Algal Algal Biofuels Biofuels and the and the A lgal lgal B ioenergy ioenergy C onsortium onsortium UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Professor Christopher Howe Department of Biochemistry University of Cambridge, UK Documents PDF Complete Click Here & Upgrade Expanded Features Unlimited Pages
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AlgalAlgal BiofuelsBiofuels and theand theAlgallgal Bioenergyioenergy Consortiumonsortium
UNIVERSITY OFCAMBRIDGE
Professor Christopher HoweDepartment of BiochemistryUniversity of Cambridge, UK
Broad research base - fundamental strengths in:plant science and photosynthesisbiochemistrygeneticsbiotechnologyprocess engineering (bio and non-bio) and chemistryphysics and properties of plant materialsengineering performance and design of engines and gasturbinesmodelling of complex systems: high level economic andsustainability modelssocial aspects of changes in land use
Algal Bioenergy ConsortiumAlgal BiofuelsBioenergy Research Cambridge
Students, staffResearch funding (£204M in research grants/contracts in 2005-6)Intellectual capital: eg Sanger Centre/ European Bioinformatics InstituteInvestment: eg Microsoft Research
Environment for innovation (e.g. Cambridge Science Park)Global outreach (e.g. Cambridge Programme for Industry)Record of deliveryAccess to non-governmental organizations (NGOs),academic institutes and industry
John Innes CentreNational Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB)Sainsbury laboratory (£150M from Gatsby Foundation)Rothamsted ResearchADAS (science-based rural and environmental consultancy)MonsantoNickersons
Algal Bioenergy ConsortiumAlgal BiofuelsBioenergy Research Cambridge
Plants engineered to contain decreased or increased quantities of hemicelluloses. Figure shows a stemsection with the different biomass components cellulose, xylan and mannan labelled in different colours.
Dr Paul Dupree - http://www.bio.cam.ac.uk/~dupree/
Algal Bioenergy ConsortiumAlgal BiofuelsBioenergy Research Cambridge
do not require use of agriculturally productive orenvironmentally sensitive landmarine sites also possiblehigh yields possible (>100 tonnes/ha/yr achieved;theoretical max, for local light levels (Mumbai) >500tonnes/ha/yr)some strains directly secrete hydrocarbonscan be coupled to other industrial processes (e.g.sequestration of CO2 from flue gases, removal ofnitrates/phosphates from waste water)growth can be linked to generation of high-value products(nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals - e.g. carotenoids,phycobiliproteins)
Algal Bioenergy ConsortiumAlgal BiofuelsBioenergy Research Cambridge
US Department of Energy Aquatic Species program: Biodiesel fromAlgae (Program 1978-1996; Close-out report July 1998)Collection of oil-producing microalgae (Hawaii)Oil production per cell higher under stress - but lower overallSome progress in algal molecular biology/transformationOpen ponds demonstratedHigh cost prohibitive, but land considerations favourable
Biofixation of CO2 and greenhouse gas abatement with microalgae -technology roadmap (Benemann JR, 2003)Restrict to open ponds, because of costIntegrate with wastewater treatment and high-value co-productsClosed reactors for inoculum production
Algal Bioenergy ConsortiumAlgal BiofuelsBioenergy Research Cambridge
Large multidisciplinary group, based in Cambridge, butwith links elsewhere including outside UK
Brings together molecular biologists, physiologists,engineers and economic analysts to work towardsoptimising algal bioenergy for commercial exploitation
Actively seeking partners with whom to collaborate todevelop & test our ideas
Algal Bioenergy ConsortiumAlgal BiofuelsBioenergy Research Cambridge
Different algal strains will haveDifferent algal strains will havedifferent properties and will bedifferent properties and will besuited to different end productssuited to different end products
CO2 from powerstations/other
industries
Waste waterfrom industry
Algal Bioenergy ConsortiumAlgal BiofuelsBioenergy Research Cambridge
Reducing the antenna size would increase the light conversion efReducing the antenna size would increase the light conversion efficiencyficiencyof algal cultures, particularly under high light conditionsof algal cultures, particularly under high light conditions
Smaller antenna Greater efficiency
Light intensity
Rate ofphotosynthesis
Wild type cells
Cells with reducedantenna size
Increasedefficiency
Focus area A B C DAlgal Bioenergy ConsortiumAlgal BiofuelsBioenergy Research Cambridge
Need to avoid a large parasitic power requirementCO2 introduction and circulation via air lift, turbulence or oscillatory flow
HarvestingBatch filtration and drying with available low-grade heatMechanical dewatering (e.g. continuous decanter centrifuge) with dryingExact configuration depends on outcomes, plus cost/operability analysisFate of spent medium
Characteristics of chosen siteWater availability, light quality/quantity, temperature, (flue gas composition)
A large area must be covered to absorb a significant amount of CO2Several large reactors versus banks of modular reactors
Algal Bioenergy ConsortiumAlgal BiofuelsBioenergy Research Cambridge