ST3-02: Overview of Federally Sponsored Algal Biofuel Research

Over the past few years there has been a resurgence in interest in algal biomass as a potential feedstock for biofuels as well as a source for value added products such as food supplements and nutraceuticals.  Until recently the only significant federal funding for algal biofuel research came from the Department of Defense (DoD) through its DARPA program.  That situation began to change within the past two years as the Department of Energy (DOE) has provided funding, largely through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office of Biomass Program.  This funding supports a number of commercialization efforts, public-private partnerships, and research efforts of various sizes distributed among a number of national labs.  I will present an overview of these federally-funded projects, starting with the DARPA program, providing more details on the various DOE-sponsored projects taking place at NREL.