Transcript Presentation - California Higher Education Sustainability Conference

Might as well go surfing:
Biomass Utilization in a
world with oil at
$30/barrel
Dr. Robert Pomeroy
Marissa Tessman, Dr. Steven Mayfield and
Dr. Michael Burkart
UC San Diego
June 28, 2016
Fullerton, CA
Photo Credit : Desktop Fun: Ocean Waves Wallpaper Collection Series
Communicating Sustainability and Climate Change
through Transdisciplinary Research
Crop Protection Utilizing Integrated Pest
Management through Early Detection and
Identification of Pathogens and Predators
Project Team: R. Pomeroy, R. Simkovsky, S. Golden, K.
Prather, M. Burkart, T. Bertram, P. Dorrestein
University of California, San Diego
Portable Particle Counter
California Center for Algae Biotechnology.
Photo: Eric Jepson, UC San Diego Publications
adidas
Blue Tooth / Cell Phone pH Meter
Communicating Sustainability and Climate Change
through Transdisciplinary Research
Crop Protection Utilizing Integrated Pest
Management through Early Detection and
Identification of Pathogens and Predators
Project Team: R. Pomeroy, R. Simkovsky, S. Golden, K.
Prather, M. Burkart, T. Bertram, P. Dorrestein
University of California, San Diego
Portable Particle Counter
California Center for Algae Biotechnology.
Photo: Eric Jepson, UC San Diego Publications
adidas
Blue Tooth / Cell Phone pH Meter
Petroleum (Liquid Fuel) Picture
We currently import over 45%
of our petroleum needs 70% by 2025.
Once roughly half the oil has
been extracted, it becomes
harder – and more expensive
– to get at the remainder.
The key date is not when the
oil runs out, but when
production peaks, meaning
supplies decline. The peak
may come as early as 2025.
Proved Oil Reserves 2014
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves
World population from US Census Bureau, overlaid with fossil fuel use (red) by
Vaclav Smil from Energy Transitions: History, Requirements, Prospects.
FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization (United Nations) EIA – Energy Information Administration
Now What?
Compared to conventional petroleum polyols, the production of natural oil polyols
produce 36% less global warming emissions, use 61% less nonrenewable energy for a
total of 23% less energy demand.
The Outdoors Industry- a $646B behemoth
• In the USA alone, consumers spend $6.5 billion on outdoor
recreation each year
• Creating 6.1 million direct jobs
• Consumer driven markets with good margins
• Chemical Industry has not stepped-up to address their needs
The Outdoor Industry has embraced environmental
stewardship and sustainable manufacturing processes
Algenesis technology
algae Oil-based Polyol
Sustainable Surfboards
TDI
Toluene
Diisocyanate
+
Polyurethane
Toluene
R -TAG
n
Who Are Green Consumers?
However, they also:
•tend to overstate their green behavior, including the number of green
products they actually use;
•want environmental protection to be easy, and not to entail major
sacrifices;
•tend to distrust companies' environmental claims, unless they have been
independently verified;
•lack knowledge about environmental issues, and tend not to trust
themselves to evaluate scientific information about environmental
impacts. However, at the same time they are eager to learn, and this
means that consumer education is one of the most effective strategies that
entrepreneurs can use.
greenpowerguy.com
Thank You for your time
Special Thanks to
Dr. Joseph Watson
Nick Hartell
Marissa Tessman
Griffin Talen
Yi-Che (Jack) Lee
Stephen Lo
Duy (Daniel) Pham
Lindsey Anderson
Breck Archer
Luis Camarda
Financial Support
UC San Diego Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
UCOP Faculty Climate Action Champion Award
Food and Fuel for the 21st Century
Special Thanks to
Marty Gilchrest
Pete Morgan
Jose Lozano
Andrew Jakubowski
Chris Mayfield
Heide Tremble
Wendy Stegman
Kathy Nguyen