TransAlgae's Technology

Solar radiation is the key energy source for life on earth; Sunlight is turned into usable energy by photosynthetic organisms. Fossil fuels are non-renewable, and reserves are being depleted much faster than new ones are being formed. The use of fossil fuels raises environmental concerns; carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Like most plants, algae grow on a diet of water, sunlight, CO2 and trace nutrients such as phosphate (P), nitrogen (N) and potassium (K). Studies estimate that algae consume approximately 2.2 times their weight in CO2. Furthermore, any CO2 released with the burning of algal fuel is merely the CO2 consumed in the algae growth cycle. In the sense that fuel consumption would be essentially carbon-neutral, versus the significant generation of carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, this makes algae an important combatant in the fight against global warming.

Algae have an unparalleled ability to grow much more rapidly than any traditional crop. First, algae are the most photosynthetically efficient organisms, meaning they convert more sunlight to energy than plants. Second, algae benefit from a potentially year-round growing cycle, depending on cultivation method and location. Third, algae can grow from beaker in the lab to commercial density in the field in days, enabling near constant harvesting. This compares to growth cycles of three to four months for soybeans and rapeseed, four to six months for corn, and longer than eight months for sugar cane.

Extraction of the biofuel feedstock from algae leaves a biomass of significant value. This biomass can be marketed as a high-protein concentrate (or higher-purity isolate) for animal use, as animal or fish feed, or human consumption. Most promising, the value of this feed may be significant enough to offset a large percentage of the cost of the algae production. If this is the case, then algae as a biofuel feedstock could be cost competitive much earlier than is currently anticipated.