ExxonMobil, University Partner on $1 Million Algae-Based Fuels Project

MSU Distinguished Professor, David Kramer, is leading the grant said to be intended to improve the efficiency of algae-based biofuels production.

Michigan State University (MSU) and Exxon Mobil Corp. (ExxonMobil) have partnered on a $1 million research project intended "to progress the fundamental science" needed to develop effective algae-based fuels for multiple uses including bunkers, Biodiesel Magazine reports.

David Kramer, MSU's John Hannah Distinguished Professor in Photosynthesis and Bioenergetics, says the research project is specifically aimed at improving the efficiency of photosynthesis in microalgae used to produce biofuels and bioproducts.

"There are many different strains of algae that have adapted to work well in different environments," explained Kramer.

"What we want to do is figure out how they are able to do this and what genes are responsible. With this knowledge, we can potentially combine traits to make strains that are more efficient even under harsh conditions."

Kramer says that the project will use specialised technologies "to determine which algae are the most efficient under a range of conditions."

"Then we can use a different set of technologies to figure out why they do better and which genes are responsible," he adds.

ExxonMobil is said to be working toward using algae bio-oils to supplement crude oil in the production of gasoline, diesel, aviation fuels, and marine fuels, as well as other chemicals and lubricants.

Vijay Swarup, Vice President of ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co., commenting on the goals of the research partnership, said "we know certain types of algae produce bio-oils. The challenge is to find and develop algae that can produce bio-oils at scale on a cost-efficient basis."

"We continue to evaluate our best options for continued algae biology research as a part of a broad biofuels research effort."

In August, Ship & Bunker reported that researchers at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) had found two strains of algae with a dry-weight oil content of more than 50 percent, Nannochloropis oceanica and Chlorella vulgaris - "ideal" for use as biofuel.

In September, IHI Corp. said it has been able to grow Botryococcus, a strain of algae that can also deliver more than 50 percent of its dry weight in oil easily in an outdoor environment.