Press Release

With an eye toward young talent leading the future of algaebioenergy development, the National Algae Association, in cooperation with Algae Industry Magazine, announces the launch of the Algae Innovation Awards, a scholarship competition for innovative university microbiology and engineering students as well as for high school science students.

Scholarships will be awarded for most innovative, cost effective and self-sustainable algae production facilities.  All participants must use materials, equipment and supplies produced in the US and off-the-shelf technologies and products to build a demo model.

We hope to award scholarships to teams of students who demonstrate novel approaches to minimizing cost and optimizing efficiency in three areas of algae production: cultivation, harvesting and extraction.
Examples:

Develop a low capital cost method to remove the bulk water from the algae biomass (Harvesting). Target 99% recovery of the bulk water for recycle with a process that uses less than 10% of the potential energy of the recoverable biofuel and biomass.

Develop a low capital cost extraction process that recovers the lipids from the biomass with a target of recovering at least 95% of the contained lipids for further processing. Energy requirements to be 10% or less of the potential energy from the lipids and remaining biomass

Applications and presentations for the scholarship awards will be judged by the NAA Engineering Consortium, a committee of professionals who advise on the technical developments and standards for NAA.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!  Algae is one solution to help get the US off of foreign oil, create new jobs and become energy independent. Please make tax-deductible contributions to the NAA Scholarship Fund at www.nationalalgaeassociation.com

National Algae Association
4747 Research Forest Drive, Suite 180
The Woodlands, TX 77381
936-321-1125
info@nationalalgaeassociation.com