Algae-based biofuels research to receive support funding in US

The US Energy Efficiency and Renewbale Energy (EERE) department is to support research and development into algae-based biofuels by setting aside a funding pot.

The funding system, which will hold up to $10 million (€7.5 million), will support research projects aimed at boosting the productivity of algae cultivation systems and developing and demonstrating energy-efficient, low-cost algae harvest and processing technologies such as centrifugation and extraction.

In a statement EERE says it ‘encourages applicants from industry, universities, and national laboratories but a cost share of at least 20% of the total project cost is required’.

The main objective of the funding opportunity is to demonstrate, at a process development unit scale of one acre cultivation equivalent, algal biofuel intermediate yield of 2,500 gallons of biofuel feedstock (or equivalent dry weight basis) per acre per year by 2018.

The Biomass Technologies Office believes this target is an important milestone in reducing the cost of algal biofuels to cost-competitive levels on the way to achieving 5,000 gallons per acre by 2022.