[Digestion] Energy from Algae (was RE: the chicken coupe)

[Katahdin Energy Works]

Forgot to add this on Bert Cutts operation:

On Wednesday, October 25, Columbia-based renewable energy startup company
Synfratech was welcomed as the newest addition to the USC Technology
Incubator. Synfratech is intitially focused on developing supply-chain
solutions for the nascent biofuels industry. Synfratech will be teaming up
with researchers from USC to develop new approaches to technology
integration in the renewable/alternative energy sector. Initial work will
center on the use of algae as a vegetable-oil feedstock for biodiesel and
other biofuels. "No other fuel crop has the level of yield obtainable with
algae, so it just makes sense to seriously apply ourselves to solving the
challenges of commercializing this feedstock in the biofuels industry" says
Synfratech founder and CEO, Bert Cutts. Research into the manufacture of
ethanol from algae-derived cellulose is also high on Synfratech's R&D
agenda.

Other research that will find applications in the automotive cluster is
being planned, including next-generation diesel-electric plug-in hybrid
drive trains. "South Carolina has an opportunity to take a leadership role
in the transportation and energy paradigm shift that is already starting to
occur." says Cutts. "If Synfratech continues to forge the right
partnerships, South Carolina will benefit from new jobs, cleaner air, more
renewable energy, and potentially an entirely new segment of agribusiness
worth many millions of dollars to the state."

Synfratech, which is derived from "Synergetic Infrastructure Technologies",
has been an EPA Landfill Methane Outreach Program member since 2003, when
Cutts invented a hybrid solar-thermal/methane device for electricity
production at landfill sites. The device leverages investments in methane
collection and use by allowing solar thermal energy (abundant at most
landfills) to also be converted to electricity using much of the same
capital equipment (and without expensive solar panels).

Synfratech plans to construct it's first pilot algaculture operation in
early 2007 in cooperation with a 'large local power company' under an
anticipated R&D contract with the Advanced Technology Institute (ATI)
through the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA). The location has not
yet been determined, and Cutts says that there are still options to consider
before making a final determination of the location."

Frank J. Heller, MPA
KATAHDIN ENERGY WORKS
12 Belmont St.
Brunswick, ME 04011-3004
207.729.6090
http://mysite.verizon.net/fjheller/