Scientists from several institutions and DOE labs have teamed up in an experiment to reduce the cost of making biofuels from algae by developing high-productivity strains for resilient, year-round outdoor cultivation. The DISCOVR project, which began in October, is in its first phase and is using Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's (PNNL) algae pond simulator to cultivate algae indoors in a controlled environment, while mimicking the frequently shifting water temperatures and lighting conditions that occur outside. The LEAPS system is made up of rows of glass column photobioreactors that mimic small outdoor ponds, allowing researchers to grow different strains of algae simultaneously, while exposing each row to unique temperature and lighting conditions. Algae has the potential to be up to 100 times more productive than bioenergy feedstocks. "The goal here is not just to produce biofuel but also to make it economically competitive with fossil fuels," said PNNL scientist David Deamer.
Scientists from several institutions and DOE labs have teamed up in an experiment to reduce the cost of making biofuels from algae by developing high-productivity strains for resilient, year-round outdoor cultivation. The DISCOVR project, which began in October, is in its first phase and is using Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's (PNNL) algae pond simulator to cultivate algae indoors in a controlled environment, while mimicking the frequently shifting water temperatures and lighting conditions that occur outside. Algae has the potential to be up to 100 times more productive than bioenergy feedstocks. "The goal here is not just to produce biofuel but also to make it economically competitive with fossil fuels," said PNNL scientist David Deamer.