National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap - Department of Energy

140 Pages·2010·7.45 MB·English

BIOMASS PROGRAM
National Algal Biofuels
Technology Roadmap
MAY 2010

National Algal Biofuels
Technology Roadmap
A technology roadmap resulting from the National Algal Biofuels Workshop
December 9-10, 2008
College Park, Maryland
Workshop and Roadmap sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Office of the Biomass Program
Publication Date: May 2010
John Ferrell Valerie Sarisky-Reed
Office of Energy Efficiency Office of Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy and Renewable Energy
Office of the Biomass Program Office of the Biomass Program
[phone] [phone]
[email protected] [email protected]
Roadmap Editors:
Daniel Fishman,1 Rajita Majumdar,1 Joanne Morello,2 Ron Pate,3 and Joyce Yang2
Workshop Organizers:
Al Darzins,4 Grant Heffelfinger,3 Ron Pate,3 Leslie Pezzullo,2 Phil Pienkos,4 Kathy Roach,5 Valerie Sarisky-Reed,2 and the
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)
A complete list of workshop participants and roadmap contributors is available in the appendix.
Suggested Citation for This Roadmap:
U.S. DOE 2010. National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap. U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Biomass Program.
Visit http://biomass.energy.gov for more information
1BCS, Incorporated 2Office of the Biomass Program 3Sandia National Laboratories
4National Renewable Energy Laboratory 5MurphyTate LLC
This report is being disseminated by the Department of Energy. As such, the document
was prepared in compliance with Section 515 of the Treasury and General Government
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Public Law No. 106-554) and information
quality guidelines issued by the Department of energy. Further, this report could be
“influential scientific information” as that term is defined in the Office of Management
and Budget’s Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review (Bulletin). This report has
been peer reviewed pursuant to section II.2 of the Bulletin.
Preface
Welcome to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Biomass Program’s National Algal Biofuels Technology
Roadmap. Prepared with the input of more than 200 scientists, engineers, industry representatives, research
managers, and other stakeholders, this document represents the synthesis of the Biomass Program’s National Algal
Biofuels Technology Roadmap Workshop, comments gathered during a public comment period, and supporting
scientific literature. This Roadmap is intended to summarize the state of technology for algae-based fuels and
document the research and development challenges associated with producing them at a commercial scale.
Renewable energy lies at the intersection of some of our nation’s most pressing issues: our energy security, our
economic wellbeing, and the stability of our global climate. These national challenges require near-term solutions
as well as investments in nascent technologies that show promise for the future. Therefore, while DOE works to
deploy renewable energy and energy-efficient projects across the country today, it remains committed to fostering
technologies that could yield substantial benefits over time. Achieving cost-competitive, sustainable algal biofuels
will entail years of research and careful planning, but their significant potential to serve as renewable transportation
fuels warrants our thorough consideration of what efforts are necessary to make them a commercial-scale reality.
DOE has recently revived its investment in algal biofuels in response to the increased urgency of lowering
greenhouse gas emissions and producing affordable, reliable energy, as well as the recognition that we will not
likely achieve these goals via one technology pathway. Through appropriated dollars and the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009, DOE is investing in a variety of research, development, and demonstration (RD&D)
projects that seek to tackle key technical hurdles associated with commercializing algal biofuels. Meanwhile, other
federal agencies, private companies, and the academic community are also increasing their efforts to optimize and
commercialize this renewable energy source.
This Roadmap lays the groundwork for identifying challenges that will likely need to be surmounted for algae and
cyanobacteria to be used in the production of economically viable, environmentally sound biofuels. It is intended to
serve as a resource for researchers, engineers, and decision-makers by providing a summary of progress to date and
a direction for future algae RD&D activities, and we hope it fosters and informs participation from existing and new
stakeholders as the next steps are taken to advance algal biofuels. DOE looks forward to continuing its work with
diverse partners in evaluating renewable energy options and facilitating development of those that carry the greatest
benefits today and in the years to come.
Valerie Sarisky-Reed
Acting Manager, Biomass Program
U.S. Department of Energy
Preface i
Executive Summary
“
Developing the next generation of biofuels is key to our
effort to end our dependence on foreign oil and address the
”
climate crisis – while creating millions of new jobs that can’t
be outsourced
— Secretary of Energy Steven Chu at the White House
ceremony on May 5, 2009, announcing $800
million in new biofuel research activities
In recent years, biomass-derived fuels have received
increasing attention as one solution to our nation’s
continued and growing dependence on imported
oil, which exposes the country to the risk of critical
disruptions in fuel supply, creates economic and social
uncertainties for businesses and individuals, and impacts A culture of the microalgae Botryococcus. Photo courtesy of the
Provasoli-Guillard National Center for Culture of Marine Phytoplankton
our national security. The Energy Independence and
(CCMP).
Security Act of 2007 (EISA) established a mandatory
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requiring transportation sugars from cyanobacteria and macroalgae. In addition
fuel sold in the U.S. to contain a minimum of 36 billion to fungible biofuels, a variety of different biofuels and
gallons of renewable fuels, including advanced and products can be generated using algae precursors.
cellulosic biofuels and biomass-based diesel, by 2022.
While cellulosic ethanol is expected to play a large role There are several aspects of algal biofuel production that
in meeting the EISA goals, a number of next generation have combined to capture the interest of researchers and
biofuels show significant promise in helping to achieve entrepreneurs around the world. These include:
the goal. Of these candidates, biofuels derived from algae 1) high per-acre productivity, 2) non-food based
have the potential to help the U.S. meet the new RFS feedstock resources, 3) use of otherwise non-productive,
while at the same time moving the nation ever closer to non-arable land, 4) utilization of a wide variety of water
energy independence. To accelerate the deployment of sources (fresh, brackish, saline, marine, produced, and
advanced biofuels, President Obama and Secretary of wastewater), 5) production of both biofuels and valuable
Energy Steven Chu announced the investment of $800M co-products, and 6) potential recycling of CO and other
2
in new research on biofuels in the American Recovery nutrient waste streams.
and Renewal Act. This announcement included funds
for the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy The DOE-supported Aquatic Species Program, an effort
Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE) Biomass undertaken from 1978 to 1996, illustrated the potential
Program to invest in the research, development, and of algae as a biofuel feedstock. Much has changed since
deployment of commercial algae-to-biofuel processes. the end of the program. Rising petroleum prices and a
Additional funding is being directed to algae-to-biofuel national mandate to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign
research both in EERE and other government agencies oil, provide environmental benefits, and create economic
and programs. opportunities across the nation have renewed interest in

developing algal feedstocks for biofuels production.
The term algae can refer to microalgae, cyanobacteria
(the so called “blue-green algae”), and macroalgae (or While the basic concept of using algae as an alternative
seaweed). Under certain conditions, some microalgae
and renewable source of biomass feedstock for biofuels
have the potential to accumulate significant amounts
has been explored previously, a scalable, sustainable
of lipids (more than 50% of their ash-free cell dry
and commercially viable system has yet to emerge.
weight). These characteristics give great potential for
The National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap
an immediate pathway to high energy density, fungible
Workshop, held December 9-10, 2008, was convened
fuels. These fuels can also be produced using other algae
by DOE-EERE’s Biomass Program. The two-day event
feedstocks and intermediates, including starches and
brought together more than 200 scientists, engineers,
ii Executive Summary
research managers, industry representatives, lawyers, algal biomass production systems at commercial
financiers, and regulators from across the country to scale. By documenting the challenges across the algal
discuss and identify the critical challenges currently biomass supply chain and highlighting research and
hindering the economical production of algal biofuels at coordination needs and gaps, this document will serve to
commercial scale. guide researchers and engineers, policymakers, federal
agencies, and the private sector in implementing national
This document represents the output from the Workshop, research, development, and deployment efforts.
supporting scientific literature, and comments received
during a public comment period. The Roadmap In summary, the Roadmap Workshop effort suggests
document is intended to provide a comprehensive state that many years of both basic and applied science and
of technology summary for fuels and co-products from engineering will likely be needed to achieve affordable,
algal feedstocks and to document the feasibility and scalable, and sustainable algal-based fuels. The ability
techno-economic challenges associated with scaling to quickly test and implement new and innovative
up of processes. This document also seeks to explore technologies in an integrated process will be a key
the economic and environmental impacts of deploying component to accelerating progress.
Executive Summary iii
FROFMRO AMLG AALEG ATOE TBOIO BFIUOEFLUSE LS
An IntAegn rIantteedg rSaytsetde mSyss Atepmpsro Aapcph rtooa cRhe ntoew Raebnleew Eanbelreg Ey ntheargt yis Abundant, Affordable, and Sustainable
ALGAE FEEDSTOCKS CULTIVATION
Microalgae and cyanobacteria can be cultivated via
photoautotrophic methods (where algae require light to
grow and create new biomass) in open or closed ponds or via
heterotrophic methods (where algae are grown without light
and are fed a carbon source, such as sugars, to generate new
biomass). Macroalgae (or seaweed) has different cultivation
needs that typically require open off-shore or coastal facilities.
Designing an optimum cultivation system involves leveraging
the biology of the algal strain used and inegrating it with the
best suited downstream processing options. Choices made for
the cultivation system are key to the affordability, scalability,
and sustainability of algae to biofuel systems.

Fermentation Tanks
MICROALGAE CYANOBACTERIA MACROALGAE

Closed Photobioreactors
Algae as feedstocks for bioenergy refers to a diverse group of
organisms that include microalgae, macroalgae (seaweed),
and cyanobacteria (formerly called “blue-green algae”).
Algae occur in a variety of natural aqueous and terrestial
habitats ranging from freshwater, brackish waters, marine,
and hyper-saline environments to soil and in symbiotic
associations with other organisms.
Understanding, managing, and taking advantage of the
biology of algal strains selected for use in production
systems is the foundation for processing feedstocks into
fuels and products. Isolating new strains directly from unique
environments will ensure versatile and robust strains for mass
culture needed in biofuels applications.

Open Ponds
Example Cultivation Systems
POLICY SITING AND RESOURCES
iv Executive Summary
Systems and Techno-Economic Analysis: GuiDdeinvge ltohpem Reenste Paarcthh Taonwd a r d a Commercially Viable Algal Biofuel Industry
FROM ALGAE TO BIOFUELS
An Integrated Systems Approach to Renewable E nergy Abundant, Affordable, and Sustainable
HARVESTING / DEWATERING CONVERSION
Some processes for the conversion of algae to liquid Conversion to fuels and products is predicated on a basic
process decision point:
transportation fuels require pre-processing steps such as
harvesting and dewatering. Algal cultures are mainly grown 1) Conversion of whole algal biomass;
in water and can require process steps to concentrate 2) Extraction of algal metabolites; or
harvested algal biomass prior to extraction and conversion.
3) Processing of direct algal secretions.
These steps can be energy-intensive and can entail siting
Conversion technology options include chemical,
issues.
biochemical, and thermochemical processes, or a
CH2-O-C
EXTRACTION combination of these approaches.
The end products vary depending on the conversion
technology utilized. Focusing on biofuels as the end-product
O
poses challenges due to the high volumes and relative low
CH -O-C R
2 1 values associated with bulk commodities like gasoline and
O diesel fuels.
CH-O-C R
2
O
CH -O-C R
2 3
Bio-Crude
Algal Lipid: Precursor to Biofuels
Three major components can be extracted from algal
biomass: lipids (including triglycerides and fatty acids),
carbohydrates, and proteins. While lipids and carbohydrates
are fuel precursors (e.g., gasoline, biodiesel and jet fuel),
proteins can be used for co-products (e.g., animal/fish
feeds).
Most challenges in extraction are associated with the
industrial scale up of integrated extraction systems.
While many analytical techniques exist, optimizing
extraction systems that consume less energy than
contained in the algal products is a challenge due to the
high energy needs associated with both handling and
drying algal biomass as well as separating out desirable
products. Some algal biomass production processes are
investigating options to bypass extraction, though these are
also subject to a number of unique scale-up challenges.
End Uses:
• Biodiesel • Biogas
• Renewable Hydrocarbons • Co-products

• Alcohols (e.g., animal feed, fertilizers,
industrial enzymes,
bioplastics, and surfactants)
REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS

Executive Summary v
Systems and Techno-Economic Analysis: GuiDdeinvge ltohpem Reenste Paarcthh Taonwd a r d a Commercially Viable Algal Biofuel Industry
vi Executive Summary