Lexington, KY - Sci-Fi movies of the past may have been right in predicting an abundance of liquid filled tubes in the future. But instead of doing whatever it was those tubes were supposed to do, if a University of Kentucky technology proves successful our future will see giant tubes full of algae gobbling up the harmful byproducts of coal-fired energy generation.
With a $1.3 million investment from the state's Energy and Environment Cabinet, UK's Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) will begin installing the first phase of a series of algae containers to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) at the East Kentucky Power Cooperative's (EKPC) Duke Power Station.
Researchers from the CAER and the UK Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering will use the algae to convert CO2 emissions into biomass. Once the formerly harmful byproduct is converted to biomass its potential uses include biodiesel, animal feed, fertilizer and chemicals.
"Kentucky is a coal state and we're an agriculture state and we're here today to celebrate the research and development that's been done in my opinion to enhance both of those signature industries. (With) the abundance of coal, to be able to continue to use that, to be able to continue to burn coal for energy, Kentucky has to be on the cutting edge, we must be on the cutting edge to be able to answer the challenge of whatever regulations and whatever mandates may come to be able to continue to use (our) resource," State Rep. and House Floor Leader Rocky Adkins (D-Sandy Hook) said at a Friday afternoon press conference announcing the project.
EKPC is providing an estimated $75,000 of in-kind costs to the project that will be in a testing phase through the end of the year and will see Phase II, a significant expansion of the setup, occur in late spring or summer of 2012.
The demonstration will consist of a closed culture system with what is known as vertical photobioreactor tubes that are 8-feet tall by 5 inches in diameter. Once the system is installed, the entire bank of tubes will equal the length of a football field. Algae and water flow continuously through the tubes, with no water loss. The algae are continuously harvested by sedimentation. The algae settle in a tank and are then removed as a thick paste to be turned into biomass.
UK President Eli Capilouto said projects such as this, where public and private entities come together to work on major challenges, is the emerging mission of universities. "To be able to be that kind of partner where the state, a power company can invest and come together to solve a problem that touches all of us is what is going to keep universities relevant," he said.
While the demonstration occured only at one of EKPC's facilities, the cooperative's CEO Tony Campbell said its success would fit into the mission of the group that generates power for 16 member/owner electric cooperatives serving 520,000
homes and businesses in 87 counties in Central and Eastern Kentucky.
"Those Kentuckians expect us to provide affordable, reliable electricity... and we depend on coal generation for its ability to supply dependable and affordable energy. Looking to the future the challenge we face in the utility industry is ensuring we can continue to provide affordable, reliable electricity while minimizing the impacts on our environment. This project represents a strategic step in the next phase of meeting that challenge," Campbell said.