There is renewed interest in algae biodiesel and renewable energy generally due to price volatility of the fuel markets and the ebb and flow of supply. Microalgae has long been recognised as a good source for the production of biofuels for two reasons; the relatively high oil content and the speed at which it can grow.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) pursued the commercial production of algal biofuel through its ASP program in the 1980s to 1990s and concluded that the algal biofuel production was too expensive to be commercialised. Moving on 40 years, algae biodiesel and biofuel production is receiving renewed interest. Energy companies, university research groups and other businesses are again looking at ways to improve the algal process efficiency to commercialise algal biofuel production.
However, this not just the domain of the “big boys” and the entrepreneurial David Sieg has developed production systems and written many publications demonstrating that Algae Biodiesel and Biofuels can me made at home.
