Algae proposed as a viable source to produce cheaper biofuel

• The environmental photobioreactor (ePBR system) is the world’s first standard algae growing platform, one that simulates dynamic natural environments.
• The ePBR system is like a pond in a jar that helps identify, cultivate, and test algal strains that have the potential to make the leap from lab to pond — proliferate in real-world, real-pond settings and produce the most oil.
• The bioreactors are about the size of coffee makers and can induce changes in light, temperature, carbon dioxide, oxygen, evaporation, nutrient availability and more.
• Algae as a source of biofuels pump nutrient-rich water through plastic or borosilicate glass tubes (called “bioreactors” ) that are exposed to sunlight (and so-called photo bioreactors or PBR).
• It replaces home-built growing platforms made from flasks, tubing, aluminum foil and grow lights and gives researchers a tool that can consistently replicate conditions and reproduce results.
• Many scientists around the globe are looking for strains of algae that could become a sustainable source of alternative energy.
• Algae fuel or algal biofuel is an alternative to fossil fuel that uses algae as its source of natural deposits. 
• Several companies and government agencies are funding efforts to reduce capital and operating costs and make algae fuel production commercially viable.
• Harvested algae, like fossil fuel, releases CO2 when burnt, but unlike fossil fuel, the CO2 is taken out of the atmosphere by the growing of algae and other biofuel sources.
• Algae used as a source of biofuels are a relatively newly discovered use, but algae have been used in numerous other applications for many years. 
• The other components in algae, including carbohydrates, natural dyes and pigments, antioxidants and other bio-active compounds, can all be used in various processes ranging from the industrial to pharmaceutical sectors
• Many of the byproducts produced in the processing of microalgae can be used in various applications. 
• Some of the products not used in the production of biofuel include natural dyes and pigments, antioxidants, and other high-value bio-active compounds. 
• These chemicals and excess biomass have found numerous uses in other industries. For example, the dyes and oils have found a place in cosmetics, commonly as a thickening and water-binding agent.

List of pros and cons for algae-based biofuels:

Pros

• Bio-based fuel with essentially carbon neutral combustion
• Drop in replacement for petroleum-based liquid fuels
• Inherently renewable
• Absorbs carbon dioxide as it grows
• Both waste CO2 and wastewater can be used as nutrients
• Higher energy per-acre than other bio-fuels
• Can be grown on land unsuitable for other types of agriculture
• Scalable: Study found that 17 percent of U.S. oil imports could be met with algae

Cons

• Need to be grown under controlled temperature conditions
• Requires a considerable amount of land and water
• Cold flow issues with algal biofuel
• Some researchers using genetic engineering to develop optimal algae strains
• Requires phosphorus as a fertilizer which is becoming scarce
• Fertilizer production is carbon dependent
• Relatively high upfront capital costs
• Not clear yet what the ultimate cost per gallon will be. Presently too high.