ExxonMobil Teams Up with Michigan State University on Algae Biofuel Research

Researchers at Michigan State University and Exxon Mobil Corp. are partnering on a new program to study and develop effective algae-based fuels for passenger vehicles and other applications.

The $1 million program will be led by MSU's David Kramer, a John Hannah distinguished professor in photosynthesis and bioenergetics at the university's Dept. of Energy-backed plant and research laboratory in East Lansing, Mich.

The focus of the program will be to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis in microalgae to produce biofuels and other bioproducts. Whereas past research has shown the potential of algae photosynthesis in the lab, the new program aims to identify the most effective strains of algae and how to optimize growth yields in real-world conditions. The process could include isolating and/or combining different genes and traits to maximize performance.

The researchers will use new technologies developed by Kramer's team that enable rapid testing of photosynthetic efficiency of multiple algal lines under simulated production environments.

ExxonMobil has been developing algae-based bio-oils since 2009. It hopes to eventually process them at its refineries to supplement crude oil as the raw material in gasoline, diesel, aviation and marine fuels. The company also is evaluating other potential applications such as in chemicals and lubricants.