Category: Blog

Funding for algae research and development gets the full support of Congress in the Fiscal Year 2017 spending deal announced by House and Senate leaders Sunday.

Algal systems research under DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office would receive another $30 million infusion with an additional $10 million for algae and other innovative Carbon Use and Reuse technologies under DOE’s Fossil Energy Office — a clear sign of Congress’ continued support for our sector’s important work.

If approved by Congress this week, the bill will fund these and other government functions through September.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office is hosting a workshop on Carbon Capture and Utilization in Orlando, Florida from May 23-24. The workshop will feature speakers from the DOE Office of Fossil Energy to talk through strategies with experts on the intersection of CCU and algae cultivation.

The aim of the gathering is to collect stakeholder input on the following areas:

• Sourcing CO2, including quality, quantity, siting and transport considerations
• CO2 utilization and carbon balances in end products
• Strategies to reduce costs and sustainably produce algal biofuels and bioproducts while utilization waste CO2.

Registration, lodging information, and a draft agenda can be found on the workshop webpage.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, has released a Request for Applications (RFA) that should be of interest to many in the algae industry.

The USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative-Sustainable Bioenergy and Bioproducts Challenge Area is designed to achieve the long-term goal of advancing the bioeconomy by facilitating development of regional systems for the sustainable production of bioenergy, industrial chemicals, and biobased products from renewable sources and building a strong workforce, increasing stakeholder engagement, and informing policy makers.

They are soliciting applications in two priority areas:

• Lignin or nano-cellulosic co-products from biomass feedstocks
• Biomass feedstock genetic development and evaluation

Applications can come in the form of research projects, multi-function integrated Research, Education and/or Extension projects and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Grants.

The closing date for the RFA is Wednesday, June 28, 2017.

For more details, please visit the USDA website.

ABO is offering a special spring discount for those attending the 11th annual Algae Biomass Summit! If you register before the end of the month of April, you can save up to $300. After April 30^th, our regular Early Bird Rates will be in effect.

This year’s Algae Biomass Summit is taking place in Salt Lake City from October 29-November 1. The world’s largest algae conference, the Summit unites industry professionals from all sectors of the world’s algae utilization industries including those involved financing, algal ecology, genetic systems, carbon partitioning, engineering & analysis, biofuels, animal feeds, fertilizers, bioplastics, supplements and foods.

The Algae Biomass Summit is where future and existing producers of algae products go to network with other industry suppliers and technology providers. It’s where project developers converse with utility executives; and where researchers and technology developers rub elbows with venture capitalists.

For more details, please visit the Algae Biomass Summit site.

On June 6–7, 2017, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) will sponsor a workshop to advance the understanding of current market barriers and opportunities for increasing the deployment of biofuels and bioproducts manufactured from wet and gaseous waste streams. 

Algae cultivation can be used to consume waste carbon dioxide from power generation or other industries, as well as wastewater from a variety of sources. The workshop will be an excellent chance to give BETO input on how algae can play a role in waste-to-energy conversion. 

The event’s primary purpose is to elicit stakeholder input about the following topic areas:

1. Key factors in feedstock disposition decision making
2. Critical biofuel and bioproduct customer considerations
3. Next steps for overcoming challenges and advancing commercialization.

Learn more about the workshop on BETO’s website.