yield? Solving this puzzle will
require combined efforts from creative engineers, physicists as well
as maverick thinkers.
The Ideal Team
We are assisting our client in getting together a team comprising
best-of-breed experts to tackle all the above discussed challenges.
The challenges can be broadly classified into biological and
engineering challenges. Thus, two specific types of researchers are
required – those excited about bringing about biological breakthroughs
and others who are passionate about coming up with novel ideas to
solve to intractable engineering problems. Beyond these, a can-do
attitude is required in order to succeed in this highly challenging
domain.
If you feel you have the potential to come up with breakthrough ideas
and can be a key contributor to this exciting research venture, this
is an opportunity you shouldn't miss.
Interested? Send your profile and related details to Sumukhi
Sreevatsan - s.sreevatsan@oilgae.com
Narasimhan Santhanam
Co-founder & Director
Oilgae – Home of Algae Energy @ www.oilgae.com
narsi@oilgae.com
Updated Comprehensive Oilgae Report
The Comprehensive Oilgae Report is the most detailed intelligence
report for the algae fuel industry. Compiled by a team of researchers
over a two year period, it comprises the collective intelligence of
over 100 experts, scientists and investors belonging to the algae fuel
sector.
The report has been updated in November and now comprises the latest
data and insights that will be invaluable for those keen on exploring
the algae fuel opportunities. The report also comes with free
additional research support from the Oilgae team and access to the
subsequent three updates at no additional cost.
To know more about the report and to download a free preview, please
see here - http://www.oilgae.com/ref/report/report.html
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