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.
Reviewer: 3 Criteria Score: 7
Project fits the goals because the main activity has been to construct the pilot-scale reactor, called
algaenator, and to eventually evaluate its performance over a wide range of operating conditions. This fits
the goals of the DOE OBP Program by developing an efficient and cost-effective conversion strategy for
algae to biofuels.
Reviewer: 4 Criteria Score: 8
Wet processing of algae to fuel would be valuable.
Reviewer: 5 Criteria Score: 5
The project contributes toward meeting the platform goals and objectives.
Reviewer: 6 Criteria Score: 5
This project might prove excellent at targeting soybeans and not microalgae. So it fits DOE's platform in
that regard.
Reviewer: 7 Criteria Score: 4
The need for feedstock drying or residual water vaporization is likely to make the overall energy balance
unfavorable. The economics project a value of $0.50/kg for the fertilzer byproduct. This seems very high
for a low grade fertilizer. 2/3 of projected income is from this fertilizer.
Presenter Response
4. Critical Success Factors
The project has identified critical factors, (including technical, business, market, regulatory, and legal
factors) that impact the potential technical and commercial success of the project
The project has presented adequate plans to recognize, address, and overcome these factors
The project has the opportunity to advance the state of technology and impact the viability of commercial
algal biomass feedstock supply and conversion, through one or more of the following:
i. Cross-Cutting Analysis (ex. economic analysis, sustainability analysis, resource assessments, risk
assessments)
ii. Feedstock Supply R&D (ex. biology, cultivation, resource use, biomass characteristics,
harvesting/dewatering)
iii. Downstream Refining R&D (ex. extraction, conversion, fuel, products, fuel/product infrastructure and
end-use)
iv. Environmental sustainability (example: water use, GMOs, energy consumption)
Reviewer Comments
Reviewer: 1 Criteria Score: 3
I do not believe these are defined well-enough for this project. There should be stricter evaluations than
for a research project.
Reviewer: 2 Criteria Score: 2
The project must identify plans to evaluate energy sustainability of the processes described.
Reviewer: 3 Criteria Score: 5
Aspects of the harvesting technology to be developed by ODU is already successfully applied by many
commercially viable microalgal biotech companies, serving the nutraceutical industry.
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