Blatant Reality

In yet another sign that the algae world is being taken seriously, Dow Chemical and Algenol have announced a partnership. This partnership will aim to produce ethanol from algae and be based in Freeport, Texas.

The project will use Algenol’s technology that calls for carbon dioxide and saltwater supplied to algae in photobioreactors to produce the biofuel.

 

Also contributing are the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Georgia Institute of Technology and Membrane Technology & Research, Inc.

 

Dow said the project aims for “a breakthrough process for ethanol production” that does not use food sources such as corn.

 

The United States is the world’s top producer of corn-based ethanol, but critics say this diverts needed food supplies and land resources for fuel, raising food prices on world markets.

 

“This project and the innovative technology involved offers great promise in the battle to help slow, stop and reverse the growth of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Andrew Liveris, Dow chairman and chief executive officer.