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Chevron, NREL To Collaborate on Algae-to-Biofuel Research

November 2, 2007 | 6 Comments

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San Ramon, California [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] Chevron Corporation and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced yesterday that they have entered into a collaborative research and development agreement to study and advance technology to produce liquid transportation fuels using algae.

The research project is the second under a five-year strategic biofuels research alliance between Chevron and NREL announced in October 2006. The first involves bio-oil reforming, a process by which bio-oils derived from the decomposition of biological feedstocks are then converted into hydrogen and biofuels.

Chevron and NREL scientists will collaborate to identify and develop algae strains that can be economically harvested and processed into finished transportation fuels such as jet fuel. Chevron Technology Ventures, a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc., will fund the initiative.

"NREL operated the Aquatic Species Program for the Department of Energy for nearly 20 years, giving us unique insights into the research required to produce cost-effective fuels from algal oils or lipids. Our scientists have the advanced tools and the experience to rapidly increase the yield and productivity of key species of algae," said NREL Director Dan Arvizu.

Algae are considered a promising potential feedstock for next-generation biofuels because certain species contain high amounts of oil, which could be extracted, processed and refined into transportation fuels using currently available technology. Other benefits of algae as a potential feedstock are their abundance and fast growth rates. Key technical challenges include identifying the strains with the highest oil content and growth rates and developing cost-effective growing and harvesting methods.

Bioenergy

6 Reader Comments

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1 of 6

david-larson-57667

November 2, 2007

I have seen several times in the past when petroleum companies got involved in alternative fuels. They were looking for another way to produce what they already produce, and they dropped the whole thing later. It is a PR bonus, a tax write-off, a chance to see how the competition (alt fuels) is developing, but I don't expect, from studying the history of the seven sisters with regard to biofuels, to see much come of this.
I almost hate to say it, and I could be wrong this time, but there it is.

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2 of 6

tom-sullivan-37113

November 2, 2007

Nice to see NREL revisiting biofuels from algae research - and in partnership with Chevron Corporation, no less. Algae are certainly the big hitters of the plant world when it comes to explosive, exponential growth; the annual New Jersey sized bloom in the Gulf of Mexico - only one of many such worldwide - caused by Mississippi River fertilizer runoff being illustrative. Municipal wastewater treatment plants are another potentially vast nutrient resource for algae. As for applying public funds "to identify and develop algae strains that can be economically harvested and processed into finished transportation fuels such as jet fuel" I'm less sanguine. We need large-scale carbon neutral fuel fast and I think a shorter path to this end would be to simply burn sun dried algae - growing more from the stack emissions if feasible - directly in power plants as an offset to our biggest greenhouse gas offender: coal.

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seema-kalla-73177

November 7, 2007

I was working with oil company before. I realised how much pollution was created becz of platforms. Burning so much of gas in to the air. I would be happy to join your community to look for alternative sources to save the world with so much pollution.

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bryan-shull-57951

November 8, 2007

Keep in mind Tom that when diverting CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning into algae production, it is only a postponement of the CO2 emmissions. It does nothing for reducing the total greenhouse gases of the power plant. It only removes said emissions from "point source" and spreads them across the landscape through tail pipes.

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jan-spakman-74365

November 25, 2007

Bryan, I think you make a mistake in thinking and calculation. In fact, using fuel from algae that have grown from CO2 out of point-sources, does, in fact, prevent the use of conventional petroleum based fuel. One might say that the 'fossil' CO2 is recycled. The CO2 from - let's say - the powerplant is NOT emitted in the atmosphere but re-used. That helps to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

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tom-chase-145152

April 26, 2008

Any time an oil company gets involved in any program/oil saving device(s)/methods/system to save any money for the consumer, forget about any enhancement of life for the populous or the earth. Patents issued for individuals are bought and shelved. Big business have bought out congressmen and this country is run by greed and power.

The intelligence of the individual will overcome this G&P aspect, will survive and not take it any longer. Don't think that any oil company is interested in your well being. Get back to the grass roots, change the big problem being a corrupt government and start over. I'm finding out that there is a big movement transpiring. Don't be like a herd of sheep needing to be led. Government doesn't solve problems, it is the problem.

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