Helios-NRG, LLC, in partnership with the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) at the University of Illinois, will develop a novel algae-based technology for efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) capture from coal-fired power plant flue gas and production of biofuels and other valuable products to mitigate the cost of carbon capture. The strategy includes utilizing a closed photobioreactor (PBR) system for high growth rate microalgae to metabolize the CO2 from flue gas. The algae growth rate using a PBR is approximately 50-75 grams per square meter per day (g/m2/day), compared with approximately 25-35 g/m2/day1 for open ponds. The dewatered algae will be converted to biofuel via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), a thermochemical process. During Phase I, testing will be performed on the two most promising species of algae, including tolerance to major flue gas contaminants. Assessments of the effect of HTL operating conditions and algae type on process performance will be made, along with a characterization of the HTL aqueous product. A preliminary techno-economic analysis will be performed.

1 Chisti, Y. Biodiesel from microalgae, Biotechnology Advances 25 (2007) 294–306