On June 8, a Diamond Aircraft DA42 New Generation plane powered by 100 percent algae biofuel took part in the flying demonstration, marking the first time that the technology has been used to power a flight.

The success of the test is likely to further encourage the research and development efforts of engineers keen to exploit biofuels to reduce the environmental impact of flying.

Certain types of algae contain high amounts of extractable oil which Airbus-owner EADS says provides a higher energy content than traditional jet fuel, with the advantage that they can be grown on poor quality land or polluted water.

Exhaust gas quality measurements indicated that the biofuel from algae contained eight times less hydrocarbons than traditional kerosene derived from crude oil.

As stated in my previous article, this is the first time that an aircraft has been powered 100% by an algae fuel. Up until this point, test flights have only been partially powered with algae fuel derivatives, with the petroleum-based aviation fuel making up the remaining portion.

A group of Finnish companies has started to grow algae for use as biological fuel. Companies involved in the experimental project have invested 150,000 euros a plant in Kouvola, where they hope to produce natural gas.

Jari Järvinen of the regional development company Cursor sees the project as very cost-effective.

One factor in the project is the possibility to utilise sludge from industrial waste and household sewage. The sludge is a growth material from the algae, and biological fuel is the end result of a complicated process – that is, if everything goes according to plan.

The best part is, the aircraft will fly on 100% algae fuel at the airshow, the largest percentage any aircraft has used to fly that I have heard of.

European aerospace giant EADS is poised to unveil a “hybrid” helicopter that runs on algae fuel, a world first, its technical director said on Friday.

The firm will present the machine at the Berlin air show (ILA) that runs from June 9 to 13, Jean Botti told the Die Welt daily.

“At the ILA, we are going to fly for the first time a craft with biofuel that has been made 100 percent from algae. That is a world premiere,” Botti said.

“We need a paradigm shift in the aviation industry. We soon need an alternative to kerosine,” he said, adding: “If 10 percent of our fleet is flying with biofuel in 2040, I would be extremely happy.”

I am very curious to see who provided the algae biofuel that will fuel the aircraft and what the production costs were. If EADS, or whoever supplied EADS, has developed an algae biofuel production method that produces aviation fuel on par with traditional petroleum based fuels, the world may be closer to seeing commercialized algae fuels than most people think. However, I feel that probably isn’t the case.

Nevertheless, if the flight is successful, this could lead to a renewed push in algae biofuel development, especially in the airline industry.

UPDATE (6/10/10): It seems my earlier statement that it would be a helicopter that would run on 100% algae-based fuels were wrong. It is actually an aircraft and the post now reflects that.

3rd generation biofuel: more efficiency and less CO2
EADS sees algae as a promising source of sustainable jet fuel. Biofuels from algae offer the potential of sufficient life-cycle carbon-dioxide reductions to eventually replace petroleum-based jet fuel. In the long term, microalgae can be produced in sufficiently large quantities in closed bioreactors without competing with food production for land and water. Biofuel based on algae is expected to be more efficient than fuel from fossil sources. It is free from NOX nitrogen and sulphur and as algae needs CO2 for growth, it reduces the carbon footprint of air transport.

EADS research shows that all necessary technologies to develop the production of biofuel from algae are known, but to achieve economies of scale in the production of algae fuel industrial requires further development. EADS is working with partners on a pilot project to develop the necessary industrial infrastructure.

EADS Innovation Works showcases biofuel made from algae by exhibiting a containerized photo-bioreactor made by IGV GmbH as an example for advanced algae cultivation system. Another exhibit explains the process chain from live algae fed with carbon dioxide through harvesting, drying, oil extraction and refining to the biofuel used by future aircraft.

2nd Algae World Europe is meeting in Brussels on May 31- June 1, and Algae stakeholders from over 30 countries have already confirmed their participation for the conference.

Big Oil and Chemical companies including Exxon Mobil, Shell, Eni, PTT Public Co, Solvay, Braskem, Evonik Degussa, Kao Chemicals, Glaconchemie and Power Producers Electrabel, GDF Suez, along with other key players and end-users like Roquette, Neste Oil, Unilever, Toyota, Philips Lighting, Cemex are among the many influential companies sending representatives to the conference.

The Algae industry is also hailing 2nd Algae World Europe as Europe’s algae industry networking meet, due to the diverse range of participants spanning all essential Algal industry profiles. According to recently released conference attendee figures:

- 25% of Algae Producers & Algae Production Equipment Companies
- 20% of Oil, Power and Chemical company representatives
- 20% of Researchers from Top R&D institutions
- 10% of Biofuels company representatives
- 10% of Financiers, Investors & Bank representatives
- 10% of Algae end-users (Aquaculture, Nutraceuticals, Pharmaceuticals)
- 5% of Transportation industry representatives

(…)

Conference panelists include representatives of the European Commission, Cyanotech (USA), Seambiotic (Israel), Solix Biofuels (USA), IngrePro B.V. (Netherlands), Alpha Biotech (France), SBAE Industries (Belgium), Proviron (Belgium), and many others. Conference participants also have the option to participate in a site visit to SBAE Industries’ Algae production plant.

 “We do not know which strains are the most suitable to grow and convert, or the best cultivation conditions at large scales. We will therefore initially focus on creating new knowledge that should raise the efficiency of existing technologies as well as developing novel technologies. BioMara will further investigate process controls, engineering needs, supply chain issues and the social and economic impacts of algal biofuels,” says Stanley.

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I can think of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

 

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli’ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England’s overthrow;
By God’s providence he was catch’d
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

Anyways, I was curious to see who did this website since it seemed to be fairly sophisticated and I was surprised to find that the website is linked to a Filip Hammarstrom from Sweden. One can easily find this sort of information out using the free services like Domain Tools “WhoIs Search”.

A simple Google search of his name pops up one of Sweden’s largest production companies, Palladium, which has a Filip Hamarstrom is listed as a “Director & Editor” in the Contact page. This priduction company has done multiple videos for various different companies and organizations including the UN.

Now, could it be chance that the Filip who has registered the site has the same name of the Filip who works at Palladium? Sure, weirder things have happened. But with the professional quality of the videos at The Year 2048, one would think a production company, or at least someone familiar with these sorts of things, was involved. Plus, if you look at the address given from the WhoIs Search and compare it to the address of Palladium, you find that it is just a 15 minute drive.

Why is this all important? Well it just shows that foreign nationals are trying very hard to influence our election. I wasn’t able to find anything that directly associated these ads with the Obama campaign but if anyone else can find a connection, be sure to link to it in the comment section.

The statement says that both Doyle and German officials agree that climate change and fossil fuel dependence require immediate action. They say low-carbon technology and the reduction of greenhouse gasses must be pursued.

 

Doyle says he looks forward to strengthening Wisconsin and Germany’s combined efforts to confront climate change and energy policies.

 

In May, Doyle signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Kingdom on how to better address climate change issues.

Weird.