Apidays New York 2024 - Scaling API-first by Ian Reasor and Radu Cotescu, Adobe
Algae generation for biofuel using an enclosed system
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
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
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
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
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
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/
