Bielefeld University
Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec)
D-33615 Bielefeld
Germany
Source: http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/biologie/Algenbiotechnologie/kruse/
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Algae.Tec Limited
Algae.Tec is an advanced biofuels company focused on commercializing technology that produces algae to manufacture sustainable fuels such as bio diesel and green jet fuel.
Algae.Tec was founded in 2008 with offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Perth, Western Australia. Our vision is to make a definitive impact on the energy and environmental challenges of the world by creating and implementing long-term value-added, renewable and sustainable energy solutions for our customers. We have a highly experienced global team with over 200 years of technical, professional and business expertise in key energy and environmental industries and core competencies in biofuel technologies, energy markets, project commercialization and business management.
Algae.Tec has conducted hundreds of laboratory, bench-scale and pilot tests and product trials to-date; assessed competitive algae technologies; and has applied the development phase results to detailed engineering evaluations of commercial plant operations. Collectively, these activities have led to the development of unique proprietary technology and know-how for high efficiency production of microalgae via a novel modular photo-reactor system and improved algae harvesting and product refinement technologies. Our algae technology has demonstrated exceptional performance, providing step-change improvements in productivity, product yield, carbon dioxide sequestration, plant footprint requirements and substantial capital/cost savings versus agricultural crops and other competitive algae processes in the industry.
Source: http://algaetec.com.au/about/
Algae for the Grid? Dow and Solazyme Say Yes
Oil is oil, say the companies. Also, Monsanto invests in rival Sapphire.
The march of algae beyond the swamp continued today as Dow Chemical and Solazyme announced a joint venture to use algae to develop insulating fluids for transformers and other electrical equipment.
Under the deal, Dow may obtain up to 20 million gallons of oil from Solazyme in 2013 and 60 million in 2015. Today, 500 million gallons of dielectric fluid get sold every year — and that doesn’t even include the Christmas rush.
Algae oil is oil, after all. The North Sea oil deposits are the results of prehistorical algal blooms. Unlike most other algae companies, Solazyme does not grow algae through photosynthesis. It has created genetically modified microbes that feed on sugar in large fermenting kettles. When they get fat, Solazyme squishes them to extract the oil. Although sugar adds costs, Solazyme does not have to extract algae from water to extract the oil, an arduous, expensive process that photosynthesis companies face.
Despite the whining from some critics about the sugar part of the equation, Solazyme has actually produced far more algae fuel than its competitors. Last year, the U.S. Navy ordered 150,000 gallons of algae-based jet fuel from Solazyme after a 20,000-gallon trial.
The company was also one of the first to expand from producing fuel to making food additives, chemicals and cosmetics. Those markets, although smaller, are easier to enter. Solazyme is expected to file preliminary paperwork for an IPO soon.
DuPont, 3M and other large chemical/materials companies have been actively signing joint ventures and investing in green technology startups, but Dow is arguably more active than most. Today, stealthy solar startup Alta Devices said Dow is an investor. Dow has also put money into NuvoSun, making equipment for the CIGS industry, and is working on materials for car batteries, solar shingles, and water purification systems.
Meanwhile, Monsanto yesterday invested in Solazyme rival Sapphire Energy, which wants to grow genetically modified algae in open ponds via photosynthesis. Scientifically, that’s no easy feat, but if they can pull it off it could lead to relatively inexpensive algae oil. Back in November, Sapphire told us the company would be able to show what it can accomplish with its process in about 18 months.
Here’s an award-winning video on Solazyme’s process…. ( Visit Source )
Source: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/algae-for-the-grid-dow-and-solazyme-say-yes/
Acadian Seaplants
“Success Abroad – Innovation at Home”
Acadian Seaplants Limited (ASL) is a globally recognized industry leader in the processing of seaweed-based products for food, biochemical, agricultural and agri-chemical markets worldwide and in the cultivation and processing of unique seaweeds for Asian as well as global food markets. Several noteworthy aspects of our operations include: the advanced methods used to harvest seaweeds as a sustainable, renewable resource and the technologies created to process the natural seaweed resources into value-added finished products for sale in exacting international markets. These activities have brought knowledge-based employment to Maritime Canadians and environmentally safe benefits to users of the finished products.
With the founding of Acadian Seaplants in 1981, a new Canadian industry was launched.
Acadian Seaplants is a fully-integrated company that is responsible for every stage of its operation from the sustainable harvesting and cultivation of marine plants, technology development and engineering, manufacturing and quality assurance to market development, sales and technical customer support.
We have searched the world to assemble a strong, highly motivated and internationally-recognized team that are all uniquely qualified to meet the challenges of competition in a global, technology-based industry.
Acadian Seaplants is a world-class Canadian company that has placed Canada on the international seaweed map. view more»
Source: http://www.acadianseaplants.com/