An outside look at Touchstone Research Lab’s new algae farm. In the foreground, partly hidden by the fence (looking mostly white due to the liners), are two of the algae-growing raceways. Similar raceways are in the greenhouses. Details here, here, and here.
biofuels
‘Biofuels … will increasingly play a larger role in our economy’
We appreciated the interest shown by U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and his office at Wednesday’s “algae farm” open house near Wooster. As part of the program, Ann Longsworth Orr, northwest Ohio regional representative for Sen. Brown, read a letter of support from him. Here are two excerpts:
“By reusing carbon dioxide to produce algae for use as a biofuel, this partnership between the Department of Energy, Ohio State University/OARDC in Wooster, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Cedar Lane Farms, OpenAlgae, and the state of Ohio is another example of the sort of innovative, cutting-edge efforts we must undertake to address our nation’s pressing energy challenges. Funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, this project is the latest example of people working together to tackle the pressing problems facing our nation. […]
“Our nation has a long history of supporting and helping emerging industries as they work to make today’s dreams tomorrow’s reality. Biofuels—and biobased products and processes—will increasingly play a larger role in our economy.”
Now THAT’S green energy
Paddlewheels churn, water circulates (in foot-deep, oval “raceways”), and sunshine fuels countless millions of tiny photosynthesizing organisms (all of the uniquely suited species Nannochloropsis salina) in a greenhouse at Touchstone Research Laboratory’s experimental algae farm at Cedar Lane Farms near Wooster in northeast Ohio. The facility hosted an open house this past Wednesday. Algae produced here will be turned into biofuel. OARDC is a partner on the project. More here and here.
Anaerobic digestion: Check out this first-ever training course
In September, the research arm of our college, OARDC, will hold a first-of-its-kind training course on anaerobic digestion, which is a waste-management process that livestock farms and wastewater plants are increasingly using to produce biogas, a type of renewable fuel. Here’s the brochure (pdf).
Engineering plants to help replace oil
OARDC, which is the research arm of our college, will play a key role in engineering a new plant-based fuel, backed by a $5.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The possible sources for that fuel: Guayule, which is the yellow-flowered plant shown here, and sweet sorghum.
Fill up on gas from garbage … at $2.25 a gallon?
OARDC, the research arm of our college based in northeast Ohio, is converting four of its vehicles to run on natural gas — but not just any natural gas. Gas produced locally from renewable, plentiful organic waste, such as chicken fat, rotten tomatoes, and the byproducts of making potato chips. Even better, the fuel costs only about two-thirds as much as gasoline and, when burned, emits about a third less greenhouse gas. Read more. (K.D. Chamberlain image.)
How fungi genes may help us make ethanol
Fungal diseases such as Stagonospora nodorum and Magnaporthe oryzae cause significant losses to wheat and rice crops throughout the world. Now a scientist with OARDC (the research arm of our college) is trying to use these bad fungi for good—taking some of their genes to breed bioenergy crops that could make ethanol production cheaper and more efficient. Read more …
More biobased products, new jobs in Ohio?
The Obama Administration yesterday directed the federal government to increase its purchases of biobased products. Dennis Hall of the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center, a part of our college, says new Ohio jobs should result. He’s available to talk to reporters. Also: Here’s Hall speaking on USDA’s BioPreferred program (video, 1:50) last summer. Yesterday’s directive is an expansion of that program.