[Greenbuilding] OT: Algae

[Lance Collins]

Recently the list wandered off into space exploration.   Assuming 
some on this list are interested in 'green' beyond building I'm using 
this as an excuse to go a bit off-topic and draw your attention to 
the exciting topic of using algae for bio-sequestration of coal-fired 
power station emissions.

I belong to an Australian group called the Alternative Technology 
Association.and at our February branch meeting in Melbourne we heard 
a presentation from a company called MBD Energy 
(www.mbdenergy.com).  Don't go there until you look at the 
presentation slides (link below).

MBD is a small company by US standards and there are companies in the 
USA spending billions on algae.   According to MBD their emphasis is 
more on GM algae for fuel production whereas MBD think the more 
important products are food for people, animals and fish 
farms.  Recently on a visit to China the speaker said the Chinese 
were not interested in oil but in food for aqua-culture.  Has MBD 
been able to supply they were offered an immediate order for a 
million tons a year.

Apologies for going off-topic

Lance


Topic: CO2 to energy: The Power of Algae

Convenor: Peter Wonfor
Guest Speaker: Tony St. Clair (Agri Business manager at MBD Energy Ltd.)

meeting description: The Sustainable Production of Fuel and Food 
Using Algae to Capture and Convert CO2 Emissions.

Tony St. Clair treated us to an insight into the vast potential of 
algae not only to provide oil, eminently suitable for biodiesel 
production and high quality protein meal for animal feed, but also 
for significantly reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from 
industrial plants including fossil fuel power stations. A 
win-all-round scenario all as a result of the photosynthesis power of algae.

Tony described the range of algae strains and their preferred 
environments that are currently available and the processes by which 
the desired results are achieved. He also outlined the exceptional 
efficiency of algae as a means of Biological Carbon Capture and 
Storage for CO2 and the production of oil.

We also heard about the success of pilot plants and the status of 1Ha 
(10,000 m2) proof-of-concept plants located at coal-fired power stations.

Discussion: This presentation generated a lively and spirited 
discussion both during and after the session. A lot of the discussion 
centred on the ultimate "Capture and Storage" outcome of the 
technology. One strand of the argument pointed out that many of the 
products finally re-release their CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. 
In this sense, the process does not capture the emissions in the long 
term. The other strand of the argument pointed out that the products 
still serve the legitimate role of reducing emissions that would 
otherwise have been generated twice over.

This was a very interesting and stimulating session, with some good 
spirited discussion.

Presentation:
Click 
http://www.ata.org.au/wp-content/uploads/sustainable_algae_production_presentation.pdf.pdf 
for Tony's presentation slides
(the double pdf is not an error).



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