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2009-05-27 Algae Biotecnologia expecting USD 2.5m in grants

:: Algae Biotecnologia expecting USD 2.5m in grants (27 May 2009)

Algae Biotecnologia expecting USD 2.5m in grants (27 May 2009)

Algae Biotechnology, the latest spin-off of Brazilian company Ecogeo, plans to secure BRL 5m (USD 2.5m) in government grants sometime in H2 2009 and put the funds toward building a closed algae bioreactor for retrofit onto sugar cane ethanol plants.

Some BRL 3m (USD 1.5m) of the funds would be sourced from the country's development bank BNDES's technology grant scheme Funtec. Another BRL 2m (USD 1m) of grants would be provided by Finep, a financing institution operating under the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). Algae Biotechnology will invest BRL 0.7m (USD 0.4m) of its own capital. The funds would be used to establish a pilot plant somewhere in Sao Paulo that will be used as a base to select high-yielding algae strains. The plant would also seek to optimise production processes and research whether it would be more profitable to turn the algae mulch into biogas or biodiesel. "Our first priority is to research anaerobic digestion and the production of biogas to generate electricity. Alternatively, the algae could be crushed and its oils used to manufacture biofuels. Which we opt for will be a simple question of economics," Ernesto Moeri, director for Ecogeo, told New Energy Finance. "The fuel source will be CO2 released during the fermentation phase of ethanol production," he added. Algae Biotechnology is developing the technology in conjunction with the University of Sao Carlos and will have the pilot project commissioned by the end of the year. It expects to be able to retrofit the bioreactor onto existing ethanol plants after two years. Other Ecogeo subsidiaries include Biolatina (a designer of modular biodiesel units) and Ecogenesys (a biogas project developer).

Source: Interview with New Energy Finance

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New Energy Finance - News - All: Algae Biotecnologia expecting USD...

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:: Related organisations Organisation Name Country Abstract Subactivities Parents / Operational investors Daughter companies Record Checked

The Brazilian Innovation Agency (FINEP)

Brazil

Publicly owned company subordinated to the Ministry of Science and Technology. http://www.finep.gov.br

Public Sector - Grantgiving NGO

National Counsel of Brazil Technological and Scientific Development(CNPQ)

National Counsel is responsable for technological, scientific and human resource development.

Research & development services - Research institute / national lab

Ecogeo - Meio Ambiente e Energias Renovveis

Brazil

Group of consulting and engineering companies in the environmental and energy sector. www.ecogeo.com.br

Fuel technology - Manuf equip sup - biomass and waste

Biolatina Mquinas e Equipamentos Industriais (100%) Geoklock (100%)

Ancillary products & services - Contract maintenance

Financial & legal services - Carbon PDD consultant Ecogenesys Brazil Brazil-based designer of projects focusing on biogas generation from anaerobic digestion of organic waste. http://www.ecogenesys.com.br/ Brazilian National Bank of Economic and Social Development (BNDES) Brazil Provides long term financing of endeavors that contribute towards the development of Brazil. http://www.bndes.gov.br Financial & legal services - Investor - debt Financial & legal services - Banking - project finance arranger AES Tiet (53.84%) Grupo Light Santelisa Vale (formerly Santa Elisa Energetic Company) (7%) Developers & utilities Project developer

Public Sector - Grantgiving government body Biolatina Mquinas e Equipamentos Industriais Brazil Sao Paulo-based manufacturer of biodiesel production equipment and developer of biodiesel industrial plants and monitoring. http://www.biodieselatina.com.br/ Fuel technology Biodiesel production equipment Ecogeo - Meio Ambiente e Energias Renovveis
(100%)

Algae Biotecnologia Brazil

Brazil-based 2nd generation ethanol producer.

Feedstock - Algae Feedstock Technology

:: Related people Name Organisation Other/former organisations with which this person is associated Job function State Country

Moeri, Mr. Ernesto

President Ecogeo - Meio Ambiente e Energias Renovveis

General Management

Sao Paulo

Brazil

:: Related grants Grant name BNDES, FINEP and CNPQ Algae Bioreator Grant Abstract Algae Biotecnologia is planning to secure BRL 5m (USD 2.5m) in grant funding for the development of a closed algae bioreactor for retrofit onto sugar cane ethanol plants. Donors Recipient(s) Total Value ($) Date Record Checked

Brazilian National Bank of Economic and Social Development (BNDES)

Algae Biotecnologia

5 m 27 May 2009

National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development(CNPQ)

The Brazilian Innovation Agency (FINEP)

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New Energy Finance - News - All: Algae Biotecnologia expecting USD...

http://www.newenergymatters.com/index.php?p=list&t=newsitems&id...

:: Related grant programmes Grant programme name Abstract Amount available ($) Date of launch Continents

BNDES Technology Fund (FUNTEC)

BNDES has launched a BRL 153m (USD 70.4) grant programme to provide financial support to projects aiming to foster technological development and strategic innovations in Brazil.

70.4 m 04 Jul 2006

Central & South America Brazil

:: Primary category Category name Grants Definition

:: Primary sector Sector Biofuels Definition Liquid transportation fuels including biodiesel and bioethanol. These can be derived from a range of biomass sources, including sugar cane, rape seed, soybean oil or cellulose. Our database excludes producers of base biomass, but includes suppliers of everything from the processing technologies and equipment, through the logistics of distribution, to manufacturers of energy systems which are specially adapted for the use of biofuels and products, and the services on which they depend.

:: Primary country Country Code BRA Brazil Country Central & South America Continent Top Country? Yes

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