Missouri researchers persist with vision of growing algae in abandoned mines, despite skeptics

In Missouri, a research team at the Missouri University of Science and Technology is investigating the use of abandoned mines for algal fuel production. The group said that, with added LED lights, they can avoid the contamination and evaporation problems that affect open pond raceway systems.

The team says they are shifting the infrastructure investment,  which they say represent 47 percent of the cost of algal fuel production systems, from “pavements to investing in lighting systems,” according to a NYT report. The group said they are investigating geothermal sources of energy to provide power to the system for the LED lighting system.

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