SSOE to design $65m algae biofuel plant in Hawaii
Phycal’s pilot plant will aim to capture carbon emissions from industry to produce biofuels from algae
The project will seek to capture carbon dioxide emissions from local industry and use algae to turn it into a biofuel.
SSOE Group will draw up a preliminary engineering design for the 40-acre facility on behalf of algae fuel company Phycal LLC.
Ohio-based Phycal has a $3 million grant from the US Department of Energy toward the Phase One stage of developing the pilot project.
It is aiming to secure further funding from the DOE for the next stage of the project, with construction scheduled to begin in the fall of 2010.
Subject to permits being in place, the project could be fully operational by 2011, producing upwards of 100,000 gallons of algal biocrude each year.
The company, which has a research lab in Missouri and a sub-pilot facility in Ohio, expects to hire about 30 scientists, engineers and operations staff at the Oahu facility.
Its process sees algae growing in the presence of carbon dioxide, before being harvested and the lipids removed for conversion into biofuel.
“Clear choice”
Announcing the appointment of SSOE Group, Phycal President and CEO Kevin Berner said: “With growing interest in algae as a major source of biofuels over the past few years, SSOE’s background in that industry along with their process engineering capabilities and experience bringing proprietary technologies into production made them a clear choice for this project.”
Behind the scenes, SSOE Group has been working with Phycal on parts of the project for more than two years.
This project that will bring sustainable and affordable energy sources one step closer”– Dave Sipes, SSOE Group
The company’s work will now include designing systems to grow and feed the algae in an open raceway pond, clean the systems and dewater the algae, as well as drawing up cost estimates for the construction plan.
The entire project is expected to cost $65 million over four years.
Dave Sipes, Senior Vice President for Industrial Process at SSOE Group, said: “We have been active throughout the evolution of the biofuels industry for the past five years and are proud to work with Phycal on this project that will bring sustainable and affordable energy sources one step closer to becoming a viable alternative for consumers.”
SSOE is based in Ohio, with 19 offices around the US.
-James Cartledge
