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.
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
The possible deliverables were presented as the CSFs, instead of a real assessment of the CSFs.
Reviewer: 2 Criteria Score: 3
A strong review of the relevant literature combined with realistic costing of offshore macroalgal
development etc. are critical to success. Note that Chinese macroalgal industry data should not be used (I
mention this because of FAO data that the PI might find and consider using); labor costs are insignificant
there, but more importantly, the Chinese shelf is spatially extensive and very shallow (a few meters depth
for kms of distance from shore), which is one reason why the industry is so successful.
Reviewer: 3 Criteria Score: 2
There may be no successful outcome from this project, please see concerns listed under "Overall
impressions"
Reviewer: 4 Criteria Score: 4
See Overall Impressions text.
Reviewer: 5 Criteria Score: 6
Reviewer: 6 Criteria Score: 2
Reviewer: 7 Criteria Score: 3
The criticality of model validation apears to be under-emphasized.
Presenter Response
4.1 NC 4.2.1. Economic analysis will be needed for a global assessment of macroalgae as a feedstock.
The current project is centered on assessment for macroalgal growth conditions and competing uses.
4.2.2. Direct comparisons are not a complete crosswalk. This is a new potential feedstock, and, for
understanding the overall potential, we need to use comparisons and knowledge from a variety of
industries ranging from algae, other forms of aquaculture, and marine energy to come up with the most
reasonable assumptions. As to data from the Chinese industry, those production estimates are the basis for
comparison with production from current experimental kelp cultivation efforts underway in other regions,
such as in Ireland. Those production estimates compare favorably with those of the Chinese kelp industry
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