Proposed Bioenergy Center Unique

Sep 25 - Topeka Capital Journal

Creating mounds of algae that thrives by eating carbon dioxide waste from coal-fired electric plants sounds like something out of a science fiction novel.

Mix in a couple of alternative fuel production facilities with a herd of dairy cows and the mystery deepens.

But it is all real science and comprises the heart of a bioenergy facility proposed by one of Kansas' leading producers of the greenhouse gas linked by many researchers to global warming.

"We realized we could integrate what would otherwise be stand- alone systems into a mall concept," said Earl Watkins, president and chief executive officer of Sunflower Electric Power Corp.

Sunflower Electric, of Hays, and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, of Westminster, Colo., are the major players in the proposed $3.5 billion expansion of Holcomb's coal- fired power plant. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is studying a permit application needed to add power units.

To soften objections to the expansion's footprint on the environment, developers offered to launch the Sunflower Integrated Bioenergy Center in the shadow of Holcomb's smokestack.

In addition to an algae reactor to consume carbon dioxide, the venture would include ethanol and biodiesel plants, a meat- processing operation and a dairy farm. The facilities would be integrated to make use of waste streams and byproducts.

Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., said the complex would be unique to Kansas and possibly the world.

"This is an example of how innovative Kansans are, not only expanding local economies, but also answering the national call for more renewable energy," he said.

The blueprint for the bioenergy center imagines waste from livestock facilities being processed through an anaerobic digester to extract methane. This gas could fuel the ethanol plant.

Carbon dioxide would be diverted from the coal plant to the algae reactor. The action of photosynthesis would convert carbon dioxide into an oil used to manufacture biodiesel. Livestock processing waste also could be an input for biodiesel.

Starch from the algae operation would be consumed in the making of ethanol, which involves a distillery process that generates feed for cattle.

Trevor McKeeman, business development manager for the National Institute for Strategic Technology Acquisition and Commercialization at Kansas State University, said integration would elevate economic efficiency beyond the level of facilities operated independently.

"Reuse of water, utilization of waste streams and removal of the carbon dioxide from power plant flue gas will benefit all the partners involved in this project," McKeeman said.

No timeline has been established for construction of the bioenergy complex.

Research into the potential of consuming a portion of Holcomb's carbon dioxide emissions has been conducted by GreenFuel Technologies, of Cambridge, Mass.

GreenFuel field scientist Jason Standring said work at Holcomb with small-capacity equipment was promising. Large plastic bags containing water drawn from an ethanol facility was mixed with carbon dioxide from the existing Holcomb plant to grow algae.

"This is the experimental phase, but we're excited," he said.

Tim Carpenter can be reached

at (785) 295-1158 or

timothy.carpenter@cjonline.com.