Helios-NRG, LLC, in partnership with The State University of New York at Buffalo, is advancing an algae-based process for the efficient capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) from coal-fired power plant flue gas and production of biofuels and other valuable products to mitigate the cost of carbon capture. The process begins with a multi-stage, continuous flow (MSC) photo-bioreactor system for high growth rate microalgae to metabolize the CO2 from flue gas. The algae is then concentrated in a novel de-watering system (developed in a prior U.S. Department of Energy-funded project), a fraction of the algae is extracted after de-watering for production of high-value chemicals and nutraceuticals, and the remainder of the algae is converted, using hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), into liquid biofuel. In Phase I, algae species that are capable of handling flue gas contaminants (e.g., arsenic, mercury, and selenium) and achieve high CO2capture will be identified, the performance of the algae de-watering technology will be advanced, high-value co-product synthesis by the algae will be validated, and a preliminary techno-economic analysis will be prepared.

Predecessor Project: SC0015719