Bioprocess Algae Co2 Conversion Project Enters 2nd Phase

Algae reactors stationed at the Shenendoah facility

The Grower Harvester™ algae project is a very exciting development in both the renewable energy and Co2 remediation sectors. Based at a Shenandoah, Iowa ethanol facility operated by Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. [Nasdaq: GPRE] it is a joint venture between Green Plains and a water filtration company CLARCOR Inc. [NYSE: CLC] and is currently operated under the name BioProcess Algae LLC. The Shenandoah plant is one of multiple ethanol production facilities operated by Green Plains (One of the top 5 ethanol producers in the United States), and is the first of its kind to implement this type of Co2 reclamation technology.

The Grower Harvester Technology

It is easy to see the benefit of the project’s objectives. Simply stated, the purpose of the project is to capture Co2 produced in an industrial setting and convert it to biomass (plant material). The benefit of this process is twofold: 1) The technology reclaims energy that would otherwise be lost as waste and stores it in the form of biomass 2) The technology reduces the overall Co2 emissions produced during the industrial process of manufacturing ethanol which would normally be released into the atmosphere and could cause environmental damage and contribute to global warming.

Although it has currently only been put to use at the ethanol production facility, it may potentially be extended to other industries as well.

Moving to Phase II

Phase one of the project had the Grower Harvester technology implemented full scale in the Shenandoah facility after laboratory testing had confirmed that the idea had potential. In fact according to Todd Becker, President and CEO of Green Plains, there was actually a marked increase in efficiency in technology at full scale over what was seen in laboratory conditions: “During Phase I, BioProcessAlgae has successfully demonstrated the scalability of the technology with a 40 times increase in growing volume from bench scale reactors to an industrial setting at our ethanol plant.” He stated.

Phase II of the technology will increase the overall scale of the project by 20 times in comparison to phase I. If successful, it will represent a major leap for both Co2 remediation and renewable energy interests. Currently, funding for the project is being supplied jointly through grants from the Iowa Power Fund and investments from the project’s partners.