The idea is insanely simple. For the same reasons that algae grow in your pool, you can cultivate them by feeding them what they want. They just so happen to eat Carbon dioxide and nitrate compounds. We were planning using flue gas carbon dioxide from a coal burning plan as well as nitrate compounds to feed the algae. Microalgae can consume 1.9 kg of CO2 for every kilogram of weight, so overall your looking at maybe a 6% overall reduction in CO2 flue gas emissions IF such a system could work. As for nitrate compounds, algae eat that stuff and can consume up to 80% of a solutions nitrate compounds within 20-30 hours of algae inoculation ( when they are introduced to a system).
The depleted algae could be refined for biodiesel, or you can send it through anaerobic digestion to create methane gas. Or you could take co fire it with coal, offsetting some coal if you so chose. John Beneman who was the pioneer in algae back in the 80s told us ( in person) that our idea for digestion was the best route. He was a bit of a curmudgeon though and was sadly pessimistic about algae’s hopes.
On the bright side, Solix biofuels released and is testing their first ever photbioractor based system in Colorodo. We shall see if its any good I guess. I am also keeping a close eye on synthetic genomics to see what they do. As for me, I have since moved on, but am still very interested in the energy markets. They are our livihood after all.
