Ford Scientists Look To Algae As Potential Biofuel

Ford scientists are working to understand the suitability of renewable sources such as algae as potential automotive biofuels. This effort is an integral part of Ford's desire to better understand the use of biomass to produce future biofuels as part of an overall strategy to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil and address climate change.

Industry forecasters and trend magazines such as The Futurist have highlighted "algae for oil" as one of the hottest technologies and thought-provoking ideas for 2010. Algae biofuel research received an added boost this spring when the House of Representatives introduced a bill (HR 5142) – known as the GREEN JOBS Act of 2010 – to encourage investment tax credits for algae-based biorefineries.

This year, Ford researchers visited Wayne State University's National Biofuels Energy Laboratory, which is actively analyzing suitable algae strains that could be used as a feedstock for biodiesel. The Ford researchers, part of the company's Systems Analytics and Environmental Sciences Department, also have conducted in-house research on the opportunities and challenges of producing biodiesel from algae oil.

"Algae have some very desirable characteristics as a potential biofuel feedstock and Ford wants to show its support any efforts that could lead to a viable, commercial-scale application of this technology," said Sherry Mueller, Research Scientist, Ford Motor Company. "At this point, algae researchers are still challenged to find economical and sustainable ways for commercial-scale controlled production and culturing of high oil-producing algae."

Another potential for algae is its ability to double in number daily and be harvested year-round if grown in environmentally-controlled conditions or in suitable climates. The ability for algae to grow so quickly is a distinct advantage over other feedstocks such as soy beans or corn, which produce just one crop per year.

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