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Chlorella is becoming a sustainable resource. If the biotechnology being developed by Algae Systems of Nevada, NV, is successful, Chlorella will become an important alternative energy source with bright application prospects. Chlorella is almost ubiquitous, easy to grow, and full of lipids. After successful extraction, Chlorella can be completely converted to hydrocarbon fuels. The only obstacle is how we can use it in a cost-effective manner.
Algae Systems, a US company based in Nevada, has set up a pilot plant in Mobile Bay, Alabama. They not only convert green algae into diesel but also extract drinking water from the sewers and produce fertilizers. In fact, this solution is to treat as much wastewater as possible while making alternative fuels.
Algae Systems first cultivated indigenous green algae in the cultivation room and expanded the planting scale in the greenhouse. Subsequently, these green algae will be transferred to giant floating bioreactors. Chlorella can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and nutrients (such as disinfectant bath water, etc.). In just a few days, these green algae will end their "feeding," and they will be harvested and dehydrated.
Next, the green algae needs to undergo a "hydrothermal liquefaction" process, that is, the green algae is cooked under extreme pressure to obtain a liquid that is different from the crude oil extracted from the well. This liquid will be sent to the laboratory and hydrogen injected into it, resulting in the formation of hydrocarbon fuels.
The biggest challenges faced by Algae Systems and its competitors are the high cost and the impact of the high-power heating process. But the U.S. Department of Energy has provided the company with a $4 million grant to ensure that the experiment continues. In addition, supporters including John Perry Barlow, a former Japanese writer and American band Grateful Dead co-founder of the Electronic Sentinel Foundation, also invested $15 million in Algae Systems.
Although Algae Systems may need billions of dollars to expand its scale, its business plan includes many ways to make money, such as the treatment of urban wastewater charges, the sale of drinking water, and potentially high-value fuels. This is by far the most profitable way of turning Chlorella into “black goldâ€.
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