Ts 1 dr-cj-howe-cambridge

AlgalAlgal BiofuelsBiofuels and theand theAlgallgal Bioenergyioenergy Consortiumonsortium

UNIVERSITY OFCAMBRIDGE

Professor Christopher HoweDepartment of BiochemistryUniversity of Cambridge, UK

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Topics

• Energy Biosciences Research in Cambridge

• Algal Biofuels

• Algal Bioenergy Consortium



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Cambridge as a Centre for Energy Biosciences

Broad research base - fundamental strengths in:plant science and photosynthesisbiochemistrygeneticsbiotechnologyprocess engineering (bio and non-bio) and chemistryphysics and properties of plant materialsengineering performance and design of engines and gasturbinesmodelling of complex systems: high level economic andsustainability modelssocial aspects of changes in land use

Algal Bioenergy ConsortiumAlgal BiofuelsBioenergy Research Cambridge



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Cambridge as a Centre for Energy Biosciences

Broad research baseAbility to attract:

Students, staffResearch funding (£204M in research grants/contracts in 2005-6)Intellectual capital: eg Sanger Centre/ European Bioinformatics InstituteInvestment: eg Microsoft Research

Environment for innovation (e.g. Cambridge Science Park)Global outreach (e.g. Cambridge Programme for Industry)Record of deliveryAccess to non-governmental organizations (NGOs),academic institutes and industry

John Innes CentreNational Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB)Sainsbury laboratory (£150M from Gatsby Foundation)Rothamsted ResearchADAS (science-based rural and environmental consultancy)MonsantoNickersons




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Plant cell wall engineering

Plants engineered to contain decreased or increased quantities of hemicelluloses. Figure shows a stemsection with the different biomass components cellulose, xylan and mannan labelled in different colours.

Dr Paul Dupree - http://www.bio.cam.ac.uk/~dupree/




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Algal biofuels

Advantages of algae as biofuels

do not require use of agriculturally productive orenvironmentally sensitive landmarine sites also possiblehigh yields possible (>100 tonnes/ha/yr achieved;theoretical max, for local light levels (Mumbai) >500tonnes/ha/yr)some strains directly secrete hydrocarbonscan be coupled to other industrial processes (e.g.sequestration of CO2 from flue gases, removal ofnitrates/phosphates from waste water)growth can be linked to generation of high-value products(nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals - e.g. carotenoids,phycobiliproteins)




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Algal biofuels

Previous studies include:

US Department of Energy Aquatic Species program: Biodiesel fromAlgae (Program 1978-1996; Close-out report July 1998)Collection of oil-producing microalgae (Hawaii)Oil production per cell higher under stress - but lower overallSome progress in algal molecular biology/transformationOpen ponds demonstratedHigh cost prohibitive, but land considerations favourable

Biofixation of CO2 and greenhouse gas abatement with microalgae -technology roadmap (Benemann JR, 2003)Restrict to open ponds, because of costIntegrate with wastewater treatment and high-value co-productsClosed reactors for inoculum production




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Algal biofuels

Major developments since those reports include:

Recognition of “social” cost of carbon$65 US to $905 US per tonne CO2(5-95% confidence range, PAGE 2002 model, Stern reportassumptions)

Improvements in understanding of photosynthesis biochemistry

Breakthroughs in technology for molecular biology of algae (e.g.systems for genetic modification)




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Algal Bioenergy Consortium (ABCABC)

Large multidisciplinary group, based in Cambridge, butwith links elsewhere including outside UK

Brings together molecular biologists, physiologists,engineers and economic analysts to work towardsoptimising algal bioenergy for commercial exploitation

Actively seeking partners with whom to collaborate todevelop & test our ideas




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Biology & Energy Futures LabProf Peter Nixon

Members of the ABCABC

BiochemistryChemical EngineeringEngineeringJudge Business SchoolPlant Sciences

Other Collaborators include:H+ Energy Ltd

Prof Sue Harrison (UCT, South Africa)Biology Dr Saul Purton

Biosciences Dr John Love




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Algal Bioenergy Consortium (Cambridge members)

Biochemistry Prof Chris HoweDr Derek BendallDr Beatrix Schlarb-RidleyExpertise in photosynthesis biochemistry, algal molecular biology

Chemical Engineering Mr Paolo BombelliDr John DennisDr Adrian Fisher

Engineering Dr Stuart ScottExpertise in novel techniques for carbon capture, large scalefermentation, combustion, electrochemistry

Judge Business School Dr Chris HopeExpertise in policy analysis of climate change; developer of PAGEmodel used in impact calculations in Stern Report

Plant Sciences Prof Alison SmithDr Martin CroftExpertise in algal metabolism, algal molecular biology




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Strategic Aims of the AAlgal BBioenergy CConsortium

Production ofbiomass and/orbiodiesel, CO2sequestration

Develop algae as a source of biofuels

Conversion of lightenergy into hydrogenusing biophotovoltaic

panels

“Metabolic”hydrogen production

3 priority areas

Assessment of economic feasibility




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Strategic Aims of the AAlgal BBioenergy CConsortium

Today’s presentation





panels


3 priority areas



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Algal biomass

Light

Algalbiomass

Biomass can be burntdirectly

Different componentscan be extracted from

the biomass

Carbohydrate Lipids andhydrocarbons

BiodieselBioethanol /biobutanol

Different algal strains will haveDifferent algal strains will havedifferent properties and will bedifferent properties and will besuited to different end productssuited to different end products

CO2 from powerstations/other

industries

Waste waterfrom industry




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R&D focus areas

A. Efficiency of light capture

B. Photobioreactor design

C. Choice of algal strain

D. Economic modelling




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Modifying photosynthetic antenna size

Reducing the antenna size would increase the light conversion efReducing the antenna size would increase the light conversion efficiencyficiencyof algal cultures, particularly under high light conditionsof algal cultures, particularly under high light conditions

Smaller antenna Greater efficiency

Light intensity

Rate ofphotosynthesis

Wild type cells

Cells with reducedantenna size

Increasedefficiency

Focus area A B C DAlgal Bioenergy ConsortiumAlgal BiofuelsBioenergy Research Cambridge



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Lab-scale photobioreactors - possible configurations

~ 1m

Flue gases

~ 0.01m ~ 0.5 m

Flue gases

Flat plate or bank of tubes

Use of oscillatory flow topromote turbulence at lowpower consumption

Removable baffles and/or differentialsparging to allow operation as bubblecolumn or circulating “air lift” reactor

External air lift tocirculate reactorcontents, when tilted

• Need to be flexible, transportable and cheap

• Should be closed, consider ‘air-lift’ for circulation

• Easy to modularize for scaling up




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Lab-scale photobioreactor – Version 0.9

• Located on roof of the EngineeringDepartment, Cambridge.

• Flat panel, bubble column reactor.

• Sequestering carbon from asimulated flue gas.

• Growing a “model” algae(Chlamydomonas)

Prototype reactor to allowexperience to be gained growingalgae out of the lab.

Aim to produce enough algalbiomass to investigateharvesting and downstreamprocessing.

0.5 m

1 m

15 % CO2 in air

0.03 m




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Choice of Algal Species

A range of species is availablesatisfying different sets ofthese criteria.

Spectrum ofgrowth

characteristicsto consider

Growth rateshould be fastto maximizeCO2uptakeTemperature

hightemperatures

reduce the needfor flue gas

cooling

pHlow pH reduces

problems caused byCO2 acidification,and helps avoidcontamination

Salinityhalotolerance may

allow use ofseawater

Growth mediumshould be simple

and cheap

Cell Compositionlow N levels to

reduce NOxemissions




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Economic modelling - the cost of carbon

Social cost of carbon from PAGE2002with Stern review assumptions

90534065C as CO 2

95%mean5%

$US (2000) per tonne

Source: 10000 PAGE2002 model runs using Stern review assumptions

2000 - 2200




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Questions to address

Algal strain

• Nutrient requirements

• Freshwater/marine

• Ability to withstand pH, temperature changes

• Response to light quality/quantity

• Products and yields required

• Acceptability of genetically modified strains

• Single species or mixture

• Response to predators (especially if open raceways used)




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Questions to address

Reactor design/location

Simple design for cost effectiveness

Need to avoid a large parasitic power requirementCO2 introduction and circulation via air lift, turbulence or oscillatory flow

HarvestingBatch filtration and drying with available low-grade heatMechanical dewatering (e.g. continuous decanter centrifuge) with dryingExact configuration depends on outcomes, plus cost/operability analysisFate of spent medium

Characteristics of chosen siteWater availability, light quality/quantity, temperature, (flue gas composition)

A large area must be covered to absorb a significant amount of CO2Several large reactors versus banks of modular reactors




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Strategic Aims of the AAlgal BBioenergy CConsortium (ABCABC)




panels


3 priority areas




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Photosynthetic light reactions

PSII PSICyt b6f ATPase

FNR

PC

FD

2H2O 4H+ + O2

PQ

PQH2

NADP+ NADPH

H+

H+

ADP + Pi ATP




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Photosynthetic light reactions

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

Platinumelectrode

2H+ H2

-420 mV

e-

PSII

PSI

hγ

2H2O 4H+ + O2

-480 mV

+420 mV840 mV

Fe(CN)6


ν



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Semi-biological device (biophotovoltaic)




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Conclusions

• Exploitation of algae for bioenergy must be considered seriously

• Long lead-in time, e.g. in strain development, so R&D should not be delayed

• Medium term: prospects for biofuels/biomass

• Carbon capture/high value co-products makes technology more attractive

• Longer term: prospects for hydrogen generation (biophotovoltaics, metabolic)



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Education

Ts 1 dr-cj-howe-cambridge