402 inform July 2010, Vol. 21 (7)
carrier plans to introduce biofuel on
several routes and monitor data col- creation of next-generation biofuels from flow properties. They also tend to degrade
lected over a longer period of time. algae (inform 20:577, 2009). more easily than other biofuels because they
nnn contain relatively high amounts of saturated
Valero Energy Corp. (San Antonio,
Texas, USA) and Algenol Biofuels Inc. Philippines works and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Genetic engineering of algae, however,
(Bonita Springs, Florida, USA) jointly
announced in May that they would on biofuels plans may yield oils with more useful properties,
according to Knothe.
work together on the commercial- The Philippine Department of Energy
OriginOil and
scale production of fuels derived from (DOE) has released plans to increase the
algae. Algenol has developed processes national blend for biodiesel to 200/0. Imple-
to make ethanol from algae growing
in seawater in the presence of carbon
mentation is supposed to take place this
year, although exact details have not been MBD Energy Ltd.
dioxide. If this collaboration is success-
ful, it has the potential of resulting in
made public yet. By 2015, the proposed
blend will rise to 100/0; by 2020, to 150/0; sign MoU
commercial-scale algae-based facili- and to 200/0, by 2025. Australia-based MBD Energy Ltd. and Orig-
ties and off-take arrangements with a Incorporation of ethanol into fuel at a inOil, Inc. (Los Angeles, California, USA)
global reach. Valero also is invested in 100/0 level is supposed to start in 2011, rising signed a memorandum of understanding on
Solix Biofuels (Fort Collins, Colorado, to 150/0 by 2015, and 200/0 by 2020. May 11 for algae feeding and extraction
USA), which is developing technology The DOE acknowledges there are still systems. OriginOil will supply MBD Energy
weak spots in establishing policies to move with its fracturing and extraction systems,
to extract oil from algae to make bio-
adoption of higher blends of biofuels. These to be integrated into MBD’s algal carbon
crude and, after refinement, fuels.
include the lack of infrastructure and uncer- capture and storage process to enhance algae
nnn
tain sources of feedstocks for the mandated growth and perform oil extraction.
In April, T. Boone Pickens, oil and gas
domestic production of ethanol; the need for
executive and financier, testified before Information from OriginOil indicated
a critical mass of vehicles that can use the
the US House Committee on Ways & that MBD Energy is its first customer.
higher blends; and the development of stan-
Means urging the passage of legislation Three of Australia’s largest coal-fired
dards for the proposed higher blends.
to reduce US dependence