| There has been a lot of negative talk about | | | | system for Aurora's algae that will produce 300,000 |
| companies using corn to produce biofuels, but don't | | | | gallons per year of biodiesel by 2012. According to |
| paint Aurora Biofuels with that brush. The company is | | | | Aurora, its special algae can use waste CO2 from |
| offering an attractive alternative: converting carbon | | | | electric utilities, cement plants and the like, converting |
| dioxide--a greenhouse gas--into biodiesel while | | | | 40 lbs. of CO2 into one gallon of biodiesel fuel with an |
| growing in sea water. The company is using a | | | | energy content of 130-140,000 Btu/gal. And get this! |
| genetically modified algae developed at the University | | | | According to the company, the CO2 used in the |
| of California at Berkeley to efficiently produce | | | | system does not have to be cleaned. In fact, the |
| biodiesel using CO2 as the feedstock. The Aurora | | | | toxic gases NOx (nitrous oxides) and SOx (sulfur |
| claims the technology, developed by microbial biology | | | | oxides) are actually nutrients that enhance algae |
| professor Tasios Melis, can create biodiesel fuel with | | | | growth! |
| yields that are 125 times higher and have 50 percent | | | | From its name you might think the company is |
| lower costs than current production methods. One | | | | located in Colorado, but the headquarters is in |
| can only wonder if those higher yields are based on | | | | Alameda, California, with some operations in Florida. |
| somewhat modest benchmark production data. | | | | According to the company's web site, backers include |
| Definitely worth paying attention, however, to is the | | | | Gabriel Venture Partners, Noventi, Oak Investment |
| recent announcement by Aurora that it has | | | | Partners (and angel investors include Auttomatic CEO |
| completed an 18 month demonstration of its process | | | | Toni Schneider). No partners have been announced |
| for making biodiesel, and further, that it could | | | | so far, and don't ask about revenues-there aren't any |
| produce this biodiesel for an estimated $50 per barrel | | | | yet. Aurora seems to have a heavy component of |
| at scale. That would be very attractive. And Aurora's | | | | engineering as a part of its production technology, |
| new CEO, Robert Walsh, a recent high level Shell Oil | | | | which is probably a very good thing. With all the |
| Company production executive, is focused on | | | | various algae players out there right now the |
| developing a first commercial scale 50 acre pond | | | | competition among them will be interesting to watch. |