An algae powered building is in construction in Hamburg, Germany. The building, named as BIQ, designed by Splitterwerk Architects features a bio-adaptive façade of microalgae which is being cultivated in glass elements. The algae are then used to produce energy, and can also control light and provide shade. The algae are continuously supplied with liquid […]

Researchers from the University of Texas have envisioned a novel system that mimics the way we obtain sap from a maple tree. In this case, instead of harvesting maple syrup, we would harvest biofuels from a synthetic tree. In this concept, algae cells are grown as photosynthetic biofilms on porous surfaces that keep them hydrated […]

HORTUS.PARIS, an exhibition from ecoLogicStudio held in Paris introduced a new gardening prototype that was designed to stimulate the emergence of novel material practices. The prototype hosted a suspended algae garden which will slowly grow during the months of the exhibition. Visitors were invited to keep the garden alive by blowing air into the algae […]

This research article attempts to address energy consumption in raceway ponds (RWPs). The problem has been addressed combining theoretical correlations and experimental data. Head losses for conventional raceway ponds were evaluated, and the results were compared with data available in literature. This study suggested possible improvements to the traditional RWP design: an Innovative Raceway Pond […]

As one might be knowing,one of the engineering challenges in the algae biofuels industry,is the making of high performance photobioreactors. The challenge for reactor optimization goes into two directions, one is to provide optimal physiological conditions for the algae cells to come close to their theoretical photo conversion efficiency (PCE) of about 9-10%,the other is […]

US based algae biofuel company, Algae International Group (ALGA) has signed an agreement with the Gulf Hydrocarbon, Inc (GULF), a company which provides biodiesel to the petroleum industry. According to the agreement, GULF will exclusively represent Algae International Group in sales and distribution of ALGA’s proprietary and non-proprietary algal oils and products created with the […]

Solazyme Inc. recently released financial results for the second quarter of 2012, reporting progress in the development of its commercial production facilities. The company reported total revenue for the quarter of $11.2 million, down from $13.5 million reported for the same period of last year. According to Solazyme, the $11.2 million in revenue reported for […]

Aurora Algae, one of the few top algae biofuel companies, has completed construction of a new algae cultivation test site in Geraldton, Western Australia, to evaluate the potential of the Mid West region for the production of microalgae. Aurora has partnered with the Durack Institute of Technology, Australia for this test project. Aurora Algae has […]

Let the Good Fat from Omega-3 Neutralize Your Bad Fat-Know more Expectant mothers are advised to intake algae supplement – instead of deep-sea fish – to obtain DHA for the healthy development of babies. Deep-sea fish is mostly contaminated by heavy metal due to serious marine pollution and hence algae is proposed as an alternative […]

As one might be aware, algae are important bioremediation agents, and are already being used as a potential avenue for waste water treatment by many facilities. This blog briefs some of the  research efforts and global activities on algae based waste water treatment that has taken place in the past few years. Efforts by Worldwide […]

The Super Formula to Fight Aging – Its Name is Astaxanthin -Know more Marine algae is known to product a myraid of natural products, with some containing unique molecular structures, and many of them have been shown to possess a variety of pharmaceutical and nutritional properties. In a project investigated at Rutger’s University, selected species […]

An European research project , uses microalgae as a raw material for the sustainable production and recovery of hydrocarbons and polysaccharides and for the subsequent conversion to renewable polymers. The project is led by the Wageningen UR Food and Biobased Research and  comprises 20 partners of which 40% SME and several large corporates plus universities […]

One of the biggest problems in algae biofuels commercialization lies in the process of algae harvesting and extraction which requires large external energy inputs. Some of the attributes of algae which makes algae harvesting and extraction difficult include: 1. Algae cells are very small in size (about 2 to about 20 nm) 2. Algae oil […]

An interesting experiment will be done over the next few months at University of Michigan (UM). The goal is to test the idea that certain naturally diverse groups of algae have complementary traits that enhance the efficiency and stability of biofuel yield beyond what any single species can do alone. The project involves an unusual […]

Sapphire Energy, a San Diego based,one of the top algae biofuel companies, has paid off the entire loan awarded to the company by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In Dec. 2009, the company was awarded a $54.5 million loan guarantee through the Biorefinery Assistance Program, administered by the USDA Rural Development-Cooperative Service, to build a […]

In an attempt to commercially produce the sustainable algae biofuels within 2022, the US Department of Energy (DOE)  has granted $16.5 million to four projects in California, Hawaii, and New Mexico. The projects cover both upstream and downstream processes in the algae production value chain. Details of the algae biofuel projects include: Project Theme Grant […]

The National Algae Association’s workshop on Algae Cultivation, Harvesting, Extraction Technologies  is taking place during September 27, 2013 in Fairfield, New Jersey. Deadline for submitting presentations: August 15, 2013 More about the event: http://www.nationalalgaeassociation.com/

The 2nd International Seaweed Conference is taking  place at Den Helder/Texel, The Netherlands from 25 – 26 September – 2013. The event serves as a platform to discover the business opportunities seaweeds and seaweed commodities . Click here to view the programa agenda-  http://www.seagriculture.eu/Seagriculture-exploring-the-seaweed-chain/Conference-program/page/4045/

The 2013 National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo will take place September 10-12, 2013, at the CenturyLink Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, US. Produced by BBI International, this national event will feature the world of advanced biofuels and biobased chemicals—technology scale-up, project finance, policy, national markets and more—with a core focus on the industrial, petroleum and agribusiness […]

The Algal Culture Management and Strain Selection Workshop is taking place between August 19-23, 2013 at The University of Texas,  Austin.  Presentations will cover the fundamentals of isolating and identifying microalgae, handling and managing microalgal cultures (including methods for cryopreservation), screening strains for desirable characteristics, genetically improving strains, and analysis of lipids and higher-value products. The […]

The Government of Canada is investing in algae to reduce the country’s GHG emissions. The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is working with Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (CNRL), one of the major oil sands producers in Canada and Toronto-based Pond Biofuels Inc. The  $19-million Algal Carbon Conversion (ACC) pilot project aims at proving the commercial viability of […]

The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) is planning  to build an algae technical center, to produce biokerosene from algae, together with the Technical University of Munich (TUM). The project is being supported by the Bavarian Ministry of Sciences, Research and the Arts. In the so called “AlgenFlugKraft – algae-powered flight project “, the focus of research […]

Algae International Group, Inc., a development stage renewable energy company in US, announced that it has signed a $5,000,000 reserve equity financing facility with AGS Capital Group, LLC, a US based specialist investor group, in order to enable growth with financing for its algae cultivation and development project in the State of California. The company is seeking […]

New Global Energy, a company in sustainable fish farming , has entered into an agreement with Origin Oil, developer of Electro Water Separation ( Electro Water Seperation is said to rapidly and efficiently remove organic material from large quantities of water without the need for chemicals) The agreement features establishing  a permanent technology showcase of the […]

An article in the journal Phycologia takes an in-depth look at the genetic structure of a unicellular green alga, Botryococcus braunii, and explores its unique ability to be utilised in the genetic engineering of biofuel development.The research focused on the codon usage, or DNA compatibility, of B. braunii with other species of green algae, five species […]