Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) � Leads U.S. government efforts to purchase aviation fuels derived from alternative sources. Among the world�s largest purchasers of jet fuels, DESC entered into a strategic alliance earlier this year with ATA to foster closer cooperation between military and commercial aviation with respect to the deployment of alternative fuels.
UOP � A leading producer recognized for fueling more commercial, biofuel-flight programs than any other company in the world. Biofuels Digest recently distinguished UOP as �Processor of the Year.�
Solazyme � The leading producer of algae-derived oil for aviation and diesel use. Biofuels Digest recently distinguished Solazyme as the �#1 Bioenergy Company of the Year�.
Solena � Pioneers in municipal solid waste to jet-fuel production. Solena recently teamed with British Airways to announce a fuel-supply agreement for London City Airport.
Algae fuel is a biofuel which is derived from algae. During photosynthesis, algae and other photosynthetic organisms capture carbon dioxide and sunlight and convert it into oxygen and biomass. Up to 99% of the carbon dioxide in solution can be converted, which was shown by Weissman and Tillett (1992) in large-scale open-pond systems.
Several companies and government agencies are funding efforts to reduce capital and operating costs and make algae fuel production commercially viable. The production of biofuels from algae does not reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), because any CO2 taken out of the atmosphere by the algae is returned when the biofuels are burned. They do however eliminate the introduction of new CO2 by displacing fossil hydrocarbon fuels.
High oil prices, competing demands between foods and other biofuel sources, and the world food crisis, have ignited interest in algaculture (farming algae) for making vegetable oil, biodiesel, bioethanol, biogasoline, biomethanol, biobutanol and other biofuels, using land that is not suitable for agriculture. Among algal fuels' attractive characteristics: they do not affect fresh water resources, can be produced using ocean and wastewater, and are biodegradable and relatively harmless to the environment if spilled.
Algae cost more per unit mass (as of 2010, food grade algae costs ~$5000/ton), due to high capital and operating costs, yet can theoretically yield between 10 and 100 times more energy per unit area than other second-generation biofuel crops.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Aviation Biofuel Advancements To Be Showcased At International Air ...
via avstop.com
