US-based water and bioenergy company OriginOil Inc. is collaborating with the Idaho National Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy to help improve efficiency in algal biofuel production.
OriginOil and INL have submitted a proposal to secure funding to seek alternative pathways to commercialise algal biofuels. The high cost of producing algal biomass and the low yield of target biofuel and bioproduct feedstocks produced from algae are the biggest hurdles in commercialising algal biofuels, Origin said.
“The proposed work scope complements current department-funded work at INL, which focuses on the development of productive, stable polycultures,” said Deborah T Newby, INL senior staff scientist and algal biofuels lead. “Specifically, this proposed research will facilitate testing to advance the understanding of using algae in developing sustainable fuels.”