UK’s Carbon Trust launches $48 million Algae Biofuel Challenge to commercialize algae biofuels by 2020

In the UK, the Carbon Trust launched the Algae Biofuel Challenge, aimed to commercialize algae biofuels by 2020 at a cost of up to $48 million in funding by the Trust and the UK Department of Transport. The program has identified five areas for grant making: algae strains, yield, solar efficiency, continual cultivation and mass culture system design. Today, the program is accepting applications for grants to further R&D in these areas.

According to the Trust: “The ABC is a two phase programme with the first phase addressing fundamental R&D challenges and the second phase moving to large scale production of algal oil. The total programme cost is expected to be in the region of £20m-30m, with up to £10m-16m of Carbon Trust funding.”

A launch event will be held October 30th in London, including opportunities for networking.

The Carbon trust has previously issued a Pyrolysis Challenge.

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