ABO Algal Biomass Organization : Members Awarded DOE Funds to Develop Biorefineries

Congratulations to ABO members LanzaTech and Global Algae Innovations for being selected by the Department of Energy for funds to develop pilot- and demonstration-scale biorefineries in the United States!

On December 28th, 2016, the DOE announced six projects for up to $12.8 million in funding to further develop the technologies and facilities required for the manufacture of advanced or cellulosic biofuels, byproducts, or refinery-compatible intermediates. Each project will be required to share 50% of the costs, and will be evaluated in two phases. Phase 1 projects were announced on the 28th, and Phase 2 projects (scheduled to be announced in 2018) could receive additional funding of up to $15 million for pilot-scale facilities or $45 million for demonstration-scale facilities.

LanzaTech, Inc. was awarded up to $4 million in the demonstration-scale integrated biorefinery category, and plans to operate a biorefinery that will use industrial waste gases to produce 3 million gallons per year of low-carbon jet and diesel fuels. LanzaTech and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have already successfully demonstrated their renewable jet fuel production technology.

Global Algae Innovationswas selected in the pilot-scale integrated biorefinery category, with an award of up to $1.2 million. The company has developed technologies that vastly improve on algae production processes, and seeks to design a pilot-scale algae biofuel facility with open pond cultivation and energy-efficient algae harvesting processes.

More information is available on DOE's website.