ATLANTA, Aug. 31, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Siemens Industry, Inc. today announced that it has joined A2BE Carbon Capture LLC's "Algae@Work Alliance Network," which was formed to develop and deliver turnkey algae production systems.
The Algae@Work Alliance Network is made up of corporations, researchers and institutions. The Alliance Network collaborates to develop and commercialize a bio-secure, scalable, climate adaptive and cost effective system to recycle industrial CO2 emissions.
At the core of the technology is A2BE Carbon Capture's photo-bioreactor (PBR) system for the production of algal biomass. The PBR is designed to capture and recycle CO2 emissions without releasing the gas into the atmosphere. Algae inside the PBR absorb the CO2 and convert it into biomass during photosynthesis. This biomass is then used in the production of fuel, food, fertilizer and other useful products around the world. At commercial scale, each PBR machine will be 350' long and 50' wide, consisting of twin 20' wide x 10" deep x 300' long, transparent growing tubes.
"Siemens has the well established biofuels automation and control technologies that will be used in the PBR machine," says Jeff Mettais, A2BE Carbon Capture's vice president of Strategic Business Development. "We expect to move through several pilot scale-ups, to full scale carbon capture and recycle (CC&R) projects within 48 months."
The company, together with other Alliance Network partners, recently received $175,000 in funding from the State of Pennsylvania to evaluate the viability of establishing the nation's first integrated Coal-Biomass-to-Liquids (CBTL) pilot there using A2BE Carbon Capture's PBRs.
"A2BE Carbon Capture is a leader in commercializing algae production technologies that will positively impact a range of established industries," says Rich Chmielewski, Siemens chemical and biofuels marketing manager. "By partnering with A2BE and the Algae@Work Alliance Network, Siemens is reinforcing its commitment to developing sustainable production solutions that reduce environmental impact."
Siemens automation technologies, including PCS 7 DCS solutions, are currently used by more than 125 U.S. biofuel installations capable of producing more than 7 billion gallons of biofuels annually.
About A2BE Carbon Capture:
A2BE Carbon Capture LLC is developing technologies that have meaningful prospects for rebalancing the carbon content of the atmosphere. The Company is a leader in closed photobioreactor (PBR) algae cultivation and harvesting technologies that monetize CO2 emissions into food, fuel, and profits. The Company's PBRs can be scaled into large algae farms that recycle industrial CO2 emissions into algal biomass, for further processing into valuable advanced compounds and commodities including biofuel, animal feed protein and fertilizer. For more information, visit www.algaeatwork.com or contact Jeff Mettais jeffmettais@algaeatwork.com
About Siemens:
A division of Siemens Industry, Inc. (SII), the Industry Automation (IA) Division is a global leader in the fields of automation systems, low-voltage switchgear and industrial software. IA's portfolio ranges from standard products for the manufacturing and process industries to enterprise-wide automation solutions for automobile production facilities and chemical plants. As a leading software supplier, IA optimizes the entire value chain of manufacturers – from product design and development to production, sales, as well as a wide range of maintenance services. With nearly 43,000 employees worldwide, Industry Automation posted worldwide revenues of $9.6 billion in fiscal year 2009. www.usa.siemens.com/automation
Siemens Industry, Inc. (SII) is the U.S. affiliate of Siemens' global Industry Sector business -- the world's leading supplier of production, transportation and building technology solutions. The company's integrated hardware and software technologies enable comprehensive industry-specific solutions for industrial and infrastructure providers to increase their productivity, sustainability and profitability. The Industry Sector includes six divisions: Building Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility, Drive Technologies and OSRAM SYLVANIA. With nearly 222,000 Siemens Industry Sector employees worldwide, the Industry Sector posted a worldwide profit of $2.7 billion on revenues of $47.7 billion in fiscal 2009. www.usa.siemens.com/Industry