Year-round algae: The Digest’s 2017 Multi-Slide Guide to managing seasonal variation in algae production, and reducing ash

The US Department of Energy is supporting a project to better manage seasonal variation in algal biomass production, through stabilization to reduce conversion costs, and to reduce ash to increase conversion yield.

In this project led by Lynn Wendt and Bradley Wahlen at Idaho National Laboratory, researchers are working up a process that preserves harvested microalgal biomass over a six-month period and enables a biorefinery to run year round with a consistent feedstock supply. Plus, a process for simultaneous ash reduction and stabilization of biomass derived from an algal turf scrubber that could be applicable to multiple high-ash algae species.

The research team presented these illuminating slides on the project’s progress and promise at the recent DOE Project Peer Review meetings.