Second generation biofuels research boosted by investment

Advanced biofuels development in the US has been awarded millions of dollars in investment by its Department of Energy (DoE).

A total of $16.5 million (£12.4 million) is to be split between projects located in Hawaii, California and New Mexico, all centred around the development of sustainable and affordable algae-based biofuels, plus $6 million is going to biomass feedstock supply chain research in Ohio.

Hawaii Bioenergy, Sapphire Energy and New Mexico State University will each get $5 million to continue their work in the field, while California Polytechnic State University will get the remaining $1.5 million to continue researching algae strains and processing technologies.

FDC Enterprises in Ohio will look to develop new field equipment, conveyor designs and improve preprocessing technologies, among other feedstock analysis and sampling.

‘By partnering with industry and universities, we can help make clean, renewable biofuels cost-competitive with petrol, give drivers more options at the pump and cut harmful carbon pollution,’ said energy secretary Ernest Moniz.