Latest research in biofuels is potential boon for Valley
CALIPATRIA — A joint research project between ExxonMobil and Synthetic Genomics Inc. may lead to the ability to use algae to produce up to 10,000 barrels of biofuel per year by 2025.
Part of the outdoor field studies for the algae research program will take place at Synthetic Genomics’ facilities north of Calipatria.
“We are excited to take this next significant step as we journey together toward a renewable, scalable, and low-carbon biofuel,” said Oliver Fetzer, chief executive officer at Synthetic Genomics.
“The progress we are making in the lab toward engineering highly efficient algae strains that convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into renewable high-energy-density biofuel is exciting and warrants continued research about how our technology will scale. Our outdoor algal facility creates a perfect stepping stone from our labs to the greenhouse and to the outdoors to lay the foundation for a large-scale commercial deployment of our technology in the future.”
The region is a prime location for production of this new source of biofuel, given that the year-round intense sunlight is suitable for growing algae.
The Calipatria facility will be used as one of the centers to conduct the research that will inform the commercialization efforts.
“(Imperial County) welcomes the project into our region. The potential for new jobs in research, development and eventually commercial production is truly exciting,” Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Ray Castillo said in a statement.
The new phase of research includes an outdoor field study that will grow naturally occurring algae in several contained ponds throughout California.
The research will enable ExxonMobil and Synthetic Genomics to better understand fundamental engineering parameters, including viscosity and flow, which cannot easily be replicated in a lab.
The results of this work are important to understand how to scale the technology for potential commercial deployment.
Additional work will be required to advance larger-scale production. Both companies are continuing with fundamental research on algae biology in their laboratories as the field study advances.
ExxonMobil anticipates that 10,000 barrels of algae biofuel per day could be produced by 2025, based on current research and emerging technical capability.
“Our work with Synthetic Genomics on algae biofuels continues to be an important part of our broader research into lower-emission technologies to help reduce the risk of climate change,” said Vijay Swarup, vice president for research and development at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co. “The new outdoor phase is a critical next step in determining a path toward large-scale, commercial production.”
In 2017, ExxonMobil and Synthetic Genomics announced breakthrough research published in Nature Biotechnology.
This particular effort resulted in a modified algae strain that more than doubled oil content without significantly inhibiting growth, a key challenge along the path to commercial scalability.
The algae strains that will be grown outdoors as part of the new phase will be naturally occurring strains, not the modified strain associated with the companies’ 2017 breakthrough.
This outdoor research follows the companies’ years of fundamental biological research into understanding and improving algae oil production.
ExxonMobil estimates global demand for transportation-related energy will increase by about 25 percent through 2040.
Accelerating the reduction in emissions from the transportation sector will play a critical role in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.
“It’s going to be a big shot in the arm to Imperial County, and I’m very happy and thrilled,” said Supervisor Michael Kelley, who along with Supervisor Ryan Kelley toured the Synthetic Genomics facility last year.
“They have done an outstanding job,” he said. “I’m impressed by their presentation and what the future holds for us in respect to biofuel in the future.”