Microalgae for Biofuels

Transcription

1 Large Scale Production of Microalgae for Biofuels Dr. Bryan Willson Chief Technology Officer International Symposium on Algal Fuel Research Tsukuba, Japan July 27, Solix Biofuels. All Right Reserved.

2 3 Main Points Solix is a leading developer of closed photobioreactor-based production systems for algae-based biofuels Solix s cost trajectory shows that fuel production from algae can be cost-competitive titi with petroleum but requires full value extraction from the production co-products Solix has now begun operation of the world s largest closed photobioreactor for biofuel production Solix Biofuels. All Right Reserved.

3 Outline Solix / Algae Intro Production in Open Ponds Production in Closed PBRs Solix AGS System Harvesting & Extraction Scaleup: Coyote Gulch Production Costs Solix Business Model Conclusions

4 About Solix Focused on the development and commercialization of large-scale algae-to-biofuels systems Launched in March, 2006 Privately funded 65+ employees Headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA 1 st scaleup site on the Southern Ute Indian reservation in southwest Colorado Significant ifi strategic partners in advanced d biology, midstream processing, fuel processing, and scaleup engineering

5 Photosynthetis / Algae BIOMASS: Carbs Protein Lipids 7

6 Processing 6

7 Land & Water Efficiency Annual Production Soybean: 40 to 50 gal/acre 8,000 Rapeseed: gal/acre 7,000 Mustard: 140 gal/acre 6,000 5,000 Jatropha: 175 gal/acre 4,000 Palm oil: 650 gal/acre 3,000 Algae est.: 5,000-10,000 gal/acre 2,000 7,000 nominal 1,000 0 /Year Gallon ns/acre Soy Canola Corn (ETOH) Palm Algae 7

8 Solix Value Chain Positioning Solix Advanced Biology Growth Harvest Extract Process Refining Distribution & Retail Th t d These up stream and down stream partnerships have been identified and established

9 Outline Solix / Algae Intro Production in Open Ponds Production in Closed PBRs Solix AGS System Harvesting & Extraction Scaleup: Coyote Gulch Production Costs Solix Business Model Conclusions

10 Open Pond Cultivation: Dunaliella - Eilat, Israel 10

11 Open Pond Production: Earthrise Spirulina - California 11

12 Open Pond Production: Seambiotic - Ashkelon, Israel 12

13 Open Pond Attributes Advantages Lowest capital cost Only technology demonstrated at large scale to date Can maintain specific cultures of extremophiles Disadvantages Allows contamination ti of specific culture with local species / strains Potential for loss / migration of GMO Susceptible to weather Water loss from evaporation / percolation 13

14 Outline Solix / Algae Intro Production in Open Ponds Production in Closed PBRs Solix AGS System Harvesting & Extraction Scaleup: Coyote Gulch Production Costs Solix Business Model Conclusions

15 Direct Light PBRs: GreenFuels, 1 st Gen 15

16 Direct Light PBRs: AlgaeLink / Bioking 16

17 Direct Light PBRs. Solix 1st Generation 17

18 Photosynthetic Efficiency E d cy, P/E ficienc Eff ~15%-20% of full sun Irradiance, E d (arbitrary units) 18

19 Impact of Light Intensity 10 % Note: 10X increase in light, but 40 only 3.5X increase in output. % Implies a 3X reduction in 70 photosynthetic efficiency. % Conversely, if diffuse light can be used over extended surface 100% area, 3X increase in output possible. 19

20 Extended Area PBRs Glass Plate Photobioreactor (Pulz, Richmond, others) Glass Tube Photobioreactor (Pulz, IGV, Ketura, Torzillo, others) 20

21 IGV Diffuse PBR 5 m 2 illuminated area for 1 m 2 of ground area Utilizes diffuse light, short photic distances (approaches ideal cycle time of 20 ms) for high photosynthetic efficiency 21

22 Pumped Tubewall PBR: IGV 22

23 Pumped Tubewall PBR: AlgaTech High-Growth Phase Stress Phase 23

24 Closed PBR Attributes Advantages Allow growth of specific cultures Allows environmental control Potential for much higher growth rates (with extended surface area and/or high turbulence) Disadvantages Potential ti for high h capital cost Potential for high energy costs Low-cost production has not been demonstrated 24

25 Outline Solix / Algae Intro Production in Open Ponds Production in Closed PBRs Solix AGS System Solix AGS System Harvesting & Extraction Scaleup: Coyote Gulch Production Costs Solix Business Model Conclusions

26 Cost vs. Productivity Direct Light PBR: Low Cost & Productivity Diffuse PBR: High Cost & Productivity 26

27 1st Generation PBR. July 06 27

28 2nd Generation PBR May 07 28

29 3rd Generation PBR Nov 07 Solix G3 Technology: Extended surface area Water supported Integrated CO 2 / air sparging G4 under development 29

30 Solix G3 (cont) 30

31 Solix G3 (cont) 31

32 Solix G3 (cont) 32

33 Winter Operation: 07 & 08 33

34 Continuing AGS Improvements Solix G4a Technology: Membrane CO 2 delivery Membrane O 2 removal, internal Reduced thickness / higher density 34

35 Potential Open-Water Application 35

36 Offshore Production? Denmark Workshop, Apr

37 Outline Solix / Algae Intro Production in Open Ponds Production in Closed PBRs Solix AGS System Harvesting & Extraction Scaleup: Coyote Gulch Production Costs Solix Business Model Conclusions

38 Biology 38

39 Harvesting & Extraction 39

40 Extraction 40

41 Extraction 41

42 Fuel Properties - General 42

43 Fuel Properties - General Algal oil is unique in that it tends to contain a significant quantity (~5-20% by volume) of long highly unsaturated oils, which are rarely observed in more traditional biodiesel feedstocks, such as soy and rapeseed (canola) oil. The two most common types of long and highly unsaturated oils found in algae oil tested to date are eicosapentaeonic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). 43

44 Feedstock Composition Fatty acid content varies widely depending on the feedstock. The chemical composition i has implications i in terms of combustion characteristics. i Saturated Acids Mono Unsaturated Total Poly Unsaturated Acids Acids 10:0 12:0 14:0 16:0 18:0 >18:0 16:1 18:1 22:1 n:2 n:3 n:4-6 Coconut Palm Rapeseed Soybean Nannochlorop sis Oculata Nannochlorop sis sp. methyl dodecanoate (coconut) methyl linoleate (soy) eicosapentaeonic acid methyl ester (algae)

45 Automates conditions for optimal productivity of different organisms in different climates Gives predictive and diagnostic capabilities Automation & Controls 45

46 Outline Solix / Algae Intro Production in Open Ponds Production in Closed PBRs Solix AGS System Harvesting & Extraction ti Scaleup: Coyote Gulch Production Costs Solix Business Model Conclusions

47 Scaling Up... 47

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49 400 feet

50 2009 Solix Biofuels. All Right Reserved.

51 2009 Solix Biofuels. All Right Reserved.

52 Coyote Gulch Amine Plant

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54 Basin A 2009 Solix Biofuels. All Right Reserved.

55 Basin A 2009 Solix Biofuels. All Right Reserved.

56 Coyote Gulch

57 Coyote Gulch Layout Basin B Basin C Bulk CO 2 Supply Basin D Offices & :Lab Basin A Produced Water Handling Photo taken Waste CO 2 & Nat. Gas Supplies Operations Building Solix Biofuels. All Right Reserved.

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63 Basin A 2009 Solix Biofuels. All Right Reserved.

64 Basin A 2009 Solix Biofuels. All Right Reserved.

65 Outline Solix / Algae Intro Production in Open Ponds Production in Closed PBRs Solix AGS System Harvesting & Extraction ti Scaleup: Coyote Gulch Production Costs Solix Business Model Conclusions

66 Economic Overview Yield Biomass Growth % Oil Solix Economics Economics (Per Unit Area) Cost Operating Expense Capital Expense Land Scale Capital Engineering 66

67 System Analysis / Modeling 67

68 R&D Roadmap $250/Gal $2/Gal

69 Path to Fuel Cost Parity The path to fuel cost parity will require both incremental and step function improvements $2/Gallon Fuel

70 Technology Roadmap 70

71 Outline Solix / Algae Intro Production in Open Ponds Production in Closed PBRs Solix AGS System Harvesting & Extraction ti Scaleup: Coyote Gulch Production Costs Solix Business Model Conclusions

72 Business Model Solix contributes: production/processing technology project development and operational expertise Partner contributes: CO2, land and capital Value from: Fuel, co-products and CO2 Industry Partner Solix Solix is teaming with international partners in order to develop large- scale production Confidential

73 Path to Commercialization Apollo Mercury 1 & 2 Mariners Lab Mercury 3 & 4 Gemini

74 Outline Solix / Algae Intro Production in Open Ponds Production in Closed PBRs Solix AGS System Harvesting & Extraction ti Scaleup: Coyote Gulch Production Costs Solix Business Model Conclusions

75 Conclusions Economical biofuel production appears feasible, using low-cost high productivity photobioreactors Requires tight coupling of biology and engineering Value of co-products must be captured; may approach or exceed value of oil Systems modeling/integration required to achieve cost targets 75

76 Contact Information Dr. Bryan Willson Chief Technology Officer, Solix Biofuels li l +1 (970) Professor of Mechanical Engineering g Colorado State University