[Digestion] Microlagae feedstock

[JGBellHimself]

Paul..., Duncan...
 
You are absolutely correct...
Algae is one of the more interesting feedstocks that are being vigorously explored.
 
FYI....
there is a US$ 350 Million project that is in the process of being built, here in Arizona, about 100 miles West of Phoenix.
While initially they are using corn, they are also starting with a 5,000 herd of milk cows.
However, they plan to convert their whole operation to using algae, and to expand the herd to 15,000+ cows.
 
In addition, they plan to use one of the four state-of-art AD systems currently on the US market.  [Paul, some of the details are in the article that I sent to you.]
 
There is, oddly enough, as second proposed algae/energy facility that has just been announced, for construction plans for the state of Nevada.
 
Needless to say, IF they can attract US$ 350+ million in start up financing, this is not a fly-by-night operation.
However, it must be said that it is MUCH cooler to fly by night..., here in Phoenix.
Sorry.
 
And, while there are two very vigorous US research programs currently using Algae as their feedstock subject.., there is very little being said, or published, about which algae program is being incorporate into the two current announced, or other speculative, AD/energy investment programs.
 
Also, as you know, one European AD system emphasizes that they have found a way to dramatically increase the amount of methane that their system produces over the older plug flow and other systems.
And, while they did run into severe difficulties when they entered the US market, they have shown, in Europe, that they can do it.
What they do, is - from their own explanations of the benefits of their system - use higher temperatures AND then they ADD to the cow manure to maximize methane production.  
What they add, they do not say.  But, from their numbers, it does work.
 
There are two points, here:
 
First, if you are looking ONLY at one discrete feedstock, you may be making a number of serious mistakes.
Whether it is cow, pig, chicken, turkey or human manure...,
and while NOT using AD to clean it up is simply wrong and shortsighted.
Use what you got..., but LOOK at what else is available to you.
All AD feedstocks are good..., but some are much gooder than other.
 
Second, whatever your feedstock...
what is being demonstrated all around the world is that there are additive feedstocks that are available locally that will dramatically increase the efficiency and productivity of your AD facility.
Simply adding some McDonald's grease...
can and does make your AD system work better.
 
And, what is also being demonstrated by state-of-art AD systems is that we can, and should, look at add-on technology to clean up the other little side problems that occur with each AD system.
 
Let me give you one example:
in the US the dramatic shift to CAFL's for beef cattle, dairy herds, pig farms, turkey farms, etc, etc...,
has resulted in a serious concentration of shit.
the first "obvious" solution was to use the "stuff" -- whether you AD it or not -- to spread it out on your own, OR nearby, farms.
The problem that they have encountered -- whether they AD or not -- was very serious phosphorous overloading.
 
Paul...
In the Seattle, Puget Sound area we were given a US "exemption" from 3rd level cleaning up of our human waste -- and, in Canada, Victoria, BC doesn't even treat its waste.
Why ?    Because everyone assumed that the flushing of Puget Sound would disperse the effluent, and there would never be any problem.
However, in the last few years their has been a catastrophic collapse of the Puget Sound marine environment...
- due to the effluent ??
 
The point is:
that you cannot, as in morally should not...
ignore the other effluents from your AD system.
To focus only on the production of methane...
is to solve one problem while creating many more other problems.
 
We can obtain almost totally clean water, air and odor.
AND, we can obtain sterilized pathogen free residue.
 
And, that is why I wrote to you about this new AD/energy system in Western Arizona.
It appears to be a thoroughly thought out..., and financed..., system.
 
The AD blog cannot, as in morally should not...
fail to take a very close, hard look at this project/system.

Paul..., as GE, and RonnieR used to say for them...:

        "Progress is our most important product."


       
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