Algae

Algae include cellular and micro-cellular plants that live in water. They conduct photosynthesis just like plants and store various forms of carbon. Algae has the potential to produce energy and other high value bioproducts.

Why algae?

Algae can be grown on non-productive land
Utilize waste CO2 streams (CO2 sequestration), which reduces global warming
Algae utilizes nutrients in agricultural and municipal waste water and serves as a water treatment agent
Non-food resources are used to produce it
There is much greater Potential productivity than their terrestrial cousins

Table 1. Compartive productivity of selected biofuel crops.


Crop	Productivity (Ton/ha.year)	Energy (GJ/ha.year)
Wheat (seed + straw)	11	170
Miscanthus	16	270
Switchgrass	10	180
Microalgae (optimized)	60	1200
Microalgae (Theoretical)	120	2400

Algae has the potential for a wide range of value added energy and chemicals. This diversity in products is why algae has garnered so much attention in the news recently. Typically, people associate algae with production of biodiesel, but there are species that can be used to produce ethanol, hydrocarbons, fertilizer, proteins and other high value chemicals.