BioProcess Algae LLC continues to draw widespread notice for its commercial-scale algae bioreactors project. The company, which is a joint venture among Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc., BioProcessH20 LLC (a division of Tennessee-based water filtration company Clarcor Inc.), and international renewable energy investment group NTR plc, will soon begin verifying a California-based biotech company&rsquo;s lipid production process for algae in addition to its own algae production project.
VG Energy, a subsidiary of Viral Genetics Inc., has developed a process to increase the lipid production in algae cells and improve their rate of recyclability. The process has been tested at a lab scale and will now be tested using BioProcess Algae&rsquo;s equipment at a large scale with the intent of proving the process before it is commercialized. &ldquo;VG Energy&rsquo;s technology has shown promise as a viable and cost-effective additive for alternative energy sources,&rdquo; Haig Keledjian, CEO of VG Energy and Viral Genetics, said. &ldquo;We are thrilled to be working with BioProcess Algae to take the next steps and move from the laboratory to a viable production setting.&rdquo;
BioProcess Algae was established in 2008 to commercialize algae production systems for next-generation biofuels and animal feeds. The algae reactors are located at GPRE&rsquo;s 65 MMgy ethanol plant at Shenandoah, Iowa, and began operating at commercial-scale in early February, converting waste heat, waste water and CO2 from the ethanol plant to algae. VG Energy&rsquo;s project won&rsquo;t use ethanol plant waste to produce algae, but the process could ultimately benefit the ethanol industry, according to Keledjian. &ldquo;Our product is basically a fertilizer that increases the oil content of anything you plant,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Therefore, you could produce algae with more oil inside the algae itself. We feel it&rsquo;ll have the same applications in corn as well.&rdquo;
VG Energy expects to begin its validation project at the BioProcess Algae site in mid-April. BioProcess Algae continues its own verification process as well and is focused on demonstrating the technology&rsquo;s viability at a commercial scale. Following the validation of its technology, BioProcess Algae plans to license its technology to existing ethanol producers and plans to break ground on its own commercial algae farm near an existing ethanol facility next year.

BioProcess Algae LLCâ€™s 4,000 square foot facility near Shenandoah, Iowa, houses commercial-scale bioreactors used to produce algae at GPREâ€™s 65 MMgy ethanol plant. 

2011/03/1301496836615_thumb.jpg

2011/03/1301496836615.jpg

BioProcess Algae, a joint venture including ethanol producer GPRE, will soon begin verifying a California-based biotech company's lipid production process for algae in addition to its own algae production project.

BioProcess Algae to test other algae technology at GPRE

Upcoming Events

North American SAF Conference & Expo

2026 International Biomass Conference & Expo

BioProcess Algae to test other algae technology at GPRE.css-7jxktu{position:absolute;bottom:0px;left:0px;right:0px;height:3px;border-radius:3px;background-color:var(--chakra-colors-brandBlack);}

Upcoming Events

North American SAF Conference & Expo

2026 International Biomass Conference & Expo

BioProcess Algae to test other algae technology at GPRE