Sapphire Energy Completes Phase I of Algae-to-Energy Farm in New Mexico

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Sapphire Energy Incorporated (San Diego, California) has completed Phase I of a commercial-scale algae-to-energy farm in Columbus, New Mexico.

The first batch of algae from the proposed 300 acres of cultivation ponds was harvested in June 2012, and a total of 81 tons of biomass material has been harvested from the farm. The ponds will range in size from 1.1 to 2.2 acres, and each will be one-eighth of a mile long. They will be some of the largest inoculation ponds to be built.

After the additional algae oil conversion equipment and additional ponds are installed, the company's goal is to produce 1.5 million gallons of biofuels per year by 2014. Well drilling and excavation work started in June 2011, and AMEC Paragon (El Paso, Texas) was the primary contractor on the project that involved more than 16 subcontracting firms to complete the work.

Construction costs to get the first phase of the demonstration facility into operation were in the $135 million range. The next phase of work will ramp up over the winter, and work will continue throughout the 2013 calendar year. By the end of 2014, the facility is projected to produce 100 barrels of renewable crude oil per day.

To compare, the average Permian Basin oil well pumps out about nine barrels of crude oil per day. Using only sunlight and carbon dioxide, the algae-to-energy facility will be able to outpace a typical West Texas oil well tenfold, and the well will never run dry.

The facility is located in southwest New Mexico in Luna County, just three miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

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