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.
transesterification. The team at UNL concurs with these well founded reviews and recognizes the critical
importance of basic research on lipid production in algae, the development of molecular tools for
engineering algae, and the importance of low cost innovative system of growth systems utilizing highly
innovative and patent pending tools such as nanobodies in order to allow algae biofuels to be a reality.
We indeed accept that the substantial innovative approaches marrying world class basic algae biology
research and transformative application of novel tools to growth and harvesting (nanobodies) that the
UNL team is pursuing are critical to truly economical biofuels production from algae. As stated in the
review oral presentation, the presenter is clearly aware of the limitations of open raceway systems with
aerial productivity limited to 25 gm/m2/day which has remained constant over 40 years. The presenter
indeed is aware of the severe constraints of photobioreactor designs (PBRs) as currently configured as so
acridly depicted by the reviewers. The presenter is aware of the heat removal need in PBRs and correctly
presented a number of means of such heat removal. The UNL team is in fact developing innovative low
cost growth systems to address the limitations of current PBRs including the use of nanobodies. The
transformative value of these breakthrough technologies will be apparent as the result of this well placed
DOE sponsored research. Unfortunately these tangible advances were evaluated on the basis of limited
information (a 22 slide PowerPoint) and through the lens current and limited raceway technology. The
UNL team does hold the Benneman point of view in high regard, that maintains with current technology
algae biofuels are economically unattainable. The UNL team also strongly believes in the ability of the
combination of basic research and transformative technologies such as nanobodies to overcome these
obstacles. The UNL team is grateful for the opportunity afforded by the DOE to play a role in this
transformation of algae biofuels to become a major element in the DOE biofuels portfolio and regrets the
focus of the review team on current technologies with all their limitations.
Project: 9.6.5.3 NREL
Title: Algal Biofuel Pathway Baseline Costs
Presenter: Andy Aden
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 07, 2011
Criteria Avg Score Std Deviation Count
Approach 8.14 0.64 7
Progress 8.00 0.53 7
Relevance 8.43 1.05 7
Critical Success Factors 7.29 1.03 7
1. Project Approach
The project performers have implemented technically sound research, development, and deployment
approaches and demonstrated necessary results to meet their targets
The project performers have identified a project management plan that includes well-defined milestones
and adequate methods for addressing potential risks.
Reviewer Comments
Reviewer: 1 Criteria Score: 8
This is a project that is producing useful results right from the start. The needs and deliverables were
thought out first, and the approaches are devised to achieve them.
Reviewer: 2 Criteria Score: 9
Models are being developed well for evaluation of capability of sustainable production with most key
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