Comments on: Algae Company Begins to Focus on Biofuels

By: Algae Observer

Algae Observer — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 07:07:00 +0000

I’m sure you may find some papers on that. It definitely also depends on the way you get the EtOH – via ferrmentation of strach or the “Algasol-way” of secreting EtOH, which they claim to have an metabolic advantage…
At least I would focus on the more interesting market – and this is (in my opinion) the market for liquid fuels with a high energy density, meaning diesels or hydrotreated algal oil.

By: Arthur

Arthur — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 13:15:00 +0000

good point any idea whether there is a conversion eficiency comparision of sugar to oil or sugar to ethaonol route ?

By: Algae Observer

Algae Observer — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:51:00 +0000

Maybe not – but only if you can use EtOH as a drop in fuel for aviation. As long as there is a need for diesels or parraffinic liquid fuels, I think one won’t be able to compare EtOH production to renewable & drop in diesel/kerosene production…

By: Arthur

Arthur — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:34:00 +0000

They sure did a good job ! but are they capable of competing with the
ethanolindustry (in brazil=shell) also producing at 20 dollar per barrel
ethanol?

By: Algae Observer

Algae Observer — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 07:19:00 +0000

Solazyme started with a focus on biofuels and adressed other markets to secure cash flow while the big goal still is fuel from algae… The provided large amounts of algal fuel for testing in marine and aviation industries. I definitely like their business model – they did a good job by now!