However the new development opens up more vistas for Nualgi – since green algae is a source of biodiesel.

In natural ponds where both Diatoms and Green Algae are present we found that Nualgi causes a bloom of diatoms and not of green algae. But if used in ponds in which only Green Algae are present then even these would bloom.

Nualgi is a sustainable solution because it sets off a series of sustainable cycles:

CO2 – O2 cycle in water – Anthropogenic CO2, Aquatic Animal CO2 to O2 from Diatoms.
Food – Sewage – Nutrients in water – Fish – Food Cycle.
Biodiesel – CO2 – Diatoms – Biodiesel cycle.
Diatoms to Aerobic Bacteria – CO2 and Nutrients to O2 Cycle

Study of Algae – Phycology
Phyco: prefix; from the Greek, phukos meaning seaweed, algae; phycology.

M V Bhaskar writes about Nualgi at Nualgi – Algae for Bio-remediation and Biodiesel

When evaluating a biofuel source, one must consider that agriculturally derived fuels are in competition with the World’s appetite. That is, a civilization sustained by agriculture risks collapse if our farm lands are converted to “fields of fuel”. A recent example of this problem transpired when a combination of severe weather and crop rotation brought about a shortage in the supply of hops. A decision to plant ethanol producing corn instead of hops contributed to the current shortage, and in turn increased beer price. Careful planning must be undertaken in order to prevent such constrain of our food supply. Developing diverse alternative energies will reduce risk, offer an efficient platform of energy supply, and prevent significant impact on other aspects of our society.

Largo, FL (PRWEB) March 20, 2008 — Significant growth in the American biodiesel industry has left the door wide open for entrepreneurs to explore new ways to help shape the market. In January 2008, biodiesel enthusiast Wesley Fillmore launched Fillmore Fuels (www.fillmorefuels.com), the first community-driven biodiesel auction site. The website was designed to help both hobbyists and commercial producers quickly and easily buy and sell biodiesel fuel and related products and equipment. Thanks to its innovative business model, Fillmore Fuels is uniquely positioned to revolutionize the market by helping to: regulate regional pricing; maintain a high level of integrity between buyers and sellers of biodiesel; and facilitate the exchange of ideas in an evolving industry.

According to the Annual Energy Outlook released by the Energy Information Administration in 2007, consumption of biodiesel is expected to reach .4 billion gallons by 2030. Fillmore Fuels is the first on-line community dedicated to biodiesel fuel and related products, and the consumers, hobbyists and commercial producers interested in purchasing and selling them. This new auction site brings buyers and sellers together to engage in on-line commerce and to address pertinent issues related to the industry. Since gaining momentum, the renewable fuel industry has faced a number of critical issues, including regional pricing. By creating a dynamic environment in which buyers can find the products they need at prices they can afford, Fillmore Fuels hopes to help mitigate this problem. While the value of biodiesel fuel varies by region, consistent and competitive pricing is essential to the growth of the market.

“With profit margins at a minimum, the ability to resort to more affordable feedstock when available is priceless, and Fillmore Fuels provides this option,” says Wesley Fillmore, President. “In addition, it provides a means for local farmers, restaurants, and producers to sell their virgin vegetable oils or WVO to the highest bidder, thus increasing their profit margins and limiting the middle man and cost.”

Sellers who use the Fillmore Fuels website offer a variety of products and resources. The site is designed to easily facilitate the sale of feedstock, algae, fuel, processors, vehicles and more. Each product is accompanied by a detailed description, and potential buyers can ask sellers questions before placing their bids. To maintain the highest level of integrity in all transactions, buyers can rate and review sellers and their products, therefore holding sellers to a higher standard and further assisting buyers in their purchasing decisions. In addition to providing a mutually beneficial on-line marketplace for buyers and sellers, Fillmore Fuels is also one of the few websites where both hobbyists and commercial producers can network and share valuable resources and tips. Additionally, the website offers useful articles on a variety of topics including how to avoid scams and how to save time and money. There is no cost to join the Fillmore Fuels website. For more information, visit
www.fillmorefuels.com.

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St. Paul, MN (Vocus/PRWEB) March 13, 2008 – SSOE, one of the nation’s largest architecture and engineering firms, is leading a charge toward change through its work with the nation’s pre-eminent energy and alternative fuel companies. Embracing the recently passed Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007, SSOE is collaborating with new investors and existing companies to design and build the infrastructure necessary to meet the ambitions biofuels goals this bill puts forth.

In 2007 SSOE recorded more than twice the revenue it generated in the biofuels sector the previous year, with $8.1 million worth of projects. In 2006, SSOE projects totaled nearly $3.7 million with companies such as Freedom Fuels, LLC and NewMech Companies, Inc. Most recently, SSOE announced the award of their first cellulostic ethanol project for the Equator Group – a cellulosic pilot plant engineering feasibility study. To support this growth, SSOE plans to open two more offices in the Central U.S. over the next year to support the development of new biofuel facilities. Existing projects are led by SSOE’s St. Paul, Minnesota office. Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Nashville, Tennessee, Toledo, Ohio and Shanghai, China have provided support to St Paul and are developing full biofuels design capability and notably, half of SSOE’s staff have experience working on alternative energy projects.

“SSOE is helping build the foundation of a burgeoning new business sector, emerging from the fields and the hearts of America’s farmlands,” said Vince DiPofi, PE, Senior Vice President, Biofuels of SSOE. “Expansion in the Central U.S. will extend SSOE’s leadership in the region and bolster its reputation for offering the distinctive capabilities and the deep experience essential to the development of alternative-fuel facilities.”

This past December the US Senate approved a landmark energy bill that requires the first increase in vehicle fuel economy standards in more than 30 years, raising the average fleet standard to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. The bill states that alternative or renewable home heating and motor vehicle fuel sold in the US is to increase from 8.5 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons by the year 2022. This figure includes 15 million gallons of traditional corn-based ethanol and 21 million gallons of “advanced biofuels” such as cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, higher alcohols, biogas and ethanol from waste.

Preparing for the necessary infrastructure build-up to meet these ambitious goals, SSOE’s architectural and engineering work is making possible the growth of new businesses and new fuel sources.

“This energy bills clearly states the biofuel production needs and the timeline the US is required to meet them in. Based on an average plant capacity of 100 million gallons per year, this amounts to roughly 35 new plants needing to be built nationwide each year for the next 14 years totaling approximately 280 corn-based ethanol and advanced biofuel facilities,” said Mark Hoffman, PE, Senior Project Manger and biofuels expert at SSOE, Inc.

Besides engineering and design services, the firm also assists their clients in obtaining government grants and subsidies. SSOE also provides design-build delivery through its partnership with NewMech, a construction firm offering services in plant development, construction management, fabrication and steel erection.

SSOE’s expanding list of clients and projects serves as a barometer of the rapidly developing biofuels industry. Most recently, they have completed 2 biodiesel projects in the Midwest that are turning out a minimum of 30 million gallons per year, per facility.

Biofuels clients include:

* American Biodiesel, LLC
* Blue Earth Biodiesel
* Boot Heel Biodiesel, LLC
* Dakota Skies
* Floyd Valley Ethanol
* Freedom Fuels Biodiesel
* Glacial Lakes
* Great Lakes Ethanol
* Great River Energy Park
* Greater Ohio Ethanol
* Global Ethanol
* Memphis Biofuels
* Northern Prairie Ethanol
* Vision Fuels
* Yellowstone Ethanol

About SSOE
Celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year, SSOE, Inc. is an international design firm and ranks 8th among the nation’s largest engineering and architecture firms (Building Design and Construction, 2007). Demonstrating fast and consistent growth, 2007 marks the third consecutive year the company has grown its revenue more than 25 percent. SSOE has also been named one of nine Best AEC Firms to Work For (Building Design and Construction, 2007) and as one of the fastest-growing US architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms by ZweigWhite, Hot List 2007.

With 1000 employees and multi-disciplined LEEDâ„¢ accredited professionals employed in 18 offices around the world the company has earned a solid reputation in facility design for the healthcare, retail, automotive and science and technology markets, as well as process engineering for the alternative energy, biofuels, chemical, food and beverage, glass and personal care industries. SSOE has completed projects in 48 states and 32 countries, and has achieved 60 years of excellence in engineering and architectural design. Visit www.ssoe.com for additional information and career opportunities.

Contact:
Danielle Benninger
SSOE, Inc.
Office: 419.255.3830
dbenninger @ ssoe.com

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Non-transportation applications can usually tolerate the low power-density of external combustion engines, that can run directly on less-expensive solid biomass fuel, for combined heat and power. One type of biomass is wood, which has been used for millennia in varying quantities, and more recently is finding increased use. Two billion people currently cook every day, and heat their homes in the winter by burning biomass, which is a contributor to man-made climate change global warming. The black soot that is being carried from Asia to polar ice caps is causing them to melt faster in the summer. In the 19th century, wood-fired steam engines were common, contributing significantly to industrial revolution unhealthy air pollution. Coal is a form of biomass that has been compressed over millennia to produce a non-renewable, highly-polluting fossil fuel.

Wood and its byproducts can now be converted into biofuels such as woodgas, methanol or ethanol fuel.

Biofuel is considered by some as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy security by providing an alternative to fossil fuels. However, In October 2007, Nobel Laureate Paul Crutzen published findings that the release of Nitrous Oxide (N2O) from rapeseed oil, and corn (maize), contribute more to global warming than the fossil fuels they displace. However, the Crutzen paper goes on to say that crops with less nitrogen demand, such as grasses and woody coppicing will have positive but lower climate impacts. In February 2008 two articles were published in Science concluding that clearing land for biofuel production produce twice as much greenhouse gas than the U.N. IPPCC had previously estimated.

Biofuels are used globally. Biofuel industries are expanding in Europe, Asia and the Americas. The most common use for biofuels is automotive transport (for example E10 fuel). Increased American and European demand has led to clearing land for Palm Oil plantations. Locations such as Indonesia are subject to deforestation and the accompanying displacement of indigenous peoples. In some areas use of pesticides for biofuel crops are disrupting clean water supplies.

Biofuel can be theoretically produced from any (biological) carbon source. The most common by far is photosynthetic plants that capture solar energy. Many different plants and plant-derived materials are used for biofuel manufacture.

The greatest technical challenge is to develop ways to convert biomass energy specifically to liquid fuels. To achieve this, the two most common strategies are:

* To grow sugar crops (sugar cane, and sugar beet), or starch (corn/maize), and then use yeast fermentation to produce ethanol (ethyl alcohol).
* To grow plants that (naturally) produce oils, such as algae, or jatropha. When these oils are heated, their viscosity is reduced, and they can be burned directly in a diesel engine. The oils can also be chemically processed to produce biodiesel.