University of Dayton Researchers Develop Efficient New for Growing Algae

Algae has emerged as a major player in the field of cleaner and renewable energy resources. However, it is vulnerable to fluctuations in weather and temperature, limiting their production.

Researchers at the University of Dayton Research Institute have now addressed that limitation by designing an outdoor, fully automated, closed system designed to operate 24/7 that produces huge amounts of algae, regardless of the weather.

Algae feed on carbon dioxide and convert it to oil. The team then captured carbon dioxide from stacks of coal boilers and other combustion processes and ran it through algae growing systems. Algae oil can then be extracted and be used as renewable resources for biofuel.

Aside from being more cost-efficient, UDRI's growing process is "greener" than other systems, using livestock manure instead of chemical fertilizer as a nutrient source for the algae. The next step for this process will be commercialization.