Enthusiastic Entrepreneur Places Big Bet on Algae

Breaking into commercial production of advanced biofuels has eluded many companies.  Policy remains uncertain despite a federal mandate that the country move beyond corn ethanol, while financing commercial-scale projects is a difficult barrier.

In the algae industry, most companies have turned to smaller markets, such as nutrition supplements and cosmetics, finding them more profitable in the short term than the fuel market, where payoffs are unclear and competition from the oil industry is fierce.

If it's successful, Algenol will be the first algae company to commercially produce all four major fuel products -- ethanol, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.  And it'll help establish the algae industry as a potential mitigation strategy for climate change and cement Florida's growing significance as an algae-producing state.

"They've certainly staked out a unique niche in terms of the algae space," said Philip Pienkos, group manager of the bioprocess research and development group at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Enthusiastic Entrepreneur Places Big Bet on Algae