[Graeme]

Obviously, they are confident enough to go to full production with their harvester/converter/refiner process - see their website.

[davep]

Let's wait and see. It's potentially feasible, but so far nobody has managed it on a commercial scale. That doesn't mean nobody ever will, but it's always worth being sceptical after the number of previous announcements.

[davep]

Algae have been bred to create decent amounts of lipids in the lab, but the problem is getting that to work both over the long term (without some kind of genetic degradation) and in a commercial environment. They are the big problems with this technology from what I've read (but I'm a few years out of date on this).

[Graeme]

Green algae are eukaryotic organisms that follow a reproduction cycle called alternation of generations.

Reproduction varies from fusion of identical cells (isogamy) to fertilization of a large non-motile cell by a smaller motile one (oogamy). However, these traits show some variation, most notably among the basal green algae, called prasinophytes.

Haploid algae cells (containing only one copy of their DNA) can fuse with other haploid cells to form diploid zygotes. When filamentous algae do this, they form bridges between cells, and leave empty cell walls behind that can be easily distinguished under the light microscope. This process is called conjugation.
The species of Ulva are reproductively isomorphic, the diploid vegetative phase is the site of meiosis and releases haploid zoospores, which germinate and grow producing a haploid phase alternating with the vegetative phase.[8]

wikipedia

Commercial Production

Demonstrations of large-scale algae biofuels production have already occurred. Over 8 tons of algae biomass have been produced at Cellana’s six-acre Kona Demonstration Facility (pictured above) for testing in biofuel and other applications. Thousands of gallons have been manufactured by fermentation for the US Navy as it develops a “green fleet” that can operate on domestically-produced alternative fuel. Pilot plants are slated to go online in Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, and elsewhere in the country throughout 2012.

In recent months, algae companies have had many achievements in the area of commercial production. In mid-2011, for example, Sapphire Energy broke ground on a 300 wet-acre project in Columbus, New Mexico that will begin operations in 2012, and produce 1 million gallons of algae biofuels per year when it reaches full capacity. Phycal, Inc. has been awarded a grant from the US DOE to help support its purchase agreement from the Hawaii Electric Company to supply algae-based fuel for power generation. Solazyme has won a contract to supply algae-based biofuels to the US Navy.

allaboutalgae

I'll continue to post news about algae commercial production when reported in news media.

[Graeme]

PROCEDURE FOR EXTRACTING OF LIPIDS FROM ALGAE WITHOUT CELL SACRIFICE

A system and method are disclosed for extracting lipids from algal cells. In the method, lipids are extracted from algal cells by exposing the algal cells in an aqueous medium to an electric field sufficient to cause release of lipids from said cells. In the system, an electric field is formed between two electrodes connected with an electrical power supply and configured such that during use an aqueous medium containing the algal cells passes between the electrodes to extract lipids therefrom.

freepatentsonline

patents

Photobioreactor Systems for Concentrating Solar Energy in the Lipids of
Photosynthetic Algae: A Renewable Source of Microbial Biodiesel

With energy consumption and combustion pollutants drastically augmenting, we need to develop clean and renewable fuel sources with inconsequential effects to both human and environmental health. One of the main biofuels currently being produced is biodiesel synthesized by transesterification of the oils contained in algae. This happens by collecting solar energy and allowing for high photosynthetic efficiencies. Large-scale algal cultivation takes place in outdoor, relatively inexpensive, open systems whereas closed photobioreactors are more productive and highly controlled, but costly. The process takes place in a solar collector connected to an airlift pump and usually follows Monod kinetics. Third generation algal fuels have proven to be beneficial in numerous areas but come with many drawbacks too. The
feasibility of this process will be discussed along with major technical and economic challenges. Research and development is being conducted by major industrial firms and governmental establishments before biodiesel will be fully commercialized. Genetic and bioreactor engineering may be the solutions to perfect biodiesel production and consequently may have a massive impact on the future welfare of our planet

aub

[Graeme]

PStarr, There are references in each patent application. Did you read the one by Joline El Chakhtoura? You asked for references. I gave some to you.

[Graeme]

You are not going to get that. You're actually asking for proprietary information. I have more confidence in those organisations who are willing to put money where there mouth is including MD.

[Graeme]

MD announced that he is working on his algae biofuel business early on in the "Algae-based Biofuels Moving Ever So Slowly to Market" thread before it was merged with the Algae thread. I can't find his post now. You can be sure he knows more about algae than either of us.

[Graeme]

So now you understand why he thinks your comments are a little off-beam if you get my drift. There's a lot more going on that either of us are privy to. All we can see are public announcements. I'm sure he is a member of the Algae Biomass Organisation and perhaps other organisations. He would have already received quite a lot of helpful information from them. In the case of Aquaflow, their partners (CRI Catalyst Company) are American so they will have access to the same information.

[ralfy]

There's a short reference to EROEI here:

http://www.oilgae.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=323

[Graeme]

No problem as long as eroei is >3:1.
http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/2/1/25