THE ALGAE CONTROVERSY

Algal Biomass Organization Questions Accuracy of University of Virginia Algae Life Cycle Study; ABO Believes That Reliance on Obsolete Data and Faulty Assumptions Undermines All Conclusions
January 25, 2010 (Algal Biomass Organization via Business Wire)

"The Algal Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the algae industry, …challenged the conclusions of Environmental Life Cycle Comparison of Algae to Other Bioenergy Feedstocks claiming that “conventional crops have lower environmental impacts than algae in energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and water.” [ABO said the] report was based upon obsolete data and grossly outdated business models, and overlooked tremendous improvements in technology and processes across the production cycle…seriously [undermining] the credibility of the study’s conclusions…Among the many concerns of ABO…

"[1] Assumptions about algae growth systems…[abandoned] years ago…[for] a variety of more advanced cultivation systems, some of which are unrelated to the methods the authors sought to assess…[2] Assumptions about co-location…assuming the production facility is not co-located with a large CO2 emitter…resulting in a higher attribution of CO2 for algae plants. Most commercial-scale algae projects are being developed alongside major emitters…"

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"[3] Assumptions about water use…A sustainable industrial algae production model uses non-potable, non-agricultural water [and not fresh water] in the process of making liquid fuels…[4] Assumptions about nutrient use…[ignoring] the opportunity to consider the ability of algae producers to recycle nutrients…"

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"[5] Assumptions about energy use…[in] the full algae fuel cycle…[that overlooked] energy reuse through biodigester biogas combustion coupled with the carbon recycling...[and] errantly [gave] a higher emissions burden…[6] Assumptions about purchase of CO2 and fertilizer…[which is] so prohibitively expensive it would never happen in reality…[yet drive] the negative impacts in the study.

"Lastly, the authors make it very clear that their approach is stochastic …a randomly determined sequence of observations…[and] should not be given the same weight as studies and analyses based on facts and other measurable data…In general, the Algal Biomass Organization firmly believes life cycle assessments [LCAs] are critical to the development of the industry, given the need to accurately assess and quantify the environmental impact of algae-derived energy…[but questions the methodology of this one]…"