A new "green" solution to process wastewater from hydraulic fracturing by using algae grown in an enclosed facility. The prototype can process 50,000 gallons of fracking wastewater per day, producing an algae that is converted to biofuel.

1. ALGEPOWER INC.
Algeponics ®
Algeponics ® is a patented controlled environment for growing algae on what would otherwise be
environmentally harmful nutrient streams.
The Facts
The Marcellus Shale formation can be found beneath about 60
percent of Pennsylvania’s total land mass, where it is buried to depths
of up to 9,000 feet The Marcellus shale stretches from
West Virginia and Ohio through much of Pennsylvania, and
covers a substantial portion of the lower half of New York State. It is
estimated to contain up to 500 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, making
it one of the largest gas field in the world. 10% of that gas (50 trillion
cubic feet) might be recoverable.
The Goal
• Prevention of contamination of ground water by Phytoremediation of frackwater
from the hydrofracking process.
• Flowback water is collected, cleaned and recycled naturally saving municipal
wastewater treatment plants and long distance trucking fees
• New Green job opportunities are created with the Algeponics ® system and biofuel
production
• Expand local tax revenues
• Promote locally produced biofuel
Algepower Inc. plans to utilize its patented Algeponics ® farm technology to treat frackwater at
the source, removing the salt and other toxins from the water and recycling clean water to be re-
used in subsequent fracking. This will be achieved by growing combinations of algae that are
able to thrive in the frackwater environment and at the same time, take the unwanted toxins out
of that water. The algae which are grown will then be converted into biofuel using various
technologies. Through the rapid validation and deployment of this technology, Algepower will
provide the oil and gas industry with a cost-savings and green solution to the fracking pollution
problem and an attractive response to the rising public calls for fracking moratoria. It will
provide the people of Pennsylvania with a way to maintain and grow the economic, job, and tax
base represented by the Marcellus shale reserves, while at the same time preserving the
environment. In addition, Algepower will add numerous green-collar jobs to Pennsylvania’s
economy, through its algae farming, biofuel refining, and distribution operations.
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2. The Good
The economic benefits to communities across the Commonwealth come predominantly through
important employment and income effects on local businesses who supply the industry (such as oil
field service companies, restaurants and retailers, and hotels), and effects that result from
employees spending their wages locally. Unlike other US gas drilling operations natural gas will
provide relatively little new tax revenues to local jurisdictions in Pennsylvania since natural gas is not
subject to local taxation in the Commonwealth.
The Bad
Hydrofracking is done by sealing off a portion of the well and injecting large amounts of water
under very high pressure into the isolated portion of the hole. The high pressure fractures the rock
and pushes the fractures open.
Marcellus wastewater is typically high in chlorides, heavy metals, organics that flowback with the
fluids out of fractured wells, and chemicals added in the fracking process. The Marcellus Shale
is an ancient ocean, and the flowback is often 5-times saltier than ocean water. The minimal
regulations for properly treating the large volumes of liquids created by hydraulic fracturing have
not proven adequate. Foremost on the list of potentially serious environmental problems
throughout the Marcellus Shale region is groundwater pollution resulting from irresponsibly
discharged frackwater. With proper handling, flowback need not be a problem. With
ALGEPOWER’s patented Algeponics® farms it can also provide added value as biofuel.
The Solution
Our Vision for Pennsylvania
Based on our work to date, and on
our survey of available literature, we
believe that our Algeponics ® system
can be a viable and cost effective
technology for treating and recycling
frackwater. Since the year 2000,
over 32,500 wells have been drilled in
Pennsylvania.
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/2000-
2011Well%20DrilledbyCountySummary.htm
We envision establishing Algeponics
® farms to phyto-remediate collected
flowback water from numerous wells
throughout the region. A single 1-
acre farm could process approximately 50,000 gallons/day of frackwater, removing the toxins,
and recycling the water for additional fracking. The algae grown in those facilities could be
converted to biofuel, and in the process, the toxins would be destroyed or sequestered. This
solution would, in principle, replace the currently unsustainable practice of trucking frackwater to
municipal water treatment facilities or dumping into waterways. The recycled flowback water
would reduce the need for fresh water and be more economical and environmentally sound.
The impacts on jobs and the economic in Pennsylvania would be game-changing.
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3. http://www.alleghenyconference.org/PEL/PDFs/EconomicImpactOilGasInPA1108.pdf
Since 2008 when this economic impact statement was compiled, oil and gas
exploration activities have grown dramatically.
In addition to helping avoid an environmentally-based shutdown of fracking in Pennsylvania, the
Algeponics ® solution would also generate significant jobs on its own, between the construction
and maintenance of covered containment lagoons, and the operation of numerous Algeponics ®
farm facilities, the processing of algae into biofuel, and the distribution of that fuel. Many
truckers who are currently trucking frackwater to municipal water treatment facilities could be
redeployed to bring frackwater from covered lagoons to a central Algeponics ® farm.
What Algepower Inc. is seeking
We would like to conduct a short term prototype program in partnership with a qualified
university in Marcellus area, to test out the viability of this approach. The project would:
• Test frack water from various wells and impoundment lagoons.
• Test various algae species for best algae for remediation
• Based on the most effective algae or algae combination, determine the best available
technology for converting the algae to fuel
• Determine the size and cost of a viable commercial unit
We believe that the research project could be completed within 3 - 4 months from the time of
funding, and that if a qualified research institution is willing to join us, the entire research project could
be done with a budget of under $700,000.
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4. Algepower Inc.’s History
Patented -- In June 2006, Algepower received a provisional patent for its hydroponic algae production
system and trademarked the process; Algeponics® The final patent was issued in May 2008. “Busch,
Gail; and Dupont, Jacques M., to Algepower LLC Hydroponic growing enclosure and method for growing,
harvesting, processing and distributing algae, related microorganisms and their by products 07536827 Cl.
47-62R”
Grants and Awards
Algepower was awarded its first grant from the Vermont Department of Agriculture in 2007 to fund its
feasibility and modeling study which was carried out by the Gund Institute of Ecological Economics,
University of Vermont.
Algepower was awarded a second grant from the NRCS of the US Department of Agriculture in 2008 to
develop its protype proof of concept project on the Blue Spruce Farm in Bridgeport, Vermont.
Algepower was awarded a third grant from Central Vermont Power Service in 2009 to further its technical
development.
Algepower was also awarded a fourth grant from US Department of Energy through the Vermont
Sustainable Jobs Fund in 2009 to further the technical development of the algae’s lipid content.
Algepower was a Semifinalist in MIT’s Clean Energy Competition in 2008.
Contacts:
Gail Busch, President Laurence Baer, Dir. Bus. Development
Montpelier, VT Columbia, MD
802 223 0705 410 884 9555
gail@algepower.com LHBaer@algepower.com
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5. Addendum
Algepower’s patented vertical hydroponic system
Algepower’s patented gravity-fed tray system allows for
continuous harvesting of algae. Facilities are configured with racks
of trays on 14 levels, which allow algae to multiply as it progresses
through the system to the bottom rack where it is harvested. Natural
light through the building roof and walls is augmented by LED lighting
systems to allow 24/7 growing, year round, in any geographical
environment.
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6. Algeponics ® Facilities
Algepower has partnered with Arizon ®, the preeminent manufacturer of Air-Supported
Structures, to develop a unique and patented facility and system for producing algae from waste
streams.
Algepower’s Air-Supported facility design provides Algepower with significant advantages over
competitive algae production schemes.
o Temperature and humidity levels are easily controlled providing the optimal growth
conditions for algae
o The structure’s material allows ample natural light to penetrate, resulting in significantly
reduced energy costs
o The design allows for total control and manipulation of the algae through their growing cycle o It
costs only 20 - 33% of the cost of traditional construction, but can still be engineered for
any environment, including winds up to 190 MPH.
o It be assembled quickly and without the potential risks, problems or delays of traditional
construction - often without zoning constraints.
o Algeponics® farms have a very small footprint. A 1-2 acre Algeponics® farm has far higher
yields compared to many acres needed for traditional algae production. This allows us to co-
locate our facilities near the pollution sources which provide the nutrients for our growth.
o Our unique facility design allows for Algepower to scale up its operations rapidly and
dramatically to meet demand.
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