The US Department of Energy (DOE) yesterday announced a $24 million investment in three research groups aiming to commercialise algal biofuels.

One group, led by Arizona State University, will focus on biochemical conversion of algae to fuels and their acceptability for replacement petroleum-based fuels.

The University of California, San Diego, will lead a second consortium on the development of algae as a feedstock for biofuel.

The final group, headed by Cellana, will look at the large-scale production of fuels and feed from microalgae grown in seawater.

The announcement comes as the DOE launches the final National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap, which incorporates comments received from industry and associated stakeholders over the last year.

“The US must find effective ways to hasten the development of technologies for advanced biofuels made from algae and other renewable resources,” says Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Cathy Zoi.

For further information:
www.doe.gov
www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/
www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/pdfs/algal_biofuels_roadmap.pdf

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