Algae Solutions for a Local Energy Economy (ASLEE)

Algae Solutions for a Local Energy
Economy (ASLEE)
Dr Douglas McKenzie
CEO Xanthella Ltd
ASLEE: An Industrial Research Project that will
Create a National Asset with Global Impact
Can we overcome grid constraint
by using locally generated
electricity for biomanufacturing
and thus create a new industry
for our remote and rural areas?
Many birds with one stone.
The opportunity
The West Coast and islands of Scotland have
some of the best potential for renewables in
Europe. 36.5 GW wind; 7.5 GW tidal (25% of
Europe’s potential); 14 GW wave (10% Europe).
Biomass in CHP
….and the pain
Grid weakness means that a great
many renewable energy schemes
are constrained or delayed. If we
could use more electricity locally
then constraint problems could be
reduced or removed.
Micro-algae
Eukaryotic microalgae and photosynthetic bacteria (cyanobacteria)
Major source of O2; major sink for
CO2.
Important in global weather systems
Base of most aquatic food chains
Highly diverse with extremophiles. Low
pH, high temperature strains
Opportunity?
Strathclyde University, 26.06.15
4
Algal diversity
5
Feedstocks: no need for imports
1.8 tonnes CO2 for 1 tonne of algal biomass. Sources:
distilleries; anaerobic digestion and combustion gas
500 MWh of white light for 1000 l oils
Nitrogen and phosphate plus other trace nutrients. Rule Water: recoverable and algae can be grown in non-potable
of thumb 10% nitrogen by weight; 1% phosphate
waters including seawater and waste waters
Light is the critical feedstock
Solar light
Pros: free fuel
Cons: intermittent; poor space utilisation;
inefficient; doesn’t work for Scotland (tell us
about it!)
Artificial light
Pros: high efficiencies; good control
Good space utilisation
Cons: Expensive – use limited to high value
products. Electricity cost main factor in
affordability.
7
ASLEE: Novelty and Innovation
Algal biomass is used as feedstock for a wide range of products including
pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, research tools, pigments, plastics and biofuels. The
existing markets for these products has been estimated at €4 billion per annum.
Why algae for local manufacture?
Wide possible applications ($5Bn annual)
High energy use
High value/low volume products possible
Existing use in Scotland (especially in
aquaculture)
Feedstock availability: circular economy
Suitable for intermittency of light supply
Scalable (in both directions)
Circular economy:
Strengthening rural industry through
feedstock coordination
LOCAL
RENEWABLE
ENERGY
REDUCE
COSTS
REDUCE
COSTS
FEED
AQUACULTURE
REDUCE
COSTS
GRID
BALANCING
CO2
ALGAE
FEED
FEED
FEED
WHISKY
Poor solar resource in Scotland
(particularly in winter) means
light source must be artificial.
High cost of light means focus
must be on high value
products.
Target markets (5 tonne production from ASLEE array)
.
Intermittency
Output of 350kW Wind Turbine
400
350
300
250
200
North Atlan c Insola on
March 3 - March 9 2010
Wh/m^2
150
800
100
Daily sunshine
700
600
50
0
3-Mar
500
4-Mar
5-Mar
6-Mar
7-Mar
8-Mar
-50
400
Daily wind power output
300
200
100
0
3-Mar
4-Mar
5-Mar
6-Mar
7-Mar
Dynamic Frequency Response
8-Mar
Propor onal Following of 300kW Load with no Deadband
Wholesale Electricity Prices
350
Turning on PBR during Low Cost Half Hours
140
Energy Off
120
Energy On
300
100
250
80
60
200
40
20
0
1-Jan-14
150
2-Jan-14
3-Jan-14
4-Jan-14
5-Jan-14
6-Jan-14
400
Load
100
350
300
50
250
200
0
0:00
2:00
4:00
6:00
8:00
10:00
12:00
14:00
16:00
18:00
20:00
150
100
0
1
6
11
16
21
26
31
36
41
46
51
56
61
66
71
76
81
86
91
96
101
106
111
116
121
126
131
136
141
146
151
156
161
166
171
176
181
186
191
196
201
206
211
216
221
226
231
236
241
246
251
256
261
266
271
276
281
286
50
Daily Electricity prices
Hourly frequency balancing
22:00
ASLEE: The Central Questions
How far can we exploit the potential
of grid balancing and renewables
whilst maintaining economic algal
production?
(How much does intermittency
matter? What is the smallest
economic scale? what is the
potential upscaling?)
Renewable Capacity
ASLEE: The Larger Picture
Sustainable feed
production; Omega
3s; hatcheries
Low carbon, distributed &
integrated bio-manufacture;
stranded resources;
Circular economy;
use of CO2,
nutrient recovery
from waste streams
ASLEE PROJECT
MBC proposal for
EMSP; Development
in fragile areas;
greater use of
renewables
End users: aquaculture
Existing use of micro-algae in aquaculture
in Scotland:
1: Feed for rotifers used in Wrasse
production. Currently met by importing
algae pastes from Japan by air
2: Feed for juvenile oysters. Bag production
(inefficient and high space requirement)
Future use:
1: Salmon feed supplement delivering high value omega 3s,
astaxanthin, protein and vaccines
15
Source: Viv Crampton, EWOS
The salmon aquaculture
industry is facing a shortfall
in supply of omega 3 fatty
acids with rising demand
but no sustainable increase
in supply from wild
fisheries. Omega 3s are the
main differentiator of
Scottish salmon in the
global market and thus it is
crucial that supply is
maintained. Microalgae are
the best source of omega
3s, leading to increased
interest from the
aquaculture industry in
algae.
16
The future is green?
““Omega 3 from algal sources, particularly autotropic algae using CO2 as an energy
source” is the ingredient that Marine Harvest feed COO Ben Hadfield sees as the most
promising”
Intrafish Media 10/12/2015
Algal supply would remove concerns over security of supply and quality; sustainable
and allow much closer integration of omega 3 supply with feed manufacture. Could
completely decouple salmon feed production from both marine and terrestrial
sources. Can it be cost-effective?
Ability to reduce electricity costs
through renewables and potential
grid balancing income will also help
support the Scottish aquaculture
industry
17
Project Partners
MERL
The project: stage 1
Two 4000l modules to answer questions of technical risk:
Establish productivity using variety of
commercial algae: optimised algae
protocols
Systems integration
Determine effects of intermittency on
model species of algae (wind; grid
balancing; optimisation of energy
tariffs): operational cost-benefits
Develop business and operational models
Plan for stage 2 deployment
Engagement with non-core partners and business development for stage 2
The project: stage 2
32,000l arrays to establish business case:
MERL/Ardtoe
Integration with estate renewables
and businesses: suitability of algae for
oyster production and other products
Suitability of algae for rotifer feed
Suitability for oyster feed
Identify opportunities for scale up and wider use
Circular and low carbon economy questions
Rural business development opportunities: establish income streams
Legacy
Thank You.