DeBeers Fuel is taking delivery of 90, biodiesel from algae reactors and is starting production n Naboomspruit, South Africa, according to the Energy Blog. The firm has signed an agreement with Greenstar
Products for 90 reactors over 18 months and has taken delivery of the first, which was shipped from MIT in Cambridge Massachutsettes. DeBeers Fuel will be acting as Greenstar's master franchisee in South Africa for 90 sites located close to high level carbon dioxide emitters like power plants.
The 2-ton reactors will be built by Greenstar at its Glenns Ferry Facility in Idaho and delivered over the next 18 months. The first reactor was shipped November 8, 2006 by airfreight to South Africa.
Greenstar Products says its reactors can:
process raw materials into biodiesel in minutes, (versus one to two hours for the rest of the industry) will transform the De Beers plant into a State-of-the-Art Continuous Flow Process to increase efficiency and reduce operating costs.
Many people have high hopes for biodiesel from algae because they are fast growing, and to non-biologists like me, surprisingly algal oil yields are high. Up to 40% of the algae's weight. The great thing about algae is that there is no one strain that is better than the rest, so there should be plenty of competition.
The De Beers model will use algae developed at MIT, where the algae have been used to reduce emissions from the Institute's cogeneration plant. There are
thirty 3-meter-high triangles of clear pipe containing a mixture of algae and water. Bubbling the plant’s flue gases through the mixture has reduced CO2 emissions by 82 percent on sunny days and 50 percent on cloudy days (during daytime) and has cut nitrogen oxides by 85 percent (on a 24-hour basis).
One thing that worries me about the MIT process is that it takes several weeks to condition the algae to grow in the kind of carbon-dioxide-rich atmospheres found in flue gases. That looks like it could be a limiting step.
Technorati Tags: America, biodiesel, biofuel, Carbon dioxide, Companies, MIT, algae
Comments (10)
it nice to hear that de beers is helping out africa to boost its biodiesel production. its one way of contributing to protect the environment.
as for algae oil being used for biofuel, it might cause harm to the marine life if exploited just for oil.
there should be back up plans to maintain balance in the marine ecosystem.
Posted by Alternative Fuels | November 16, 2006 1:19 AM
Posted on November 16, 2006 01:19
Good to see isn't it, I'm not sure where they get the algae from... I'll try and check it out. Thanks for the comment.
Posted by Biofuelsimon | November 16, 2006 9:39 AM
Posted on November 16, 2006 09:39
How can one access more information on the franchise. How much does it cost and economically feasible is it? How does it compare to biofuels from beans?
Posted by Sanjay Mahabir | January 19, 2007 10:41 AM
Posted on January 19, 2007 10:41
Hi Sanjay
Thanks for the question. It's not one I can answer myself, but I'll try and look into it.
Perhaps, if you were to contact greenstar they could give you some data...
I'd be very interested in hearing back...
Simon
Posted by Biofuelsimon | January 22, 2007 9:57 AM
Posted on January 22, 2007 09:57
Hi there,
we have an Abelone (Perlemoen) farm in the Eastern Cape. We have a licence to grow seaweed. we have loads of space, and have spare capacity of about 10 hectares to cultivate seaweed/algae. We have pipes and pumps already installed that pump water from the sea to the abelone and seaweed. Is it possible to start a bio-diesel plant there. we can adapt the algae if seaweed is not suitable. remember that we are not incurring any extra costs as we have the situation anyway because of the abelone.
My contact number is 082 569 1168
thanks. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Posted by Barry Willows | March 2, 2007 6:56 AM
Posted on March 2, 2007 06:56
I would like to send me all the necessory information about the biodiesel franchise.
with regards
D.W.MRWATA
Posted by D.W.MRWATA | March 6, 2007 6:54 PM
Posted on March 6, 2007 18:54
Please forward relevant imfofmation regarding the franchise opportunity. Your kind cooperation is appreciated.
Regards
Paul Oliver
Posted by Paul Oliver | June 2, 2007 4:24 AM
Posted on June 2, 2007 04:24
I am also from the east cape in SA and would like all info on the bio-diesel franchise . I am especially interested in researching the process of converting the algae of oil .I need the technical data in order to do a feasabiltiy study .
Biofuelsimon from PE get hold of me if you can tel UK .+447756920300 we can talk.
Regards
N Briscoe (UK)
Posted by Neville Briscoe | July 3, 2008 9:51 AM
Posted on July 3, 2008 09:51
I am a Cameroonian and will like to have all the necesary imformation about the franchise of biofuel . I very interested to invest .
Posted by NDAMUKONG AMAH BUBIEN | April 17, 2009 5:03 PM
Posted on April 17, 2009 17:03
Please contact the company named directly.
best wishes
Simon
Posted by Simon Robinson
|
April 20, 2009 9:21 AM
Posted on April 20, 2009 09:21