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Algae Biofuel B. Greg Mitchell Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Algae Biofuel B. Greg Mitchell Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California, San Diego gmitchell@ucsd.edu With contributions from Sempra Utilities, Earthrise LiveFuels, Inc, General Atomics Neste Oil and The Scripps Research Institute. Algae are photosynthetic organisms

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Algae Biofuel B. Greg Mitchell Scripps Institution of Oceanography

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  1. Algae Biofuel B. Greg Mitchell Scripps Institution of Oceanography University of California, San Diego gmitchell@ucsd.edu With contributions from Sempra Utilities, Earthrise LiveFuels, Inc, General Atomics Neste Oil and The Scripps Research Institute

  2. Algae are photosynthetic organisms CO2 + H2O + Light Energy Biomass Algae very diverse: microscopic to giant kelp Efficient, rapid growth, can double biomass in a day Produce 50% of oxygen but are less than 1% of all plant biomass Few species have been studied for biofuel potential Chlorophyceae Dinophyceae Bacillariophyceae

  3. Ethanol and Biodiesel Feedstocks Must Be Expanded if They are to Contribute Substantially Reliance on food crops undesirable – and Limiting Cellulosic ethanol could be part of the solution Ethanol and biodiesel needs a non-food feedstock Algae Can Play that Role: Can be grown on non-arable land in saline water

  4. Unique Potential of Algae Biodiesel Yield per acre • Soybean Based Biodiesel will never contribute more than a few percent of the possible US diesel fuel market • ~20 million acres of algae would supply ALL US transportation fuel • Small fraction of current land use • US currently uses ~970 million acres for crops & grazing

  5. ALGAE BIOFUEL – REDUCED GLOBAL WARMING & LOWERED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS • Algae requires CO2 for growth therefore fuel is carbon neutral • Possible integration to achieve low-cost CO2 sequestration and nutrient remediation • Uses all nutrients, minimizing eutrophication • Biodegradable, so minimal issues with accidental spills /leaks • Uses underutilized land, e.g. deserts • Yields >10x those for land plants so much less land is needed • Can grow in salt, or brackish water • Can produce high yields of • Lipids for biodiesel • starch / polysaccharides for ethanol

  6. Encouraging Cost Projections Analysis by General Atomics

  7. Evaluation of various Biofuel Options Sempra Utilities

  8. Engineering a Photosynthetic Hydrocarbon MixSteve Mayfield The Scripps Research InstitutePotential to convert light energy directly to fuel molecules

  9. Vision for a Center of Excellence for algae bio-energy research, development and demonstration

  10. Salton Sea Earthrise Algae Farm Calipatria, Ca Feasibility of algae farming proven Scale up for biofuel will be a challenge

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