A project proposal by Jaal Mann and Michael Karch for Energy Systems and Climate Change at The Evergreen State College

1. Algae generation for biofuel
using an enclosed system with
artificial lighting
Jaal Mann and Michael Karch, for
Energy Systems & Climate Change at
The Evergreen State College
Celsias
http://www.celsias.com/media/uploads/admin/
algae_shot_1.jpg

2. Fossil fuels are not sustainable

3. Fossil fuels are not sustainable
• Dwindling petroleum reserves

4. Fossil fuels are not sustainable
• Dwindling petroleum reserves
• CO2-caused global climate change

5. Fossil fuels are not sustainable
• Dwindling petroleum reserves
• CO2-caused global climate change
Sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel are
needed

6. Biofuels as a sustainable
alternative to fossil fuel

7. Biofuels as a sustainable
alternative to fossil fuel
• Carbon neutral

8. Biofuels as a sustainable
alternative to fossil fuel
• Carbon neutral
• Renewable

9. Biofuels as a sustainable
alternative to fossil fuel
• Carbon neutral
• Renewable
• Cheaper than fossil fuel

10. Types of biofuel
• Traditional food-crop based
-corn
-sugar cane
-soybean

11. Types of biofuel
• Non-food biomass based
-oil palm
-switch grass
-algae

12. Algae is a promising new biofuel
The Algae Project
http://greengineers.wikispaces.com/file/view/
algae_smiley.jpg/115440023/algae_smiley.jpg

13. Algae is a promising new biofuel
• Up to 300x soybean yields1
The Algae Project
http://greengineers.wikispaces.com/file/view/
algae_smiley.jpg/115440023/algae_smiley.jpg

14. Algae is a promising new biofuel
• Up to 300x soybean yields1
• It can be grown quickly, and has a high oil
content
The Algae Project
http://greengineers.wikispaces.com/file/view/
algae_smiley.jpg/115440023/algae_smiley.jpg

15. Algae is a promising new biofuel
• Up to 300x soybean yields1
• It can be grown quickly, and has a high oil
content
• Saltwater and wastewater can be used
The Algae Project
http://greengineers.wikispaces.com/file/view/
algae_smiley.jpg/115440023/algae_smiley.jpg

16. How is algae traditionally
grown?

17. How is algae traditionally
grown?
• Open ponds

18. How is algae traditionally
grown?
• Open ponds
• Raceway ponds

19. How is algae traditionally
grown?
• Open ponds
• Raceway ponds
• Artificial light bioreactors

20. How is algae traditionally
grown?
Can algae be grown in an enclosed artificial
light system cost-effectively and more
quickly than traditional methods?

21. What could make our enclosed
artificial light system more
efficient?

22. What could make our enclosed
artificial light system more
efficient?
• Cheap, clean hydro-electricity

23. What could make our enclosed
artificial light system more
efficient?
• Cheap, clean hydro-electricity
• 24/7/365 growing period

24. What could make our enclosed
artificial light system more
efficient?
• Cheap, clean hydro-electricity
• 24/7/365 growing period
• Efficient (9W usage) optimum-
wavelength LEDs

25. Proposed Design
• Mirror-lined
box
distributes
light evenly

26. Proposed Design
• Mirror-lined
box
distributes
light evenly
• CO2 promotes
rapid growth

27. Proposed Design
• Young, light-
sensitive algae
begin in top
CO2 enriched
tank

28. Proposed Design
• Young, light-
sensitive algae
begin in top
CO2 enriched
tank
• More mature
algae are
transferred to
bottom light-
intensive tank

29. How this project could change
the world

30. How this project could change
the world
• In your garage (using your car’s CO22)

31. How this project could change
the world
• In your garage (using your car’s CO22)
• 1-3% U.S. crop area = 50% transport
fuel1

32. How this project could change
the world
• In your garage (using your car’s CO22)
• 1-3% U.S. crop area = 50% transport
fuel1
• Animal feed1

33. How this project could change
the world
• In your garage (using your car’s CO22)
• 1-3% U.S. crop area = 50% transport
fuel1
• Animal feed1
• Local fuel

34. How this project could change
the world
• In your garage (using your car’s CO22)
• 1-3% U.S. crop area = 50% transport
fuel1
• Animal feed1
• Local fuel
• Reduce, reuse, recycle

35. How this project could change
the world
• In your garage (using your car’s CO22)
• 1-3% U.S. crop area = 50% transport
fuel1
• Animal feed1
• Local fuel
• Reduce, reuse, recycle
• Save the planet

36. The market price challenge
• Cost
– Currently $2.80/L1

37. The market price challenge
• Cost
– Currently $2.80/L1
– $0.69/L target to compete with $100/
barrel oil1

38. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our system is cost-effective:

39. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our system is cost-effective:
• Larger scale operations

40. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our system is cost-effective:
• Larger scale operations
-maximize yields

41. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our system is cost-effective:
• Larger scale operations
-maximize yields
-harvest most efficiently

42. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our system is cost-effective:
• Larger scale operations
-maximize yields
-harvest most efficiently
-ideal system construction

43. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our system is not cost-effective:

44. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our system is not cost-effective:
• Research different methods

45. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our system is not cost-effective:
• Research different methods
-optimizing raceway ponds

46. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our system is not cost-effective:
• Research different methods
-optimizing raceway ponds
-alternative bioreactors

47. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our system is not cost-effective:
• Research different methods
-optimizing raceway ponds
-alternative bioreactors
-other energy sources

48. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our results are inconclusive:

49. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our results are inconclusive:
• Future research into our method

50. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our results are inconclusive:
• Future research into our method
-increasing sample size

51. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our results are inconclusive:
• Future research into our method
-increasing sample size
-eliminating bias

52. Possible outcomes and their
implications for the future
If our results are inconclusive:
• Future research into our method
-increasing sample size
-eliminating bias
-repeat studies

53. Sources
• 1: Chisti Yusuf, “Biodiesel from microalgae,” Biotechnology Advances 25, no.
3 (May): 294-306. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/
S0734975007000262>
• 2: Michael Szabo, "From Wales, a box to make biofuel from car fumes,"
Reuters. July 2007. <http://uk.reuters.com/article/2007/07/19/uk-wales-
greenbox-business-feature-pictu-idUKL1847347220070719>
• Diesel engine sound: hanstimm, http://www.freesound.org/people/
hanstimm/sounds/7803/
• Car passing sound: Pingel, http://www.freesound.org/people/Pingel/
sounds/3184/
• Bubble sound: lonemonk, http://www.freesound.org/people/
lonemonk/sounds/108745/
• Rain sound: RHumphries, http://www.freesound.org/people/
RHumphries/sounds/2521/