by Charles BensingerNAA Education Director

Director, Alternative Fuels Program for SFCC

VP, Eldorado Biofuels

Presented to the National Algae Association

April 30, 2009

A Proposed Algae IndustryTraining Program

We Need An Algae Education Program to Accelerate our Domestic Algae Industry

• To diversify our energy supply• To ensure U.S. economic health and security • To address critical environmental concerns• To foster innovative approaches to algae production• To generate public support for new algae industry • To create significant numbers of new “green jobs”

Why?

Critical Educational and Training Components

• Basic math and biochemistry with emphasis on biology of algae• Understanding of key process technologies: i.e. open reactor, closed

bioreactor and hybrid systems

• Understanding of mechanical (pumps and valves) and AC/DC systems

• Lab and systems safety training

• Water and Waste Management

• Analytics training for monitoring and data gathering

• Management and operational knowledge of systems

• In-field, hands-on experience

• Webcasts, virtual tours and DVD instructional media

Employment Opportunities

• Plant Technician• Plant Manager• Laboratory Technician• Sales Manager• Public Relations and Outreach• Process Coordinator• Business Owner

Program Dissemination Concepts – Possible Delivery Systems

• Short courses and workshops: 1 to 2 weeks at various locations, perhaps sponsored by NAA

• Central training facilities with on-going programs, perhaps located at one or more sites. Certificate, Associate or science degree programs could be offered through Community and State Colleges. Use mobile lab.

• Development of National Certification Program

• Development of process workbook/handbook

• Distance Learning Training with webcasts and DVDs

Possible components of an algae education program

Three Concepts:• Create a centralized organizing entity to help develop an

efficient educational delivery system and provide informational and human resources to those in need of such resources.

• Create a decentralized network of partner “nodes” that receive and actively gather information resources and share it with the partners who then redistribute it out to the public and the network.

• A hybrid of the two

Step 1: Research Existing Models

• Research biofuels curriculum in other colleges and visit programs if possible

• Try to ascertain student qualifications, interest levels and individual goals

• Use as much existing curriculum as possible, but new courses will need to be created, i.e. courses focused on the biochemistry of algae and the systems needed to grow and process algae.

Step 2:

Find an appropriate physical site to host a carefully designed

educational program

One example:

Purpose:To train students to develop the knowledge and skills to

work in the algae biofuels industry or create their own biofuels businesses.

How funded: One-year $110,000 NM Dept of Workplace Solutions “green jobs” creation grant.

The Santa Fe Community College Alternative Fuels Program to begin in the Fall of 2009

• CERTIFICATE IN ALTERNATIVE FUELS • Core Requirements (18 hours)• ENVR 112 Introduction to Sustainable Technologies(3)• ALTF 111 Intro to AltFuels and Advanced Vehicle Technologies (3)• BIOL 111 Intro to Biology• BIOL 111L Intro to Biology Lab• ALTF 121 Biofuels I L: Survey of Biofuels and their Manufacture (4)• ALTF 221 Biofuels II L: Biofuels Production; the Biology of Algae (4)

• Related Requirements (8 hours)• CHEM 111 Introduction to Chemistry (3)• CHEM 111L Introduction to Chemistry Lab (1)• MATH 114 Electrical and Mechanical Fundamentals (4)• BSAD 119 Planning the Entrepreneurial Venture (3)

Aerial View of SFCC Campus: 577,000 sq. ft.

New $11 M Sustainable Technology Center to begin construction in 2009,

ready by Fall Semester of 2010

Step 3:

Try to find local algae and biofuel business partners willing to provide students with

hands-on learning opportunities and hopefully near-term job prospects

An example in New Mexico ----

Current partners helping to develop Training Programs

• Santa Fe Community College (New Mexico):Received $110,000 WIRED grant from NM Dept of Workforce Solutions to create Alternative Fuels training program.

• Eldorado Biofuels (New Mexico): Has goal of providing operations training for future industry workers

• Center for Excellence in Hazardous Materials Management (CHEMM), (New Mexico): Has open ponds and lab technicians available to provide tech assistance and short-term workshops.

• Sapphire Energy (New Mexico): has voiced support for training program and will need workers.

• Origin Oil (Los Angeles): Has expressed support for training program.

New Mexico Algae Partners:VM Technology, Santa Fe

Algae Production Field Bioreactor

Algae Production in LabLocal Algae Strains

Eldorado Biofuels LLC of Santa Fe

UVOX Reactor

Eldorado Biofuels’ Missionis to prepare algae industry workers

for employment by providing

technician & operator training.

Eldorado Biofuels is currently

building oil-and gas-field produced

water clean-up and purification

technologies to enable saline strains

of algae to grow in produced water.

Initial trials have demonstrated that

algae will grow rapidly in water

processed by UVOX-type reactor.

The Center for Excellence in Hazardous Materials Management (CEHMM), Carlsbad/Artesia, NM

Original Aquatic Species Algae Incubator from Roswell, NM located at CEHMM algae facility at Artesia, NM

Algae Incubation Tanks and Greenhouse

Algae Raceway

1/8th acre, 25,000 gallon Algae Pond

Centrifuge Algae Paste

CEHMM has constructed ponds filled with mixture of brine and freshwater to optimize environment for selected saline algae species.

High levels of lipids have been extracted from its algae paste.

Dispensers designed and operated by Renewable Energy Partners of New Mexico

REP Created First Triple-Biofuels Pump in US

Renewable Energy Partners – A non-profit retail biofuels provider

Promote the local use of biofuels:The NM RailRunner, Albuquerque to Santa Fe, is

the first US Commuter Train to use Biodiesel B20

Your Help is Needed to Create a Successful

National Training Program

• Create organizational structure• Develop teams of instructors• Identify basic equipment packages• Acquire equipment for training courses• Determine necessary levels of math, biology and

chemistry skills• Identify industry partners willing to provide on-site

experience for future operators, technicians and managers

• Create video documentation material for workshops

Critical Tasks:

Next Steps

• Expand collaborative of educational and industry partners

• Develop curriculum for possible national certification program

• Identify best training practices for students. Develop teacher training programs and course handbook.

• Develop and provide standard algae cultivation and processing equipment package for schools.

• Secure funding for instructional materials and programs

Contact Info:

Charles Bensinger

NAA Director of Education

Director, Alternative Fuels, SFCC Vice President, Eldorado Biofuels LLC

newworld@timewindow.com

505-466-4259 Office 505-670-2474 Cell