Aquatic Species Program

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The Aquatic Species Program was a research program in the United States launched in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter and was funded by the United States Department of Energy,^[1] which over the course of nearly two decades looked into the production of energy using algae. Later, the program focused on producing bio-diesel from algae.

One side benefit was the sequestration of waste CO₂ from coal-fired power plants. The researchers were concerned with finding algae species which had a large lipid content, collecting over 3,000 North American species in their search. Work then focused on increasing their lipid content by reducing the supply of key nutrients, such as nitrogen and silicon.

Another key research aim was to validate the open pond system for mass production, resulting in the creation of 1,000 square metres (11,000 sq ft) pond systems in Roswell, New Mexico. While achieving the desired yields of 50 grams of algae per square meter per day, low temperatures were found to hamper yields.

The research program was discontinued in 1996. The research staff compiled their work and conclusions into a 1998 report.

Contents 1 Conclusions 2 Aftermath 3 Department of Energy 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Conclusions

The July 1998 close out report from the program concluded that even with the most optimistic lipid yields the production of bio-diesel from algae would only become cost effective if petro-diesel prices rose to twice the 1998 levels. While highly volatile, oil prices are typically three or more times times higher than the average 1998 price in constant dollars.^[2]

[edit] Aftermath

National Renewable Energy Laboratory scientists isolated around 3,000 algae species. Fifty-one varieties were characterized as potential high-value strains, but fewer than half of those remain.

A few hundred strains were sent to the University of Hawaii. The organisms sit in rows of test tubes. Every two months, they have to be transferred, “passaged”, to a new nutrient-rich tube. When a National Science Foundation grant ran out in 2004, maintaining the collection became impractical.

A review released earlier this year found that more than half the genetic legacy had been lost. 23 of the 51 strains that were extensively studied during the program survive. The losses to the rest of the algal cultures have been even worse.

“The really bloody shame is that of those 3,000, there are maybe 100 to 150 strains that remain at the University of Hawaii,” said Al Darzins, who heads up the resurgent algal biofuels research program at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.^[3]

[edit] Department of Energy

During the Carter Administration in the mid-1970s, all energy-related offices were brought together under the newly formed Department of Energy.

The hierarchy between the DOE and the Aquatic Species Program is as follows:

• DOE
• Assistant Secretary Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• Office of Transportation Technologies
• Office of Fuels Development
• Biofuels Program
• Aquatic Species Program

[edit] See also

• Algae fuel in the United States
• Algaculture
• Solar Energy Research Institute
• SERI microalgae culture collection

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• www.eere.energy.gov Department of Energy Aquatic Species