DOE Awards $24 Million for Algal Biofuels Research
http://www.energy.gov/news/9167.htmDOE announced on June 28 its selection of three research consortiums to receive up to $24 million to tackle commercialization of algae-based biofuels. The selections will support the development of a clean, sustainable transportation sector and creation of jobs in the domestic bio-industry while helping cut greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. The three consortia include partners from academia, national laboratories, and private industries located across the country. Projects are expected to continue for three years.
There are three consortia selected for funding. The Sustainable Algal Biofuels Consortium, led by Arizona State University, will focus on testing the acceptability of algal biofuels as replacements for petroleum-based fuels. DOE funding of up to $6 million will be dedicated to investigating biochemical conversion of algae to fuels and products as well as to analyzing physical chemistry properties of algal fuels and fuel intermediates. Also, the Consortium for Algal Biofuels Commercialization, led by the University of California, San Diego, will concentrate on developing algae as a robust biofuels feedstock. Up to $9 million in DOE funding will aid the search for new approaches to algal crop protection, algal nutrient utilization, and genetic tools. And the Cellana, LLC Consortium, led by Cellana, LLC, of Hawaii, will examine large-scale production of fuels and feed from microalgae grown in seawater. DOE will invest up to $9 million in tasks integrating new algal harvesting technologies with pilot-scale cultivation test beds, and in developing marine microalgae as animal feed for the aquaculture industry.....
As these allied groups tackle hurdles to algal biofuels use, they will follow the path outlined by the National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap which DOE released on June 28. Can be viewed here:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pdfs/algal_biofuels_roadmap.pdf............
If we can end the War in Afghanistan sooner we could spend a hell of a lot more!