Yes – Chlorella really can become diesel fuel!!
Not in the sense of “pour raw Chlorella into an engine.” Instead, its lipid content (oil) can be extracted and converted into biodiesel through standard industrial processes.
BVG’s Closed Loop Operational Platform has been engineered for daily fuel production and microgrid power.
Want to know the science?
How does Algae become electricity?
Chlorella contains at least 20% lipids, and many of these lipids are the same types of fatty acids used to make biodiesel.
These lipids can be converted into biodiesel through transesterification, the same process used for soybean oil or waste cooking oil.
Yes, it’s all processed the same way, however, there are significant advantages of Chlorella-based biodiesel.
– High photosynthetic efficiency → more biomass per acre than soy or canola
– Does not compete with food crops
– Can grow on non-arable land
– Captures CO₂ during growth
– Can use wastewater or industrial effluent as nutrient sources
– Fast growth rate → multiple harvests per week
The final product is FAME biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters), which is compatible with diesel engines.
Grid-Ready Power – Word travels fast!!
BVG has been contacted by the regional power company for potential use of BVG microgrids to provide energy in underserved areas and to boost the power grid. Watch our blogs for future information.