Department of Energy awards Dupont and partners funding for research into algae derived next-gen biofuels. … “The macroalgae-to-isobutanol project will focus on: improving domestic macroalgae aquaculture; converting macroalgae to bio-available sugars; converting those sugars to isobutanol; and economic and environmental optimization of the production process. More than 60 scientists in Wilmington, Del., and Berkeley, Calif., will work on this research and development program. ”
ExxonMobil sees similar opportunity as Dupont in algae biofuels. … “ExxonMobil has been engaged in a long-term effort to examine the potential of next generation and renewable fuels. After considerable study, we have concluded that biofuels from photosynthetic algae have potential benefits and advantages: Algae can be grown using land and water unsuitable for plant or food production, unlike some other first- and second-generation biofuel feedstocks; Select species of algae produce bio-oils through the natural process of photosynthesis — requiring only sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. ”