About the Company
Founded in 2005, Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation (ABC) Limited is committed to developing a means to produce a new biofuel from algae, and passionate about providing solutions to challenges of diminishing energy supplies. The company strives to become a dominant player in renewable energy and associated technologies.
At ABC, we are innovation-led and place a great deal of emphasis on Research and Development. We will achieve growth and meet global market needs through sound scientific research and the application of what we have learnt to commercially viable processes. Our research is driven by some of New Zealand's most creative technologists supported by innovative thinkers in the international renewable energy industry.
Our biofuel technology is designed to meet the most rigorous criteria for the use of renewable resources and energy. Using technical expertise from a number of fields, we have successfully developed the process of converting algae to biofuel in real world conditions. We hold proof-of-concept and intellectual property rights.
The process was conceived by the combined skills of Aquaflow's team of aquaculture and technology experts. Founding directors Nick Gerritsen, Barrie Leay and Vicki Buck have brought to it their own expertise in start-up business and particularly in renewable energies. Making use of algae-rich settling ponds in Blenheim, New Zealand, where their research began, they analysed the viability of the algae biofuel in real world conditions. Dr Chris Bumby and Dr Ian Miller are key technical advisor's.
The first successful conversion of dried algae to biofuel took place in May 2006, and initial proof-of-concept was obtained.
During 2007 our prototype refinery was constructed and commisssioned and our algae harvesting process was scaled up.
Our Approach:
ABC aims to address the world-wide problems of increasing volatility of crude oil supplies and pricing, increasing demand and stresses upon clean water supplies, and instability and volatitlity in global markets driven by climate change, increased pollutiion of waterways, non-sustainability of fossil fuels and questionable sustainability of first generation biofuels (food vs fuel debate) by:
- Developing a scalable production system to harvest wild microalgae - not from monocultures of individual algae species;
- Leveraging existing nutirent-loaded wastewater sources with established infrastructure (open oxidation ponds);
- Closing the loop between waste and sustainable biocrude.
ABC actively pursues protection of its intellectual property rights on new biofuel solutions. ABC is building a significant portfolio of intellectual property that will allow it to undertake various commercial activities around the world based on biofuel and natural algae resource, ABC is developmentally ahead of potential overseas competition.
Directors
Nick Gerritsen
Vicki Buck
Barrie Leay
David Milroy
Technical Development
Paul Dorrington, Chief Technical Officer
Dr Ian Miller Organic Chemist, Fuel Expert
Dr Chris Bumby, Physicist and Technical Adviser
