Learn about research in Algal biofuels from Cr Howe.

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UNIVERSITY OF
CAMBRIDGE
Algal Biofuels and the
Algal Bioenergy Consortium
Professor Christopher Howe
Department of Biochemistry
University of Cambridge, UK

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Topics
• Energy Biosciences Research in Cambridge
• Algal Biofuels
• Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Cambridge as a Centre for Energy Biosciences
Broad research base - fundamental strengths in:
plant science and photosynthesis
biochemistry
genetics
biotechnology
process engineering (bio and non-bio) and chemistry
physics and properties of plant materials
engineering performance and design of engines and gas
turbines
modelling of complex systems: high level economic and
sustainability models
social aspects of changes in land use
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Cambridge as a Centre for Energy Biosciences
Broad research base
Ability to attract:
Students, staff
Research funding (£204M in research grants/contracts in 2005-6)
Intellectual capital: eg Sanger Centre/ European Bioinformatics Institute
Investment: eg Microsoft Research
Environment for innovation (e.g. Cambridge Science Park)
Global outreach (e.g. Cambridge Programme for Industry)
Record of delivery
Access to non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
academic institutes and industry
John Innes Centre
National Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB)
Sainsbury laboratory (£150M from Gatsby Foundation)
Rothamsted Research
ADAS (science-based rural and environmental consultancy)
Monsanto
Nickersons
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Plant cell wall engineering
Plants engineered to contain decreased or increased quantities of hemicelluloses. Figure shows a stem
section with the different biomass components cellulose, xylan and mannan labelled in different colours.
Dr Paul Dupree - http://www.bio.cam.ac.uk/~dupree/
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Algal biofuels
Advantages of algae as biofuels
do not require use of agriculturally productive or
environmentally sensitive land
marine sites also possible
high yields possible (>100 tonnes/ha/yr achieved;
theoretical max, for local light levels (Mumbai) >500
tonnes/ha/yr)
some strains directly secrete hydrocarbons
can be coupled to other industrial processes (e.g.
sequestration of CO2 from flue gases, removal of
nitrates/phosphates from waste water)
growth can be linked to generation of high-value products
(nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals - e.g. carotenoids,
phycobiliproteins)
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Algal biofuels
Previous studies include:
US Department of Energy Aquatic Species program: Biodiesel from
Algae (Program 1978-1996; Close-out report July 1998)
Collection of oil-producing microalgae (Hawaii)
Oil production per cell higher under stress - but lower overall
Some progress in algal molecular biology/transformation
Open ponds demonstrated
High cost prohibitive, but land considerations favourable
Biofixation of CO2 and greenhouse gas abatement with microalgae technology roadmap (Benemann JR, 2003)
Restrict to open ponds, because of cost
Integrate with wastewater treatment and high-value co-products
Closed reactors for inoculum production
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Algal biofuels
Major developments since those reports include:
Recognition of “social” cost of carbon
$65 US to $905 US per tonne CO2
(5-95% confidence range, PAGE 2002 model, Stern report
assumptions)
Improvements in understanding of photosynthesis biochemistry
Breakthroughs in technology for molecular biology of algae (e.g.
systems for genetic modification)
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Algal Bioenergy Consortium (ABC)
ABC
Large multidisciplinary group, based in Cambridge, but
with links elsewhere including outside UK
Brings together molecular biologists, physiologists,
engineers and economic analysts to work towards
optimising algal bioenergy for commercial exploitation
Actively seeking partners with whom to collaborate to
develop & test our ideas
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Members of the ABC
Biology & Energy Futures Lab
Prof Peter Nixon
Biochemistry
Chemical Engineering
Engineering
Judge Business School
Plant Sciences
Biosciences
Dr John Love
Other Collaborators include:
H+ Energy Ltd
Prof Sue Harrison (UCT, South Africa)
Biology
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Dr Saul Purton
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Algal Bioenergy Consortium (Cambridge members)
Biochemistry
Prof Chris Howe
Dr Derek Bendall
Dr Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley
Expertise in photosynthesis biochemistry, algal molecular biology
Chemical Engineering
Mr Paolo Bombelli
Dr John Dennis
Dr Adrian Fisher
Dr Stuart Scott
Expertise in novel techniques for carbon capture, large scale
fermentation, combustion, electrochemistry
Engineering
Judge Business School Dr Chris Hope
Expertise in policy analysis of climate change; developer of PAGE
model used in impact calculations in Stern Report
Plant Sciences
Prof Alison Smith
Dr Martin Croft
Expertise in algal metabolism, algal molecular biology
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Strategic Aims of the Algal Bioenergy Consortium
Develop algae as a source of biofuels
3 priority areas
Production of
biomass and/or
biodiesel, CO2
sequestration
Conversion of light
energy into hydrogen
using biophotovoltaic
panels
“Metabolic”
hydrogen production
Assessment of economic feasibility
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Strategic Aims of the Algal Bioenergy Consortium
Develop algae as a source of biofuels
3 priority areas
Production of
biomass and/or
biodiesel, CO2
sequestration
Conversion of light
energy into hydrogen
using biophotovoltaic
panels
“Metabolic”
hydrogen production
Today’s presentation
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Algal biomass
Light
CO2 from power
stations/other
industries
Algal
biomass
Waste water
from industry
Different components
can be extracted from
the biomass
Biomass can be burnt
directly
Carbohydrate
Lipids and
hydrocarbons
Bioethanol /
biobutanol
Biodiesel
Different algal strains will have
different properties and will be
suited to different end products
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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R&D focus areas
A. Efficiency of light capture
B. Photobioreactor design
C. Choice of algal strain
D. Economic modelling
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Modifying photosynthetic antenna size
Cells with reduced
antenna size
Rate of
photosynthesis
Increased
efficiency
Wild type cells
Light intensity
Smaller antenna
Greater efficiency
Reducing the antenna size would increase the light conversion efficiency
of algal cultures, particularly under high light conditions
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Focus area A B C D
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Lab-scale photobioreactors - possible configurations
• Need to be flexible, transportable and cheap
• Should be closed, consider ‘air-lift’ for circulation
• Easy to modularize for scaling up
~ 0.01m
Flat plate or bank of tubes
~ 0.5 m
~ 1m
Flue gases
Flue gases
Removable baffles and/or differential
sparging to allow operation as bubble
column or circulating “air lift” reactor
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
External air lift to
circulate reactor
contents, when tilted
Algal Biofuels
Use of oscillatory flow to
promote turbulence at low
power consumption
Focus area A B C D
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Lab-scale photobioreactor – Version 0.9
0.03 m
0.5 m
• Located on roof of the Engineering
Department, Cambridge.
• Flat panel, bubble column reactor.
• Sequestering carbon from a
simulated flue gas.
• Growing a “model” algae
(Chlamydomonas)
1m
Prototype reactor to allow
experience to be gained growing
algae out of the lab.
15 % CO2 in air
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Aim to produce enough algal
biomass to investigate
harvesting and downstream
processing.
Algal Biofuels
Focus area A B C D
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Choice of Algal Species
Temperature
high
temperatures
reduce the need
for flue gas
cooling
Growth rate
should be fast
to maximize
CO2uptake
pH
low pH reduces
problems caused by
CO2 acidification,
and helps avoid
Spectrum of
contamination
growth
characteristics
to consider
Growth medium
should be simple
and cheap
A range of species is available
satisfying different sets of
these criteria.
Salinity
halotolerance may
allow use of
seawater
Cell Composition
low N levels to
reduce NOx
emissions
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Focus area A B C D
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Economic modelling - the cost of carbon
Social cost of carbon from PAGE2002
with Stern review assumptions
2000 - 2200
$US (2000) per tonne
5%
C as CO 2
mean
95%
65
340
905
Source: 10000 PAGE2002 model runs using
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Stern review assumptions
Algal Biofuels
Focus area A B C D
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Questions to address
Algal strain
•
Nutrient requirements
•
Freshwater/marine
•
Ability to withstand pH, temperature changes
•
Response to light quality/quantity
•
Products and yields required
•
Acceptability of genetically modified strains
•
Single species or mixture
•
Response to predators (especially if open raceways used)
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Questions to address
Reactor design/location
Simple design for cost effectiveness
Need to avoid a large parasitic power requirement
CO2 introduction and circulation via air lift, turbulence or oscillatory flow
Harvesting
Batch filtration and drying with available low-grade heat
Mechanical dewatering (e.g. continuous decanter centrifuge) with drying
Exact configuration depends on outcomes, plus cost/operability analysis
Fate of spent medium
Characteristics of chosen site
Water availability, light quality/quantity, temperature, (flue gas composition)
A large area must be covered to absorb a significant amount of CO2
Several large reactors versus banks of modular reactors
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Strategic Aims of the Algal Bioenergy Consortium (ABC)
ABC
Develop algae as a source of biofuels
3 priority areas
Production of
biomass and/or
biodiesel, CO2
sequestration
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Conversion of light
energy into hydrogen
using biophotovoltaic
panels
Algal Biofuels
“Metabolic”
hydrogen production
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Photosynthetic light reactions
H+
ADP + Pi
NADP+
ATP
NADPH
FD
FNR
PQH2
PSII
2H2O
PQ
PSI
Cyt b6f
4H+ + O2
ATPase
PC
H+
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Photosynthetic light reactions
Platinum
electrode
-1.5
hγ
ν
PSI
-1.0
-0.5
2H+
PSII
0.0
H2
-480 mV
-420 mV
840 mV
Fe(CN)6
0.5
+420 mV
e1.0
2H2O
4H+ + O2
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Semi-biological device (biophotovoltaic)
Bioenergy Research Cambridge
Algal Biofuels
Algal Bioenergy Consortium

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Conclusions
•
Exploitation of algae for bioenergy must be considered seriously
•
Long lead-in time, e.g. in strain development, so R&D should not be delayed
•
Medium term: prospects for biofuels/biomass
•
Carbon capture/high value co-products makes technology more attractive
•
Longer term: prospects for hydrogen generation (biophotovoltaics, metabolic)

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