GreenFuel Technologies Corp, Cambridge MA, has announced it has signed a strategic alliance agreement with IGV, a Pottsdam, Germany, private industrial research institute, to share proprietary algae bioreactor technology.
The alliance is an effort to accelerate the commercialization of biofuel production from recycled carbon dioxide in power plant flue gas emissions. IGV has more than 80 commercial technology deployments worldwide, according to the Greenfuel information.
Under the terms of the agreement, GreenFuel and IGV GreenFuel and IGV will also pursue commercial opportunities together in Europe. Once in commercial production, the GreenFuel Emissions-to-Biofuels process will allow power plants to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, generate carbon credits, and produce clean, renewable biofuels, Greenfuel said in a news release.
Algae are unicellular plants and, like all plants, divide and grow using the process known as photosynthesis. GreenFuel estimates that its Emissions-to-Biofuels process can absorb a significant percentage of a power plants carbon dioxide emissions during the daytime. Unlike typical agricultural biofuel feedstocks, such as soybeans or corn which have a limited harvest window, algae multiply every hour and can be harvested every day. Algae can also be grown on poor quality land with non-potable water, so they don't compete for land suitable for food crops, Greenfuel said.
The carbon-enriched algae contain lipid oils and starches that can be converted into biodiesel and ethanol for transportation fuels. The residual protein can be used for animal feed and nutritional supplements.