Reviewer Comments - EERE

2011 Algae Platform Review – Reviewer Comments
Reviewer Comments are direct transcripts of commentary and material provided by the Platform’s
Review Panel. They have not been edited or altered by the Biomass Program.
Is this near a coal supply...etc. And what about distribution lines for the electricity generated? What is the
energy balance once all that has been factored in...etc.
I would suggest that the PI's go back to the reports of Benemann et al, and Lundquist et al. Model those
systems and then expand.
Reviewer: 7 Criteria Score: 3
Much of this assesment appears to be redundant with NREL Algal Biofuel Baseline Costs and other
published cost and resource analyses.
Presenter Response
The approach builds upon previous feedstock supply modeling work conducted at the INL and consists of
essentially two main components: 1) development of an algal logistics module (ALM) that will leverage
the history of supply system modeling at the INL; and 2) integration of this expanded feedstock supply
model with the co-funded work being conducted at PNNL expanding their Biomass Assessment Tool
(BAT) to include algae. The completed product will be the Integrated Assessment Framework that will
allow us to select appropriate locations for algal farms based on specific criteria including land value,
slope of land, sunlight, temperature, water availability, etc. and then to model the logistics and costs
associated with the placement of a particular farm design at that site. Co-location or proximity to other
resources such as waste-water treatment plants or existent coal-fired plants as a source of CO2 as well as
proximity to transportation infrastructure and processing facilities are will also be considered by the IAF.
There is no expectation of building plants adjacent to algal farms, but through the use of the IAF, sites
with appropriate characteristics will be identified for siting of algal farms. The Solix model was not the
basis for our design, which as the reviewer suggests is not economically viable. We agree that it would
make sense to site algal-farms near water resources such as the Gulf Coast or wastewater treatment plants.
We also agree that modeling existing algal farms is essential both from design and validation
perspectives. We are working to incorporate such designs into our model databases. The algae logistics
module consists of numerous data layers that can be tailored to a particular site and configuration. No
aspect of the design is hardwired, allowing the model to be dynamic as new engineering solutions to the
challenges in algal biofuel production are developed This logistics modeling effort does provide cost data
for system design concepts in a similar fashion to previous techno-economic analysis efforts including the
assessment performed by NREL. The most important products of this work are not economic analyses,
but rather the establishment of an engineering decision making framework that can couple suites of
models and data sets supporting the development of viable algae supply system technologies and designs.
Economic evaluations of system performance are clearly a critical component of establishing viability and
are one of the important assessment metrics delivered through the modeling toolkit. As noted by the
reviewers, achieving cost and performance targets required to make algal biofuels a reality will require
engineering advancements to existing technologies and systems. The modeling framework being built
through this work is strictly focused on providing the ability to determine performance at the engineering
fidelity required to support new technology and concept development.
2. Technical Progress and Accomplishments
Please evaluate the degree to which the project has
made progress in its objectives and stated project management plan
has met its objectives in achieving milestones and overcoming technical barriers
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