Algal Biofuels Initiative

AAFC-NRCan-NRC National Bioproducts Program Algal Biofuels Initiative 2010 Nova Scotia Energy Research & Development Forum Project Co-Leads: Stephen ...
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AAFC-NRCan-NRC National Bioproducts Program

Algal Biofuels Initiative 2010 Nova Scotia Energy Research & Development Forum Project Co-Leads: Stephen O’Leary and Ed Hogan Scientific Leader: Patrick McGinn Project Manager: Leah Knickle

The AAFC-NRCan-NRC National Bioproducts Program (NBP)

Objectives: •

Multiparty R&D Initiatives that address Canadian priorities in: – Sustainable energy – Environment – Rural revitalization



Provide the means through which stakeholders from government, industry, and academia can be brought together to garner the critical mass required to tackle large projects requiring multiple areas of expertise

NBP Algal Biofuels Initiative Objectives: To develop and support Canadian industries focused on the production of renewable fuels from microalgae biomass for electricity generation, land transportation and aerospace applications. • Cost effective and competitive • Net positive impact on the environment and sustainable energy • Contribute to the economic well being of Canada’s energy sector

Oil production from microalgae Light (400 – 700 nm)

O2

CO2 RC

H2O

CH2O Lipids (plant oils)

Carbohydrates (sugars) Proteins

Average algal cell (50% carbon), 1 g of algae = 1.83 g CO2 fixed

The Whys: Why Biofuels and Why Algae ?

Diminishing reserves of fossil fuels – increasingly expensive commodity

The Whys: Why Biofuels and Why Algae ?

Biofuels should be carbon neutral and renewable – address environmental concerns regarding GHG emissions

The Whys: Why Biofuels and Why Algae ?

Mill Cove Water Treatment Facility, Photo Credit: HRM Website

Growth in seawater, wastewater and other non-potable sources Nutrients for growth can be supplied from waste effluents

The Whys: Why Biofuels and Why Algae ?

Botryococcus braunii

Photo Credit: WWF

High productivity and impressive oil content

The Whys: Why Biofuels and Why Algae ?

Potentially rich sources of high value, non-fuel co-products

How do we get from algae in a flask to algal fuel in your car (or plane, or house)?

? Significant Barriers: Identification of most appropriate strains of algae Scale up of cultivation technologies (enormously!) Development of technologies for cost effective processing of algae at industrial scales Ensuring compatibility for end-use applications

Subproject 1 – Screening algae for biofuels applications

Optimal Strains Marine focused / non-potable water Robust with high growth rates High lipid content at max growth rate Favourable fatty acid profiles Tolerance to NOx, SOx, volatile organics Biological capacity for CO2 capture and wastewater remediation

Library of strains sourced from both collections and local environments

Subproject 2 – Development of commercial algal photobioreactor technologies for biofuel production

Menova Energy Inc. RFP-40

Solar Concentrating PBR: co-generation of algae, heat and power Requires Development

Subproject 3 – Development and evaluation of processing and conversion technologies for the production of renewable energy from algae

Algal Algal Biomass Biomass

Current Current Solutions Solutions

Potential Potential For ForRR++DD

Harvesting Harvesting

Centrifugation Centrifugation

Flocculation Flocculation Electrocoagulation Electrocoagulation Microbubble Microbubblelifting lifting

Dewatering Dewatering

Lyophilization Lyophilization

Spray SprayDrying Drying “Wet” technologies “Wet” technologies

Oil Oil Extraction Extraction

Organic OrganicSolvent Solvent (Bligh and (Bligh andDyer) Dyer)

Solvent-assisted Solvent-assistedmilling milling Supercritical Fluids Supercritical Fluids Selective Selectivemembranes membranes

Conversion Conversion to toFuel Fuel

Transesterification Transesterification

Hydrotreatment Hydrotreatment Enzymatic EnzymaticConversion Conversion

Subproject 4 – Evaluation of algae-derived fuels and lubricants for the aerospace industry

A Collaboration That builds upon NBP investments in algal biofuels research & NRC Institute for Aerospace Research (NRC-IAR) investments in the Gas Turbine Environmental Research Center (GTERC) & Alternative Fuels for Research & Development (AFFORD) Facility

NRC – Institute for Aerospace Research, Ottawa

Integration of Subprojects – Algal Biofuels Workplan Screening and Optimization

Cultivation

Processing

Biomass Fraction

Protein

PBR

Harvesting/ Extraction

Conversion

Product

Processing

Protein meal

Hydrotreating

Biojet

Application

Animal Feed

Fuel

Oil T-esterification

Biodiesel Analysis Distribution Considerations

Wastewater

Flue Gas CO2 Carbohydrate

Alcoholic Fermentation

Ethanol

Anaerobic Digestion

Methane

Pyrolysis/ Gasification

Syngas

Fuel

Collaborators

NRC Institutes

Institute for Marine Biosciences (IMB) Plant Biotechnology Institute (PBI) Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI) Institute for Aerospace Research (IAR) Institute for Chemical Process and Environmental Technology (ICPET) Institute for National Measurement Standards (INMS) Government of Canada Departments NRCan CanmetENERGY, AAFC, EC, DFO, DND Province of Nova Scotia Departments of Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Foreign Government US-DOE Office of Biomass Programs, NREL, PNNL, Sandia National Labs University Participants St. Francis Xavier University, University of New Brunswick, University of Manitoba Major Industrial Partners (partial list) Carbon2Algae Solutions Menova Energy Inc. Ocean Nutrition Canada POS Pilot Plant Corp.

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cultivation technologies cultivation technologies biomass production and processing biomass processing

Canada / US joint project in algae biofuels A collaboration under the Clean Energy Dialogue between NBP Algal Biofuels Initiative, US-DOE - National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) Phase I (Underway): (1) Collect and characterize algae strains native to Canada and the US that are adapted to growth in northern latitudes and can utilize industrial CO2 emissions (2) Conduct robust Geographic Information System (GIS), Techno-Economic (TE), and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) modelling of commercial algae biofuel production in North America using measured environmental parameters and empirical data Phase II (Under Development): Deployment of a demonstration-scale algae cultivation system at an industrial CO2 emitter. Preference for deployment is NS, but require a CO2 partner

Current Activities Within the Algal Biofuels Project

NRC – Institute for Marine Biosciences Halifax, Nova Scotia

NRC – IMB Marine Research Station Ketch Harbour, Nova Scotia

Current Activities Within the Algal Biofuels Project

NRC’s “Brite-Box” PBRs 250, 500, 1000 L

Major infrastructure designed, acquired and commissioned NRC project team includes: 8 Research Officers 2 Research Associates 15 Technical Officers 2 Students

Current Activities Within the Algal Biofuels Project

Bio-Fence PBR at NRC-IMB Marine Research Station

Microalgae harvested by centrifugation in kilogram quantities for lipid profiling and related analyses Biomass is provided to research collaborators

Current Activities Within the Algal Biofuels Project

Using our systems to: Determine yields and qualities of algae biomass and extracts Evaluate potential for scalability of cultivation processes Determine Carbon and Energy balances for biomass-to-fuel conversions Generate empirical data needed to support the development of meaningful Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and TechnoEconomic (TE) assessments

Microalgae Biorefinery: Fuel Products and Non-fuel Co-products

Liquid Biofuels

Sun Light

Nutraceuticals Bioactive compounds Therapeutants

Industrial CO2

Modified from: Trends in Biotechnology 2008 Vol. 26(3)

AAFC-NRCan-NRC National Bioproducts Program Theme 4: Establishing a Canadian capacity to produce biofuels from marine algae Key Contacts: Stephen O’Leary ([email protected]) Co-Lead Project Director Research Officer, NRC Institute for Marine Biosciences Ed Hogan ([email protected]) Co-Lead Project Director Biomass Thermochemical Program Manager, CanmetENERGY, Natural Resources Canada Patrick McGinn ([email protected]) Scientific Leader Research Officer, NRC Institute for Marine Biosciences Leah Knickle ([email protected]) Project Manager, National Bioproducts Program

[email protected]

Thank you for your attention