Algae Testbed Experiment Yields Data Useful for Future Projects
A unique experiment that explored how well algae grows in specific regions of the United States yielded data that could prove useful as the industry moves forward, according to research from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Arizona State University (ASU). Researchers established identical raceway-style ponds in five outdoor locations to cultivate and harvest three strains of algae during the four seasons. The project originated from a 2012 DOE award to ASU to lead the Algae Testbed Public-Private Partnership, a collaborative effort that includes NREL and focuses on providing year-over-year data on algal cultivation. The 19-month experiment ended with Florida proving to be the best of the sites for algae production. But not everyone interested in growing algae can do it in Florida, so the data enables others to make predictions on possible sites and to develop crop protection strategies.
“Our data is extremely valuable to anyone interested in growing algae outdoors in different regions of the United States,” said Eric Knoshaug, a senior scientist in NREL’s National Bioenergy Center and co-author of the newly published paper, “Unified Field Studies of the Algae Testbed Public-Private Partnership as the Benchmark for Algae Agronomics.”
