Environmental Benefits

SALTWATER, NOT FRESH WATER

Our enhanced algae grow in saltwater inside photobioreactors using no freshwater. In fact, we can design a DIRECT TO ETHANOL^® facility to provide valuable freshwater as a co-product with the ethanol.

MARGINAL LAND NOT COMPETING WITH FOOD CROPS

As the photobioreactors lie directly on the ground, our DIRECT TO ETHANOL^® technology does not require farmland; low-cost, non-arable land or desert lands are preferred.

SUPER LOW CARBON FOOTPRINT, CONSUMES AND RECYCLES CO₂

Algenol’s process consumes and recycles carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that would have otherwise been emitted, and converts it into valuable transportation fuel in an energy-efficient manner. In addition, for every gallon of Algenol’s ethanol being used, a gallon of fossil-fuel gasoline is displaced.

Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have examined the DIRECT TO ETHANOL^® process, and authored a detailed peer-reviewed study of its greenhouse gas emissions. This Lifecycle Analysis (LCA) demonstrated that Algenol’s process easily meets the Renewable Fuel Standard for cellulosic ethanol (i.e. 60% reduction in carbon footprint compared to that of gasoline). For many of the scenarios that the Georgia Tech team considered, Algenol’s process also met the more stringent standard of an 80% reduction in carbon footprint from gasoline. This life cycle analysis (LCA) study was published in October 2010 and to-date is the only peer-reviewed study of its kind.
Click here to read LCA paper

To put the results of the study in perspective, the chart shown below compares the carbon footprint for transportation fuels, expressed as grams of CO₂ (or its equivalent) emitted per mega-joule of energy delivered to the wheels of the vehicle. The carbon footprint of ethanol made from Algenol’s DIRECT TO ETHANOL^® process is far superior to that of any other option available today, including electric vehicles.

ALGENOL’S ALGAE ARE SAFE AND IN ADDITION CONTAINED

The algae use enzymes to convert internal sugars that are the same as the enzymes in the bread you eat and the beer and wine you drink. In order to contain and collect our evaporative ethanol, our algae are in closed and sealed photobioreactors made from durable polyethylene that is resistant to severe weather conditions. These closed systems contain the algae and allow for proper maintenance of the algal culture while giving an extra layer of comfort that the algae system is safe.