This is extremely optimistic, and it will be interesting to see if they are really able to scale this operation with similar productivity. Note to self: Get some more recent information about this company.
If proof is in the pudding, Valcent’s pudding is looking mighty green to me.
Not too long ago, I spoke (video) with Valcent Products Inc. CEO and Principal Scientist Glen Kertz about his company’s Vertigro bioreactor system.
Judging from the first wave of Vertigro test data, the promise of sustainably producing large amounts of biofuels-ready algae oil is becoming more and more of a reality — and a potentially revolutionary reality at that!
From the Valcent/Vorticom press release:
During a 90 day continual production test, algae was being harvested at an average of one gram (dry weight) per liter. This equates to algae bio mass production of 276 tons of algae per acre per year. Achieving the same biomass production rate with an algal species having 50% lipids (oil) content would therefore deliver approximately 33,000 gallons of algae oil per acre per year.
…As a comparative, food crop such as soy bean will typically produce some 48 gallons oil per acre per year and palm will produce approximately 630 gallons oil per acre per year. In addition, the Vertigro Bio Reactor System is a closed loop continuous production system that uses little water and may be built on non arable lands.
The press release goes on to note that the focus of the 90 day test was determining the robustness of the test bed — not pushing the limits on production yields. The official line from Valcent stresses that the test system has not been optimized for maximum yields or the best selection of algae at this time.
