Phycal LLC is currently working on research and development of algae based renewable biofuel technology using manufacturing, molecular biology, and technology development to identify the opportunities, crucial technologies, key individuals, and research resources needed. Algae will have significant advantages as biofuel feedstock, as independent studies have found algae capable of producing at least ten times more lipid per acre as compared to other potential crops. Algae can be grown on currently non-productive land, can use non-potable water as a growth medium, and will fix large quantities of CO2. Combining talents in algal biology, engineering and systems integration Phycal is focused on producing cost competitive algae-based liquid fuels. The firm is developing an integrated production system for growing algae and extracting energy products, primarily algal oil for conversion into renewable âgreenâ jet fuel, diesel, biodiesel, and fuel oil blends.
Algae are the most productive oil crop on a per area basis and therefore have the potential to be the most significant source of a renewable, domestic petroleum replacement. It is predicted over the life-cycle from cradle-to-combustion that algal oil will release significantly less CO2 into the atmosphere than petroleum fuels, as well as produce more energy than it takes to produce. In addition, algae can be grown in reclaimed water from sources such as agricultural runoff, removing residual chemicals and nutrients before they can contaminate waterways. Lastly, algae are fundamentally non-competitive with food because they can be grown on non-arable land. According to the US Department of Energy and several peer-reviewed studies, algae are expected to commercially produce somewhere between 1,000 and 6,500 gallons of oil per acre per year, 20 to 130 times more than soybean. At these productivities, all of the USâs imported petroleum could be grown domestically on aggregated farms roughly the size of between one and two Alabamas. Furthermore, unlike most terrestrial crops, algae can be continuously harvested year-round stabilizing supply and prices of biofuels and reducing the risk of a singularly poor harve
