• Legal Stuff 4• Dedication: 5• Acknowledgements 5• Introduction 10• Forward 12

Book One

• What are some of the things we can do with algae? 14• Open Pond Overview 22• Where to grow algae: 22• Preferred Geographic Regions for Algae Production 24• Seasonal Considerations 24• Severe Weather Events and Elements 25• Water Requirements for Algae Production 25• Land 26• What you are going to need for your Algal Pond. 28• How big should my pond be? 28• Open Pond Design Overview: 30• Summary of Environmental Issues Related to Algae Cultivation 34• Designing an effective open pond design 36• Theoretical Maximum Algal Oil Production 37• Site considerations: 38• Soil conditions 39• Small pond systems 41• Building Backyard Micro Farms 47• Before You Begin 49

Book Two: Building Backyard Micro Farms

• Overview 50• Design Notes 51• Building a Bio Pond 51• When to Use a Bio Pond 52• Biopond Parts List 53• The Bio Pond in Action 76• Scaling Up From The Test/Biopond 83• Overview 83• Livestock water troughs 84• Building Above Ground Backyard And/Or Pilot Scale Ponds 85• Materials: 86• Fabrication: 86• Building a Backyard “Raceway” Open Pond 93• Calculating the amount of algae per square foot of open pond. 118

Book Three Commercial Open Ponds

• Open Systems 120• Algae 121• Light 122• Water 123• Nutrients and CO2 123• pH Values 124• Aeration and Mixing Of Algae 125• Temperature of the Pond 125• Salinity 126• Risks and opportunities 127• Land use: 127• CO2: risks 128• Nutrients: risks and opportunities 129• Water consumption: risks and opportunities 130• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs): opportunities and risks 131• Knowledge gaps 132• The Open Pond Design Concept: 133• Scale-Up Challenges and Issues to Consider 137• Stability and/or Contamination of Large-Scale Cultures 137• System Productivity 139• Nutrient Sources, Sustainability, and Management 140• Water Management, Conservation, and Recycling 141• Selecting Algal Model Systems or Study 143• Useful Algal Characteristics 144• What you are going to need to know and/or decide for your Algal Pond. 145• Helpful knowledge in the physiology and biochemistry of algae 145• The basic flow, size and mechanics of your algal pond 146• Water Chemistry 148• Carbonization of your pond 148• Nutrient Recycle 150• Nutrient Loss 151• The Chemical composition and finding the water resources for your algal pond• Resources and Siting 153• Resource Requirements for Different Cultivation Approaches 153• Heterotrophic Microalgae Approach 155• Pond Liners 157• Pond Linings and Ratings 157• The Paddle Wheel System 162• Things you will need to consider for your paddle wheel: 163• Distal End Details: 164• Contamination 165• Bacteria. 167• Insects• Large Scale Harvesting of Algae 168• Micro Straining 168• Belt Filtration 169• Settling 170• Microalgae Flocculation 172• Centrifugation 172• Electroflotation 174• Algae Drying Systems 176• Flash drying 177• Rotary Dryers 177• Incinerators 178• Toroidal Dryer 178• Spray Drying 178• Solar Drying 179• Algae Yield in Open Ponds 180• The Problem with extrapolating algae yields: 180• Real world yields 181• Power Considerations 183• Algae Power 183• Biogas Production by Anaerobic Digestion 185• Anaerobic Digestion of Whole Algae 185• Human Energy 185• Bicycle Energy 186• How it Works 186• Running DC Devices 187• Running AC Devices 187• Solar Energy 187• How Small Solar Electric Systems Work 187• Sizing Your Small Solar Electric System 188• Wind Energy 189• Sizing Small Wind Turbines 189• What Size Wind Turbine Do I Need? 190• Small “Hybrid” Solar and Wind Electric Systems 191• Generators 192• Selecting Your Fuel 193• Algae Production Costs, Uncertainties and Challenges 194• Challenges: 194• R&D Challenges 195• Feedstock challenges include 195• Algal Biology 195• Realistic Costs 197• Example Lay-out of a Large Scale Biodiesel Farm 205• Conclusion 214• Developing an Algae Economy 215• References 222• Bonus Material 223

$149