contrarian, the uses of algae are growing on a day to day basis. As a result, their will be people who wish to enter various algae ventures but need low cost equipment to insure profit margins.
For example, the PBRs can be used for sewage treatment. Running overflow sewage through them will result in clean water. The algae can be processed for oil for fuel and pressed into a form of biochar. The biochar results in a permanent sequestering of the CO2 if you burn it in the same facility the PBR is hooked up to to catch the CO2. RWE's looking at sequestering CO2 and using the biochar for a permanent loop and to dump 'green' electricity back into the grid. Tax incentives for CO2 sequestering equipment would be one reason for a manufacturer to look at this equipment. In addition, as the technology for extraction and fuel processing keeps advancing, these manufacturers have the ability to sell the algae to processors or fuel their own fleet of vehicles.
Here in Milwaukee, there is a serious problem of sewage overflow every spring, every heavy summer and fall rain. Combine issues like that with the new trend of cities and towns designating themselves 'Green Communities', and this is another possible customer base.
Cereplast is expanding into bioresins derived from algae. This new field will increase the demand for algae. And should draw competitors who would like a low cost piece of equipment for their new venture.
IMO, all it takes is for DF to get this up and running and get some independent results verified and published. As more and more people become interested and the commercial equipment is field proven, there will be a steady customer base who will need BEHL's services for repairs, monitoring, possible brokering of sales, etc.
