David Johnston, CEO of Aquatic Energy

There are hundreds and thousands of different strains of algae. Each one has different properties that help suit it for the environment it lives in. Finding the right strain is very important in the quest to commercial algae production. Louisiana-based Aquatic Energy knows this and has focused a lot of correct strain selection. Their CEO David Johnston answered a few questions about the importance of the right algae and their production system.

1) How important has the strain of algae been to your algae production system?

The strain of algae is extremely important to our algae production system.  Since there are thousands upon thousands of algal strains in the world, we had to choose one based of the following qualifications:

1. Does it grow naturally in the Louisiana freshwater environment (most important)

2. What is the lipid percentage and content

3. What is the protein percentage and content

4. How quickly does it grow

With these prerequisites in mind, we searched through well over 100 different algae samples from local bayou’s and water ways to find the ideal strains.  The two we ended up choosing both have a high growth rate with about 20 – 25% oil content and over 50% protein content.  We decided to go with two strains with the understanding that one is better suited for the heat and intense sunlight of the summer time and the other is designed to be cold weather resistant during the brief winter season.  Although more difficult, as I mentioned, we decided to go with freshwater algae since the EPA and State Department of Environmental Quality informed us that using salt water to grow the algae would be a non-starter due to the fact that they already spend millions trying to prevent salt water intrusion.  Therefore this has provided Aquatic Energy with its competitive advantage.  To our knowledge there are no other algae companies in Louisiana or the US that have developed the technology to maintain a pure monoculture outdoors in fresh water.  This also allows us to use what is now considered fallow or marginal out of production agricultural land.

2) How many algae strains do you work with?

We currently have a summer and winter strain that we domesticated after reviewing over 100 strains found in local waters.

3) How have you been able to keep your algae crops in open ponds ”99% pure” as your website states?

Yes, over the past four years we have developed the necessary techniques to provide a near perfect environment for our algae to thrive in, which then creates a very unsuitable environment for any competing species, strains, or predators to grow in.

4) Since you are producing both algal oil and biomass, have your algal strains been optimized for one or the other?

Absolutely, as mentioned above, we chose these strains based upon specific criteria that was necessary for us to produce the desired amount of oil and biomass on a per acre per year basis.

5) How would you suggest other companies discover the optimal strains to use in their locations like you have?

It comes down to:

Determining what attributes the company is looking for within the algae (oil percentage, protein content, types of oil, growth rate, etc.) that are in line with their intended application, and then isolating and selecting algae within local waters that meet these criteria.

6) How much algal oil/biomass have you produced to date?

Over the last four years we have used the samples produced from our demonstration facilities to verify our growth rates, protein content, carbohydrates, etc.  If I had to put a number on it, it would be somewhere in the ballpark of hundreds of gallons of algal oil and thousands of lbs. of algal biomass.

7) How much does it costs to produce a gallon of unrefined algal oil with your system? (IE what price do refiners pay for your oil?)

On a commercial basis Aquatic Energy has built its financial models around being able to produce algal oil for $2.50 a gallon, with the intent to undercut the price of traditional diesel fuel.  And on the algal meal side Aquaticanticipates being able to sell algal meal for $250 per ton to animal feed customers.

David Johnston
CEO
Aquatic Energy
http://www.AquaticEnergy.com