New Mexico State Goverment Grants Funds for Algae Fuel Research
The New Mexico State University (NSMU) has secured a fund of $200,000 . The university plans to use a portion of its funding for renewable energy research, specially to fund the algae biodiesel project. The fund has been provided by the New Mexico Gov – Bill Richardson
According to Abbas Ghassemi, a NMSU professor of chemical engineering and director of the university’s Institute of Energy and Environment says that the algae project will include the development of test beds that will be used to evaluate several algae strains. The facility that will house the project is currently undergoing renovation. “It is a greenhouse facility we had on campus,” Ghassemi said. “It’s under renovation to be able to include the indoor raceways…and the rest of the equipment.”
As a part of the project, researchers will be evaluating several aspects of algae production which includes algae yields, harvest methods, extraction and performance. The project will also include research into the effects of environmental factors, such as temperature and water quality, on algae growth and performance.
Their main intention is to look at the species which show promising growth and development in the environment and also plan to develop algae biofuel facilities. They are specifically interested in cultivating strains which can thrive in brackish water.
The projects include a new solar system for a biodiesel project fueled by algae, a new solar power system for water distribution, and a solar system for an animal watering station. The remaining $75,000 will go toward a Migration and Immigration Task Force, as NMSU students and faculty are researching and teaching about immigration trends in New Mexico.
