Energy
Biomass offers America a new opportunity to use domestic and sustainable resources to provide its fuel, power, and chemical needs from plants and plant-derived materials. The term "biomass" means any plant derived organic matter available on a renewable basis. AquaFiber technologies produce biomass from the harvest of the natural microscopic algae of surface waters as we remove nutrients and pollutants from the system. Because microalgae can be rich in oils, biofuels can be extracted from the biomass. This oil can be used to make biodiesel and jet fuels. Unlike common biofuel sources, such as soybean or palm biodiesel and corn ethanol, algae do not impact the world’s food supply. Although no single biofuel source is likely to satisfy the world’s energy needs, oil extracted from algae can contribute to the solution and help move the U.S. towards energy independence.
AquaFiber is working with a number of partners to make “algae to energy” a practical reality. Our partners include: SAIC (a Fortune 500® scientific, engineering, and technology applications company), Hawaii BioEnergy (a corporation with a mission to reduce Hawai‘i's energy costs, green house gas emissions, and dependence on imported fossil fuels through the research and development of local renewable bioenergy projects), Kuehnle AgroSystems ( a research-based biotech company looking at production of biologically active compounds from algae ), and Miller, Sellen Conner and Walsh, Inc. ( a Florida firm that’s specializes in planning, civil engineering, landscape architecture, environmental services, transportation planning and engineering, and economics services).
After extracting oil from algae, the remaining meal can be used as animal feed. It can also produce methane, or the biomass can be burned in a gasifier to create heat and energy. Another option is to spread the biomass on soil as a fertilizer. With all of these beneficial options, the AquaFiber system would be well-suited for applications in the Third World where communities need clean water, sanitation, energy, and enhanced agricultural productivity.
AquaFiber’s technologies may also be able to help with carbon dioxide reduction. A medium-sized coal fired power plant burns around 6,000 tons of coal per day, releasing 15,000 tons of carbon dioxide. If the carbon dioxide could be directed to support algal growth ponds, nearly 7,000 tons of algal biomass could be produced each day. That volume of biomass could generate over 100 million gallons of oil each year. With over 1,500 power plants in the United States, a significant portion of our fuel could be produced domestically. To explore this potential, AquaFiber has joined forces with a number of private and public sector partners to begin research in this area.
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aqualutions™
Patent pending technology that removes phosphorus, nitrogen, carbon, and other harmful pollutants from surface waters.
aquaknight™
A mobile water treatment unit that can be delivered to field locations.
partners
AquaFiber is working with the following organizations.