Algae Holds Promise as Renewable Fuel — Just Not Yet.

(A. Schultz, CNBC, 4/18) Algae is fast becoming a promising renewable biofuel because it can grow nearly anywhere, be blended with, or replace most traditional fuels, and can't be used as food. But algae is far from a perfect solution. Industry observers say it will take anywhere from five to 15 years for algae to be produced on a scale that would be meaningful to the nation’s fuel needs.“There’s a significant amount of capital required for algal oil producers to scale up to commercial meaningful quantities,” says Jim Rekoske, general manager at Honeywell’s UOP division, which provides technologies to the gas processing, refining and petrochemical industry. Still, several privately held companies as well as academic institutions are actively pursuing practical, cost-effective methods of developing algae for use as a fuel. Several major energy companies—including Valero, ConocoPhilips and Chevron — are working with university research efforts, providing financing for small companies, or both.That’s because maybe, someday, big oil companies can consider algae a fuel source for their existing extensive networks of refineries and pipelines, industry sources say.Today, the U.S. uses about 150 billion gallons of gasoline a year, and 50 billion gallons of diesel and jet fuel, says Philip Pienkos, acting group manager of the applied science group at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Algae could be used to address all those fuel needs as a stand-alone fuel, or if it’s blended with other fuels, depending on the refinery process used, Pienkos says. Unlike corn-based ethanol, the most common biofuel, algae production does not contribute to rising food prices by diverting production away from consumption.“It has the potential to impact our entire petroleum-based fuel portfolio,” he says...

Algae Biofuel For Aviation Not Expected To Be Cost Effective Soon.

(Flight International, 4/19, Reals) reports, "Algae is touted as holding the greatest potential as a long-term replacement for kerosene, but cost issues, combined with insufficient investment, leave experts generally agreeing that its widespread use in aviation is at least a decade away." Odile Petillon, head of operations at the EADS Innovation Works Energy and Propulsion Technical Capability Center, said algae has the "highest potential" over the "mid- to long term," but it is still early in its development. Michael Lakeman, regional director of biofuel strategy at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, "agreed" with this assessment that the fuel is not cost effective yet. "Airline demand is unlikely to be strong until costs come down."

NASA Tests Biofuels Made From Animal Fat.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer (4/26, Cohen) "Boeing and Aerospace News" blog reports NASA "tested fuel made from chicken and beef fat in one engine of a DC-8 in late March and early April, the agency reported Monday." During the ground tests, other engines used Hydrotreated Renewable Jet Fuel, Jet Propellant 8, and a 50-50 blend of those two fuels. Ruben Del Rosario, manager of the Subsonic Fixed Wing Project, said the "results seem to support the idea that biofuels for jet engines are indeed cleaner-burning, and release fewer pollutants into the air." The engine using the fuel derived from chicken and beef fat "emitted 90 percent less black carbon emissions at idle and almost 60 percent less at takeoff thrust, while also producing much lower sulfate, organic aerosol and hazardous emissions, according to Bruce Anderson, the experiment's chief scientist."