Research Leaders Examine "Slime's" Future as Fuel
National Biodiesel Board program helps develop algae oil as future of Biomass Fuel Potential

ST. LOUIS, MO. – More than 100 research and industry leaders gathered for "Algae-to-Energy in the South," a regional summit examining algae's potential as a renewable energy resource. Algae oil is among the many raw materials that can be used to make biodiesel.

Dr. Richard Sayre, the Director of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, said that biodiesel is a sustainable component of our fuel supply.

"Biodiesel is going to be very important for transportation," he said. "Trains and trucks use biodiesel of course. Oil based systems and biodiesel is really going to be the future."

The National Biodiesel Board has been proactive to support research and development to learn more about algae's potential as well as honing algae extraction techniques. NBB's feedstock program, with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, is working with Dr. Sayre to further develop a non-destructive oil extraction process, sometimes referred to as "milking the algae," that is capable of continuously removing oil from living algal cultures. The program is considering what strains perform best and how the process may benefit production efficiency by removal of contaminants.

Dr. Sayre explained that oil based fuels, such as biodiesel, have many benefits. They boast twice the energy density of alcohol; oil producing plants have reduced impact on the environment; and algae based biodiesel can be produced on land not suitable for other uses and result in higher oil per acre than currently available.

Academic and industry experts from ten states reported on the wide range of algae based research underway around the country. Projects range from improving algae's ability to capture solar energy, to identifying best practices for removing oil from algae. Research touches on every aspect of algae and recognizes the vast opportunities for growth, improvement and eventually commercialization.

Ted Abernathy with the Southern Growth Policies Board captured the as yet unknown potential for algae in his welcome address.

"When this started, it seemed interesting," he said. "Now it seems really interesting."

The Center for Evergreen Energy, the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association and the Southern Growth Polices Board hosted the event.

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