Biotech Updates

Energy Department Invests to Develop Algae Biofuels

August 7, 2013
News release: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/bioenergy/news_detail.html?news_id=19482

In the USA, the Department of Energy has announced $16.5 million in grants to four projects in California, Hawaii and New Mexico aimed at breaking down technical barriers and accelerating the development of sustainable, affordable algae biofuels.

The grants were awarded to the following: Hawaii Bioenergy ($5 million), Sapphire Energy ($5 million), New Mexico State University ($5 million) and California Polytechnic State University ($1.5 million).

The projects include developing a cost-effective photosynthetic open pond system to produce algal oil, developing a new process to produce algae-based fuel that is compatible with existing refineries, and increasing the yield and productivity of microalgae.

In addition, the DOE has announced $6 million to support a project aimed at reducing harvesting, handling and pre-processing costs across the entire biomass feedstock supply chain.