National Algae Association Appoints Biofuels Expert Will Thurmond to Serve as Chairman of Research and Development
(BIOFUELS NEWSWIRE June 30, 2008 The Woodlands, TX) The National Algae Association announced a new Research and Development collaborative to accelerate the commercialization of algae to produce multiple fuels: biodiesel, ethanol, jet fuel, hydrogen and biomass for power generation.
For the new Research and Development collaborative, the National Algae Association (NAA) has appointed Will Thurmond, a leading global biofuels expert, Biofuels Digest columnist, and author of the landmark 685 page study Biodiesel 2020, to serve as Chairman of Research and Development. Mr. Thurmond will coordinate and facilitate an R&D roundtable for the innovation and commercialization of biofuels for the National Algae Association.
Barry Cohen, founder of the National Algae Association said “we are delighted to announce Will Thurmond, a well-known expert in the field of biofuels, will help lead the NAA to achieve its goal of the commercialization of algae for renewable energy.”
For this initiative, Thurmond remarks “the United States presently faces a major challenge in realizing its renewable fuels targets. The U.S. can not produce enough soy and corn to reach its ambitious 36 billion gallon a year targets by the year 2022. The key question is, how do we get there from here, given current feedstock supply constraints and prices in soy and corn?” said Mr. Thurmond
“Algae is unique among renewable energy feedstocks, since it can be used to create multiple fuels. For example, algae can be used to create biodiesel, ethanol, jet fuel, hydrogen, and biomass for power generation,” said Thurmond. “Compared to soy, which only produces 50 gallons of oil per acre for biodiesel; or corn which can produce up to 400 gallons of ethanol per acre, algae can produce up to 20,000 gallons of biodiesel or ethanol per acre,” according to research from Thurmond’s Biodiesel 2020 study, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the US Department of Energy.
“One key problem is soy and corn may only achieve one or two harvests a year. Algae can be harvested up to 3 times per week,” said Thurmond. “No other feedstock can produce the volume of biomass and serve as many applications for renewable energy as algae-based biomass for transport fuels and power generation. Plus, algae is a non-food, renewable energy source that can be used to produce both environmentally and economically sustainable fuels.”
“When the commercialization of algae arrives in the next 2-3 years, it will be a major game-changer in the first and second generation biofuels markets. Algae will provide much-needed competition, innovation and supply-side support for national renewable energy targets.” said Thurmond. “Algae is already playing a leading role in supporting the US government’s goals to achieve energy independence, energy security, and national security, as seen in algae-based projects at DARPA, NREL, and Sandia Labs.”
NAA Founder and Executive Director Barry Cohen notes “for our next National Algae Association conference in July, Mr. Thurmond will lead the NAA’s Research and Development committee to establish a much-needed collaborative dialogue between researchers, algae producers, investors, policy makers and biofuels producers. This R&D effort will support the National Algae Association’s goal to accelerate the commercialization of algae markets for biofuels and renewable energy,” said Mr. Cohen.
The National Algae Association will host its 2nd major industry conference in The Woodlands, Texas on July 17, 2008.
For more information contact:
National Algae Association
4747 Research Forest Drive, Suite 180
The Woodlands, Texas 77381
Tel 936-321-1125
info@nationalalgaeassociation.com
www.nationalalgaeassociation.com
