Tomorrow builds first pilot plant
Dedicated to converting greenhouse gases into biofuels Tomorrow Biofuels is to construct a pilot plant in Cranston, Rhode Island, US, to do just that.
Tomorrow’s first plant will capture gases emitted from an adjacent power plant and utilise them to enhance the growing time of algae.
Oil will then be extracted from the algae and converted into biodiesel before being transported back to the power plant for part use in a biodiesel-fed generator.
Due to begin operations in the autumn of this year the 5,900 square foot plant could cost more than $500,000 (€404,000) to build. This will be funded by a grant of $250,000 as well as a $250,000 loan from the Renewable Energy Fund.
The president of Tomorrow Biofuels Lawrence Dressler said: ‘This pilot facility will demonstrate the commercial viability of our business model – one that is centred on the development of sustainable, renewable fuel technologies – and will lay the groundwork for the launch of a scaled-up commercial facility in the near-term future.’
The company is aiming to have a full-scale production facility built by 2011. It will be set up near to an existing plant releasing carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere, which algae feed upon.
Tomorrow’s first plant will capture gases emitted from an adjacent power plant and utilise them to enhance the growing time of algae.
Oil will then be extracted from the algae and converted into biodiesel before being transported back to the power plant for part use in a biodiesel-fed generator.
Due to begin operations in the autumn of this year the 5,900 square foot plant could cost more than $500,000 (€404,000) to build. This will be funded by a grant of $250,000 as well as a $250,000 loan from the Renewable Energy Fund.
The president of Tomorrow Biofuels Lawrence Dressler said: ‘This pilot facility will demonstrate the commercial viability of our business model – one that is centred on the development of sustainable, renewable fuel technologies – and will lay the groundwork for the launch of a scaled-up commercial facility in the near-term future.’
The company is aiming to have a full-scale production facility built by 2011. It will be set up near to an existing plant releasing carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere, which algae feed upon.
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