DOE Funds 2 Algae Biomass Projects under Carbon Capture Program

by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory recently announced it has selected 16 projects to receive funding through its Carbon Capture Program, including two focused on algae.

According to the DOE, the program funds development and testing of transformational carbon dioxide capture systems for new and existing coal-based power plants. Research funded by the program is expected to help overcome limitations on singular, standard gas treatment systems, such as those based on solvents, sorbents, or membranes alone. Projects selected for funding fall under one of five subtopic areas. The algae projects fall under the subtopic area of biological carbon dioxide use and/or conversion. The other four topic areas include lab-scale, post-combustion capture; lab-scale, pre-combustion capture; bench-scale, post-combustion capture; and bench-scale, pre-combustion capture.

One algae project selected for funding is led by the research team at University of Kentucky Research Foundation, along with the University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean and Environment and Algix LLC. The team will study microalgae-based carbon dioxide capture with conversion of the resulting biomass to fuels and bioplastics.

The second algae project is led by San Luis Obispo, California-based MicroBio Engineering Inc. The company will integrate microalgal production systems into the Orlando Utilities Commission Stanton Energy Center coal-fired power plant in Florida and study their ability to use and mitigate carbon dioxide emissions from flue gas. READ MORE / MORE and MORE (US Department of Energy) and MORE (Algae Industry Magazine)