Case Study - Biofuels - Commercialisation of Microalgae Biofuels

Sector: Renewable Energy

Dove Marine Laboratory

The Biosciences Knowledge Transfer Network worked with Newcastle University to bring together a supply chain consortium to develop the delivery of biofuels production from algae-based feedstocks.

The need

The global biofuels market is predicted to reach $247 million by 20201. However, there is a need to develop new technologies and supply chains for the commercial deployment of 2nd and 3rd generation biofuels by 2020.

The response

Early dialogue across the supply-chain has helped consolidate collaborative groups that can act to progress demonstration activities for biofuel
production and to source funding to accelerate the development of a competitive UK position in the global biofuels market. The consortium was established to enhance co-ordination and industry engagement between consortium members.

The consortium submitted a series of project applications to the Carbon- Trust Algae Biofuels Challenge which has the vision to accelerate the
commercialisation of algal biofuels by 2020. Up to £18 million is available through the Algal Biofuels Challenge.

Project development will proceed through 2 development phases:

  • Phase 1 – R&D to address fundamental challenges
  • Phase 2 – pilot-scale demonstration of technology for proof-of-concept

Dr Gary Caldwell, Newcastle University, is the Principal Investigator of a £580K Phase 1 project titled “Order from Chaos: Application of
Chemical Communication Principles to Sustained Mass Algal Culture” which addresses commercial challenges associated with sustained
algae cultivation in open ponds.

Dr Adam Harvey, Newcastle University, is the Principal Investigator of a £428K project titled “Water-tolerant Extraction of Algal Biofuels” which addresses commercial challenges associated with the design and engineering of cost effective mass culture systems.

Next steps

The technology focus for the Algae Biofuels Challenge has been prioritised around the targets and assumptions that:

Mass cultivation of microalgae will be in open-ponds

  • Optimisation of algae growth in a scalable and sustained manner is a major technological challenge
  • Biofuels derived from microalgae feedstocks should deliver an 80% C-saving compared to petroleum

These selection criteria will help ensure that technology and intellectual property developed through the Algae Biofuels Challenge will have
commercial relevance to the global biofuels industry. This will help generate future revenue through licensing of UK technology to international biofuel producers.

The KTN continues to catalyse expansion of the field, and brokered a funded partnership between Scottish BioEnergy and the Biopharmaceutical Bioprocessing Technology Centre, at Newcastle University, focusing on the optimisation of algae systems for
carbon capture and bioremediation at the Glenturret Distillery.

Further information:

  • Dr Gavin Clark, gavin.clark@ncl.ac.uk
    Biopharmaceutical Bioprocessing Technology Centre (BBTC)
    Newcastle University NE1 7RU
Algae Biofuels brochure

View our PDF brochure Developing technology for 3rd generation biofuels (PDF: 346KB)