Algae can be used to create renewable versions of every major type of fuel.  This includes aviation fuel, biodiesel, and green gasoline.

Unlike many other types of renewable fuels, algae fuels do not require any modifications to vehicles before they can be used.

Algae aviation fuel and green gasoline chemically mimic traditional fuel sources, allowing them to be “drop-in” fuels.  This means algae fuels can be poured directly into the tank of any vehicle (boat, plane, train, or automobile) and work just like standard fossil fuels. They can also be blended at any level with traditional fuels.

Algae biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can still be blended at any level with regular diesel. Biodiesel also the advantage of being simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics.

For more interesting information on algae, please go to www.allaboutalgae.com/fuels.

As we mentioned last week, thousands of gallons have been manufactured by fermentation for the U.S. Navy as it develops a “green fleet” that can operate on domestically-produced alternative fuel. Pilot plants are slated to go online in Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, and elsewhere in the country throughout 2012.

For more interesting information about algae production projects, please go to the algae industry section of AllAboutAlgae.com.

Here’s more information and links from the DOE:

Biomass Program Opens Physical Scientist Position

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Biomass Program has an open position for a physical scientist, advertised at the GS 12/13/14 level. The incumbent will assist the team leader in performing the duties of a technology manager and will be responsible for program management activities and maintaining ongoing relationships with Program awardees with respect to bioenergy sustainability. The scientist’s primary responsibilities will include the following:

• Support the implementation of the sustainability section of the Biomass Program Multi-Year Program Plan
• Support sustainability activities related to annual appropriations
• Utilize scientific expertise to gain an understanding of barriers and challenges related to bioenergy sustainability
• Become familiar with studies and analytical activities currently conducted by private-sector organizations and government agencies in the biofuel and bioenergy sustainability areas
• Liaise and coordinate with national laboratories, other federal agencies, and key stakeholder groups on sustainability research and development and analytical activities
• Respond to congressional inquiries and other public or government budget inquiries regarding the state of biofuel sustainability in the United States.

To view the announcements, please follow the links below to the USA Jobs website:

• HQ-12-CAT-13-EE-00247 – Open to all U.S. citizens.
• HQ-12-MP-18-EE-00247 – Open only to current U.S. Department of Energy headquarters employees with competitive status.

The Navy has already conducted extensive testing with algae-based biofuels, and has plans to purchase 450,000 gallons of drop-in biofuels, with 100,000 of those made from algal oils, for the fleet’s operations.

Read the full story at CNN.com.

Photo: Official U.S. Navy Imagery

In the video below, Joel Murdock, managing director of Strategic Products for FedEx Express discusses the benefits of algae-based fuel and how algae-based fuel will compete with petroleum-based fuel:

Among the benefits he cites:

• Algae’s extremely high yield of fuels
• Oils from algae can be processed into several products—jet fuel, diesel, naphtha, and more
• Algal fuels have already been certified for aircraft operations

Social and political instability in or near major oil producing regions has led to frequent price spikes, hampering an already-slow economic recovery as consumers are forced to spend more of their limited income on gas. Major spills in waterways like the Gulf of Mexico provide dramatic reminders of the risks inherent in oil exploration and production and their effect on our natural environment.

The status quo is simply no longer an option. We must find new, sustainable and domestic alternatives to petroleum fuel. Doing so will help us address the three most crucial issues of our time:

National Energy Security. As an increasingly thirsty world drives demand for declining supplies of liquid transportation fuels, countries without secure access to oil will be at a disadvantage – economically, politically and militarily. And since the United States imports more than 60 percent of our liquid fuels, it is crucial to our national energy security that we develop long-term, domestic sources of transportation fuels.

Economic Security. Each year, we send about $400 billion US dollars abroad in exchange for the fuel we consume. That’s almost one billion dollars a day that could be funneled back into the US economy through domestically-produced renewable fuel, helping us overcome major economic problems.

Climate Change. We must reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and protect and preserve our land, water, air and soil by developing renewable and sustainable energy sources. Liquid transportation fuels account for nearly a third of our fossil-fuel carbon emissions footprint.

Fortunately, there is a solution to these incredible challenges. It comes in the form of the Earth’s oldest organisms – algae – which can help address all three of these major issues, and more.

For more interesting information on algae, please go to www.allaboutalgae.com.

Over millions of years, massive algae blooms formed periodically in warm, shallow areas of ancient lakes and oceans, feeding off of atmospheric carbon dioxide and sunlight. As the algae cyclically bloomed and died off, they settled to the sea floor, combining with sediment and accumulating on top of previous generations, forming massive deposits of algal biomass within porous rock. Over time, geological forces pushed the layers of decomposing algae deeper into the earth, where they became trapped under layers of non-porous cap rock.

There, they decomposed into kerogen, a hydrocarbon-rich, waxy substance. Geological heat and pressure below the earth’s surface transformed the kerogen into liquid oil, which, due to its low density relative to the surrounding porous shale, seeped upwards and collected in reservoirs. When oil companies “strike oil” it means they have found these reservoirs

The difference between today’s algae fuels and petroleum fuel is that technology has advanced to the point where it’s possible to replicate the process above in a matter of days, rather than millions of years. Algae can be now converted into a variety of fuels like biodiesel, gasoline and jet fuel. Today’s algae “reservoirs” live above ground, never need to be drilled, and never run dry. Better yet, they can be found in every state in the US.

For more interesting information on algae, please go to www.allaboutalgae.com.

Many of today’s algae companies are readying themselves to meet that demand in food markets, while simultaneously preparing to enter fuel, fertilizer, pharmaceutical, and other markets.

One example can be found it today’s Biofuels Digest. Jim Lane explains how a recent investment in one algae company is bringing together two of the largest food conglomerates in the world.

Gary Dirks, director of Arizona State University’s LightWorks initiative, and Dan Simon, president and CEO of Heliae Technology Holdings Inc. write:

“With the passage of these two Arizona bills, we will offer algae the same benefits as any other agricultural product grown in our state and enable us to build large-scale algae farming operations that will benefit Arizona citizens through high-paying jobs, increased tax base, additional investment capital and sustainable use of agricultural lands for generations to come.”

Read the entire op-ed at USA Today.

Josh is no stranger to algae, having attended last year’s Algae Biomass Summit and being named a finalist in the 2011 International Algae Competition.  The video below has the details about his approach: