For Episode 2 of Algae World Conversations, we engaged in an interesting email exchange with Solix Biofuels’ Vice President of Business Development, Dr. Joanna K. Money. Dr. Money is instrumental in developing the Company’s long-term business strategy, and has over 20 years of corporate and industry experience in the Biotechnology sector. Dr. Money provided a great preview of what participants can expect to hear from her colleague Dr. Bryan Willson at the 2^nd Algae World Europe conference and we are pleased to present the excerpts of our exchange.

Read on to find out more about the latest developments in Solix, an overview of it’s cost-effective AGS™ technology and a round up of the challenges facing Algal Biofuels producers.  

Firstly, we wish to congratulate the team at Solix for securing the support of the US Government

to realize the vision of algae biofuels. How is that going?

Thank you. Solix is part of the NAABB consortium that was recently awarded $44M by the DOE. Since that announcement, the consortium has been finalizing the legal requirements with the government and is now ready to begin work. This consortium, which includes government labs, universities and private companies, has the potential to really make a significant impact on overcoming the critical barriers of cost, resource use and efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, and commercial viability.

The consortium will develop and demonstrate the science and technology necessary to significantly increase production of algal biomass and lipids, efficiently harvest and extract algae and algal products, and establish valuable certified co-products that scale with renewable fuel production.

Can you tell us a bit about Solix’s proprietary AGS™ technology?  

Solix’s proprietary Algal Growth System or AGS™ is an integrated system for production of algae that is designed to be massively scalable and cost effective for the production of algae at scales suited for biofuel production. High volumetric growth rates can be obtained in Solix’s proprietary photobioreactors, which are made out of low cost plastic materials. The algae are protected from environmental threats in these reactors thereby minimizing the likelihood of takeover by invasive species as well as bacteria or viruses that are known to plague open pond growth systems.

Why is this a cost-effective option?

Solix has demonstrated continuous production for over two years in its AGS system with no production failures. The AGS is carefully designed to maximize the light exposure for the algae which in addition to our proprietary gas delivery system drives the high growth. The combination of the low cost of the reactors, the high volumetric output and reliability means the overall production system is very cost effective.

Can AGS technology be scaled up and used for large-scale cultivation,

and can it used to cultivate certain algal species?

The AGS is designed to be able to grow a variety of algae species and Solix has tested the system with several different species to date. One of the real advantages of the AGS is that it is ideally suited to grow genetically modified algae that many companies are developing. These species are not only more vulnerable then wild-type species but also there are regulatory concerns, which favor their containment in the closed system that our AGS provides. Many companies that are developing genetically modified algae have contacted Solix as a cultivation solution for their species.        

We understand that your pilot project in Colorado uses wastewater from Coal Bed Methane mines?

How does the system work?

At its Coyote Gulch facility, Solix uses CO2 from an adjacent amine scrubbing plant that removes the CO2 from coal bed methane. We believe this facility is the first large-scale algae production facility specifically designed to grow algae in photobioreactor for biofuels that utilizes both industrial CO2 and produced water. The water is tested to make sure there are no contaminants that are detrimental to the algae before it is used. This production facility was not designed as a way to clean up the water but more as a way to demonstrate that Solix’s AGS is able to use industrial inputs.

What is Solix’s Business Model?

Solix‘s strategy is to be the leading supplier of an algal cultivation system that will be valuable to customers looking to produce a broad range of algal products. We are exploring multiple harvesting and extraction options both internally, and with partners in order to be able to provide our customers with the appropriate option suited to the products they are interested in producing. 

Solix’s AGS is designed to grow multiple species that have the capability to produce multiple products. While Solix is focused on the development of a production system that will be cost effective for biofuels production, we recognize that algae are valuable for the production of a multitude of products from nutraceuticals to cosmetics to industrial intermediates to and biochemicals to energy.

What would you perceive as problems and challenges that Solix could face in the next 5 years?

Like all of us in the algae biofuels space, the key to success will be the ability to drive down the costs of production of oil to be in the range of current fossil fuel. Solix has a clear roadmap towards achieving that goal and is implementing its R&D strategy to that end.

One of the biggest challenges our industry faces is from entities that create unrealistic expectations around the timelines to commercialization as well as current yields and cost structures. This is an exciting industry with huge potential but it will take time to develop.

Solix is fortunate to have been able to demonstrate significant progress in the development of its AGS and our results speak for themselves. The industry as a whole is starting to mature and that will benefit all players involved.   

Thanks Dr. Money and Solix Biofuels!