This is a follow up from a couple of weeks ago when I had talked about the OriginOil Hydrogen Harvester as a potentially game changing device for producing H2. Many times over the past several years I’ve talked about companies that are developing commercial algae systems and many times these systems get stalled in development.
OriginOil has just announced that its algae Quantum Fracturing System is being shipped to Australian power company MBD Energy. According to CEO Riggs Eckelberry, “This is a major milestone for OriginOil and represents our first revenue event. We are excited to support MBD Energy, a leader in the global race to help coal-fired power plants absorb their massive CO2 emissions using algae.”
While the Quantum Fracturing System is not directly related to hydrogen production, the sale of this system is proof that OriginOil is a serious contender in the commercialization of algal devices that help reduce environmental emissions (the ultimate goal of hydrogen cars as well).
On the OriginOil website there is a video worth watching that shows how the algae absorbs CO2 and then separates into layers of biomass, water and oil. A similar reaction occurs in the Hydrogen Harvester’s MultiReactor creating hydrogen and oxygen in the process.
Getting off Middle East oil and replacing it with hydrogen gas and renewable oil is a worthy endeavor. It is refreshing to see a company move out of the laboratory and into the commercialization phase more quickly than expected.