Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

The Bioeconomy Vision

http://bridge2020.eu/

Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

The Land Debate

Bioeconomy outputs will ultimately be constrained by land availability.

Need to maximise land productivity through waste reduction and efficient integration of biomass processing.

Algae offer the potential of efficient carbon capture and conversion of solar energy to bio-based products including transport fuel largely disconnected from land issues.

Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

Global algae projects

National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts

San Diego Centre for Algal Biotechnology

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

AlgaePARC – Wageningen University

Algal Fuel Consortium

Algae Cluster

Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

How far can down the value chain can algae go?

Source: A UK roadmap for algal technologies

Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

Commercial Potential?

Images Courtesy of Algenol & Sapphire Energy

Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

Algae: Fundamental Questions?

Which fuel should be the target?What production system?Can fuels be produced cost competitively?Can fuels deliver the required GHG savings?Can fuels be produced sustainably?

Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

Algae in NWE: Fundamental Questions?

Is algae a reasonable energy technology pathway for North West Europe?What energy targets make sense?Is the market support sufficient?

Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

19 partners14 observers7 EU member states

How?• Transnational

network• Share knowledge

develop best practice.

What?• Environmental

impact• Technical and

economic feasibility

• Opportunities and barriers analysis

Why?• Climate change• Environmental

benefits• Energy security• Economic

development

Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

The Project

WP1Cultivation

• Data collection• Best practice sharing• Outreach

WP2Analysis

• Economic Modelling• Life Cycle Analysis• Regulation and Policy

WP3Dissemination

• Smart information and data tools

Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

Cultivation of macroalgae in NWE

Aiming to improve on each phase of the seaweed cultivation process by sharing knowledge between partners:

Communicate: workshops, on-site demonstration, technical manuals,

Produce seedlings in purpose-built hatcheriesGrow biomass at sea and monitor environmental parameters at the same time

In a standard manner to compare and improve reliability of data

etc.

Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

Mass cultivation of microalgae in NW Europe

6 pilot-scale facilities for the cultivation and downstream processing of microalgae: – Photobioreactors to 32,000 litres– Open ponds, mobile MaB-floc reactor– Controlled environment labs for characterising biomass– Harvesting / disruption / conversion technologies

Focus on mass cultivation using liquid and gaseous waste streams.

Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

Summary

The EnAlgae project has brought together a significant network of Algae experts.

The level of information exchange could only be achieved through transnational collaboration.

Stand alone energy production is economically challenging – consider integration options or higher value outputs.

Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy

Thank you for listening